Don Lerman wins Zan’s latkes
CompetitiveEaters.com reports that Don “Moses” Lerman won the latke eating contest at Zan’s Deli today. Paul “Pork Slap” Arcaria was second. According to the eatfeats database, this is Lerman’s first win in a sanctioned contest since the August 2004 Nathan’s qualifier in Saratoga Springs, NY.
update Don Lerman has posted a video announcing his retirement from competitive eating to his blog.
update Dec 15 Recent comments for this post not pertaining to the latke contest have been moved to the “Abuse Room” thread
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anonymous said
December 13, 2009 @ 8:26 pm
Holy shit i nearly went into cardiac arrest
Crazy Legs Mom said (Registered February 16, 2006)
December 13, 2009 @ 8:38 pm
Mazel Tov Don! Congratulations!! מזל טוב
Rabbi Chaznof said
December 13, 2009 @ 10:27 pm
Ooy vay Ooy vay dahn moses Luyman vins latkas. . Dis is more vonderful den ven he von matzah balls. Hope he continues his vinning vays
"Tiny" said (Registered March 5, 2008)
December 14, 2009 @ 1:17 am
Nice to meet Don “The Legend” Lerman. Good job Don.
Don Lerman said
December 14, 2009 @ 1:24 am
Thank you Crazy Legs Mom, Tiny and all my well wishers for your favorable comments.
SPBBBMBBB said
December 14, 2009 @ 7:11 am
Good Work, Don – you still got it!
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
December 14, 2009 @ 7:21 am
That’s fan-flippin-tastic Don! The legend lives on … never a doubt! Have a great holiday! Rhonda
Kevin "Krazy Kevin" Lipsitz said
December 14, 2009 @ 8:34 am
Congratulations to a good friend and one of the world’s greatest eaters. There are not too many eaters who can claim another great victory a full 10 years after their first major victory. This is a BIG win Don. Now you can retire as a true winner, having gone out at the top of your game.
Mega Munch said
December 14, 2009 @ 8:41 am
It’s proof that great eaters never die, they just take a break while they wait for their dessert. Good job, Don.
anonymous said
December 14, 2009 @ 9:00 am
Not too many people care as you can see from the comments
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
December 14, 2009 @ 9:12 am
Good job to you too Tiny! You put up a very respectable number and finished ahead of some high quality eaters.
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
December 14, 2009 @ 10:54 am
I’ve been told that I’ve “still got it” too SPBBBMBBB
…. I just wish I had my full complement of physical faculties to do with “it” what I used to! Now I can do little more than give … well … lip service to such antics.
anonymous said
December 14, 2009 @ 11:19 am
Kevin he won’t retire i think everyone knows that
Ray said
December 14, 2009 @ 2:11 pm
Congrads Don
That was a nice victory.
"Tiny" said (Registered March 5, 2008)
December 14, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
Thanks Rhonda and Don.
Porkslap really suprised me, good eat Paul.
This was the first time I’ve ever seen/ate a latke.
VERY dense food, and very tough to eat.
I jumped out to an early lead and when I got to my 11th latke there was a big black hair on my latke!
That kinda shit grosses me out big time, but I did my best to keep eating.
I gagged about 3 times and thoug I was going to reverse.
Not saying I would have won if there was no hair in my food because Lerman kicked ass, but I think it costed me at least 2 latkes.
All in all it was worth it to travel 1000 miles in 2 days.
Seeing my friend Arnie is always worth it.
P.S. New York City drivers would get shot in my neck of the woods.
WingKong said (Registered December 19, 2006)
December 14, 2009 @ 4:47 pm
Congratulations Don!!
Jim Reeves said (Registered May 19, 2006)
December 14, 2009 @ 5:31 pm
Great job Don. Keep having fun, and ignore the haters.
Don Lerman said
December 14, 2009 @ 5:53 pm
wing kong , JimReves, Tiny ,Rhonda Evans. Ray. Kevin a sincere thanks from me on your well wishes ..thank you , Don Lerman
Ron Koch said
December 14, 2009 @ 6:57 pm
Don, great job and MAZEL TOV
Don Lerman said
December 14, 2009 @ 7:46 pm
Thanks Ron and a Happy Hanukkah
Joel the Cannon said
December 14, 2009 @ 8:15 pm
Great Job to Don, Paul and Chris. I am glad a Jewish guy won since it wasn’t me. Paul you definitely stepped up your
game for middle distance. I can’t wait to off against you guys again.
