philly.com: Joey Chestnut disparages El Wingador

February 5, 2007 at 8:34 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Joey Chestnut, Philadelphia, Wing Bowl

philly.com has an article with a quote from Joey Chestnut about Bill “El Wingador” Simmons’ return:

“I hope he improves. I would hate to embarrass him in his hometown,” Chestnut told us Friday about Simmons. Chestnut set a Wing Bowl record Friday of 182 wings, besting the contest’s previous record, 173, which he also set.

Comments (15)

15 Comments »

  1. Rhonda Evans said

    February 5, 2007 @ 8:55 am

    Joey is absolutely correct. He may not come across in the best tone, but he is totally up front and doesn’t mix words. Like George said at the end of Wing Bowl, Joey could eat for another 30 minutes, and so could Sonya and probably Pat, for that matter.

  2. beautifulbrian said

    February 5, 2007 @ 9:52 am

    Unfortunately Chestnut can make a comment of that nature and back it up . Other idiots talk smack but most of the time lose and look stupid in the interim . Bringing Wingador in will not bring the crown back to Philly i think everyone will agree on that . If they decide on Kobe that would be like digging on Chestnut just for the sake of crowning a new champ. Kobe might be looking at bigger and better things than a 17 thous car and an anti asian crowd. that only prefers the crown on a philly native . Another thing to consider , Has he ever eaten wings competitively?

  3. Original Hater said

    February 5, 2007 @ 10:18 am

    Once again, Joey trashes someone who got the ball rolling to make CE what it is today.

  4. Dispute said

    February 5, 2007 @ 1:59 pm

    Not really Hater, Wingador never got the ball rolling. He ate wings for a radio station promo and it was only being coerced by the IFOCE and shea’s that led him to have a brief career with the organization.

  5. Original Hater said

    February 5, 2007 @ 5:01 pm

    I realize that Wingador didn’t have a stellar IFOCE career but he was the name that made Wing Bowl what it is and Joey’s managed to get 2 cars out of the deal. My problem is that I’ve heard/seen a couple of interviews w/ Joey and he seems to take what’s there for granted. A lot of people came before him who made a fraction of what he has in CE. I haven’t heard anything from Wingador saying that Joey had better look out but the impression I get