Joel the Cannon said
December 14, 2009 @ 8:17 pm
I can’t wait to face off against you guys again.
GREAT JOB said
December 14, 2009 @ 10:16 pm
Excellent job, Don. Nothing like making the “world champion dale boone” look like the loser he really is.
Don Lerman said
December 14, 2009 @ 10:45 pm
thanks Joel , There wasn’t an eater at that contest that i din’t consider a class act , I will always have nothing but respect for those whom I competed against on Sunday
anonymous said
December 15, 2009 @ 12:22 am
Congrag him on his website ok?THIS is getting idiotic
Crazy Legs Mom said (Registered February 16, 2006)
December 15, 2009 @ 6:56 am
THIS is wonderful. In my opinion, congratulate him anywhere you wish. Don, a new title and even your “typing” has improved. CONGRATULATIONS and enjoy every moment.
Rhonda Evans said
December 15, 2009 @ 7:54 am
Exactly Rona! Praise in public, chastise in private, I say. This is the PERFECT forum for offering up congratulations, or even “congrag”s, as BB has already addressed above in his anonymous comment.
Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)
December 15, 2009 @ 9:18 am
AWESOME job Don!
"Tiny" said (Registered March 5, 2008)
December 15, 2009 @ 10:23 am
Wrong room for negativity.
"Tiny" said (Registered March 5, 2008)
December 15, 2009 @ 10:25 am
Wasnt there a Rhonda Evans on a Seinfeld episode?
"Tiny" said (Registered March 5, 2008)
December 15, 2009 @ 10:29 am
This song was sung by Rhonda Evans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZuGtpG3wUk
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
December 15, 2009 @ 10:30 am
I agree Tiny. Okay, I’ve already made my point.
Don, what’s in your future plans? You’ve no need to prove anything. I’m sold. Don’t pull a BB.
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
December 15, 2009 @ 10:32 am
Tiny I just realized we registered only a day apart!
Don Lerman said
December 15, 2009 @ 10:37 am
To all concerned, I’m retired from eating and will continue blogging and just taking it easy thanks Steakbellie and all concerned your good thouhgts were well appreciated.
"Tiny" said (Registered March 5, 2008)
December 15, 2009 @ 10:40 am
Wow.
So I’m a day older than you in EATFEATS years.
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
December 15, 2009 @ 10:49 am
Don, I love your plan! It’s time to bask in the glory that Moses has earned!
Tiny, I surely would love to be that young in real life.
I’m still sort of an up-and-comer! 🙂
anonymous said
December 15, 2009 @ 10:53 am
Would don lerman give praise to BB if he won? Doubt it. Be grateful he devoted a page of editorial on his win
"Tiny" said (Registered March 5, 2008)
December 15, 2009 @ 10:53 am
I’ll be sure to get ya something for your birthday Rhonda.
Chocolate or jewlery?
ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)
December 15, 2009 @ 10:57 am
Recent comments for this post not pertaining to the latke contest have been moved to the “Abuse Room” thread
Don Lerman said
December 15, 2009 @ 11:05 am
Anon 1053 Yes I would , and had the situation been reversed I would have done the same and devoted a full page to , I am most grateful to his generosity being the riff that we had in the past, it was most appreciated by me .Don Lerman
"Tiny" said (Registered March 5, 2008)
December 15, 2009 @ 11:11 am
Dont abuse the “Abuse” room OJ.
These are spinoff conversations, not “Abuse” room thread material.
Anonymous said
December 15, 2009 @ 3:13 pm
Moses, before you retire will you give the shredder a chance to regain the bologna title? That would be a neat thing to see considering that you and Ed Jarvis were the reasons he became interested in competitive eating.
Crazy Legs Mom said (Registered February 16, 2006)
December 15, 2009 @ 5:51 pm
Good Grief. Don’t be silly. Are you really asking him this? You are already in the abuse room. You have nowhere else to go.
Don Lerman said
December 15, 2009 @ 6:54 pm
Listen , I like Alan Goldstein,I have nothing against him,but I’m I threw, finished,done hung up my knife and fork for good ,its been nearly 4 years since I won the Bologna Challenge , either Alan or someone at IFOCE should have put it together before now, I feel bad but my decision stands, no more competitions.
anonymous said
December 15, 2009 @ 8:28 pm
Excellent question anon 3:13 he should be a man and give shredder a chance at getting the title back
Don Lerman said
December 15, 2009 @ 8:43 pm
Alan should have called me or wrote to congratulate me on my victory , He didn’t , he has no interest in my well being, 4 years went by and he never brought this up to me , what your doing as we say in Yiddish is fashtairing a simcha ruining a joyous celebration. Shredder a young man , he’ll have many more opertiunities to excell in this sport, , thou I would only perhaps give demonstrations on Technic my decision stands sorry..DonLerman
Mega Munch said
December 15, 2009 @ 9:53 pm
Don, are you saying you’re officially retired from competitive eating? If so, my hat’s off to you man, you went out in style — with a victory in your final contest!
Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)
December 15, 2009 @ 10:05 pm
DON LERMAN GOES OUT A WINNER!!! I love it. Best of luck losing the weight, but I really love that you were able to sneak in a win before the refrigerator door closed. I’m inspired!
Don Lerman said
December 15, 2009 @ 10:33 pm
Thanks Steakbellie. to lose weight I must do 1 important exercise. or i won’t
be successful…..push myself away from the table , sad to say Its a must for me shed the lbs, I was up to 280 lbs 13 years ago and can’t afford to let myself go any further, now that I’m a winner I want to be a looser ( of weight)..Don Lerman
A-Bomb said (Registered May 7, 2009)
December 15, 2009 @ 10:56 pm
“Alan should have called me or wrote to congratulate me on my victory , He didn’t , he has no interest in my well being”
If that is the way you really think, Don, then it’s pretty easy to see why he didn’t call or write and would have no interest in your well-being.
Don Lerman said
December 15, 2009 @ 11:07 pm
I admit it didn’t sound to good when it was written for that I apologize, what I meant to convey is he never expressed an eagerness or desire to have a contest between the 2 of us for in 4 years nor have I had an contact with him in that time. this point was brought up by an instigator of the highest order just to stir the pot of disorder and cause friction .
Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)
December 16, 2009 @ 12:29 am
there’s a million foods to own. we’ll all find one. Why fight over a title unless its a regularly contested food?
anonymous said
December 16, 2009 @ 1:00 am
And whom would that instigator ad Don?
Don Lerman said
December 16, 2009 @ 1:20 am
who’s to say who it is , I’m going to let it go and move on, I wont alow anyone to festaair my simchahl.
Rabbi Solomon said
December 16, 2009 @ 1:49 am
fashtiring a simha ? Ooy vay don lerman Oy vay how can somvone do this? How can you fashtir a simha and ruin such a joyous occasion
anonymous said
December 16, 2009 @ 2:20 am
31 latkas is nothing to sneaze at . It is clear that he can still eat and compete
Crazy Legs Mom said (Registered February 16, 2006)
December 16, 2009 @ 8:32 am
Spoken like a true Moses. Enjoy your simcha.
Anonymous said
December 16, 2009 @ 8:37 am
Hey Don, wasn’t Shredder at the Eats of Strength taping to show his support and played along when MLE threw you a bone and let you barely take his title? Doesn’t that show some interest in your well being?
The Big Aristotle said (Registered November 5, 2009)
December 16, 2009 @ 10:10 am
Congratulations to Don, my hope is everyone who is an eater gets to go out on top and on their own terms like you did. I personally think it is disrespectful to even mention defending something when you are celebrating your win. I wouldn’t even entertain the comment about baloney as I didn’t see shredder asking you for a shot at it, just some anonymous person trying to drum up crap. Doesn’t Shredder have a record or two anyway? Is that one he holds near and dear to his heart? Besides if Steakbellie can find a record to hold, I’m pretty sure anyone can. That person just need to find something like Steakbellie did, something that won’t be contested.
anonymous said
December 16, 2009 @ 11:47 am
A word or two about Shredder. He is one of the most under rated names in the sport. He came on the scene at a bad time. A slew of big names started coming aboard and he still lived under the shadow of Ed Jarvis. Even though they dug some guy off the street as an opponent for him in bologna, he was still impressive. IFOCE had big plans for the Shredder but something went horribly wrong in the interim. Not enough publicity , not enough contest appearances, who knows? Personally i think if Shredder was on eats of strength attempting to take Don’s title, Don would push his way right on the stage and demand a one on one. Either that or he would have sent a slew of emails to the Sheas threatening to sue them or send in his resignation effective immediately.
Don Lerman said
December 16, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
anon 837 threw me a bone ?, I; not a dog ,you treat eaters with respect and dignity not like dogs , I helped build the sport, there was other eaters at the eats of strength, where they thrown bones or only me I wont this forum to air my disagreement visa vie my career. Get real let them find Oleg and use him in the bologna challenge..DpnLerman
"Tiny" said (Registered March 5, 2008)
December 16, 2009 @ 2:33 pm
Dont let the haters sweat you Don.
You know you are/were good.
If there ever will be a hall of fame you and I know you will be there first thing.
Don Lerman said
December 16, 2009 @ 2:41 pm
Heres an eater ”Tiny ”that drove 1,000 miles for the contest and lost to me but still shakes my hand and comes to my defense ,thats what I call a true decent person , how many anonymous posters would do that?. thats the sign that he has the making of a true champion on and off the completive eating table.he’ll go far in this sport
"Tiny" said (Registered March 5, 2008)
December 16, 2009 @ 3:42 pm
You have to give credit where its due.
Thanks for the good word Mr. Lerman.
It was a pleasure to meet you and your family.
I’ll drive 1000+ miles in 2 days to eat some latkes because I am a competitive eater, not an anonymous hater.
Everytime I lose I learn something. EVERYTIME.
So if I learn something, I take it with me, then I’m a winner.
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
December 16, 2009 @ 3:48 pm
Don you owe no one any “challenge.” Your rep precedes you!
Tiny, that’s about as good of an attitude you can have. Others would be wise to follow suit with that thinking.
(You’re a smart guy Tiny … I guess I’ll have to start giving you even more credit than I do.) 🙂
"Tiny" said (Registered March 5, 2008)
December 16, 2009 @ 3:53 pm
Thanks Rhonda, but dont be too nice, I’m already a big softee.
nunonabun said
December 16, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
hey if Booker carries around a old faded Don Lerman tshirt with him then your good in my book. Why would anyone really want to try and dog the, well older eaters out there. Most of them are characters who love what they do and did.
"Tiny" said (Registered March 5, 2008)
December 16, 2009 @ 4:18 pm
All Time Best Latke Performances (Zans)
1.”Furious” Pete Czerwinski – 46
T-2.Don “Moses” Lerman – 31
T-2.Tom “Goose” Gilbert – 31
4.Ian “The Invader” Hickman – 29.5
T-5.Paul “Porkslap” Arcaria – 29
T-5.Will “The Champ” Millender – 29
T-7.Mark “The Human Vacuum” Lyle – 27.5
T-7.Chris “The American” Schleshinger – 27.5
T-9.Mike “The Real Skinny” Hoffman – 27
T-9.”Gentleman” Joe Menchetti – 27
T-11.”Tiny” Tim Rauscheder – 26
T-11.George “King” Van Laar – 26
T-13.Elizabeth “Rubber Gut” Cannady – 25
T-13.Joel “The Cannon” Podelsky – 25
The Big Aristotle said (Registered November 5, 2009)
December 17, 2009 @ 9:20 am
Happy Birthday SteakBellie!
Anonymous said
December 17, 2009 @ 10:23 am
To celebrate Don’s win and his retirement in the style deserved and to celebrate the festivities of the season, I purchased online Don Lerman items for unnamed loved ones. I received a lovely note thanking me for my support with items being sent and separately, I just received a full refund to my PayPal account. Now that’s a class act. FYI, alas, there are no more Don Lerman ties available, but there are shirts and hats and perhaps other things. Thank you Don Lerman! You’re a מענטש mensch. Everyone else….in Mama’s opinion, be a mensch too…..do not try to hop on the free bandwagon because of my comment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mensch
Crazy Legs Mom said (Registered February 16, 2006)
December 17, 2009 @ 10:28 am
Oh no. I thought I was automatically logged on, just left a comment which hopefully will be posted. I certainly did not mean to be anonymous. Since I am already here, Happy Birthday Steakbellie, have some latkes, just to keep things sort of on topic.
anonymous said
December 17, 2009 @ 11:58 am
CLC mom i thought CL does not practice the jewish faith
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
December 17, 2009 @ 2:07 pm
Tread lightly anonymous 11:58, or I may have to take you into the abuse room. 🙂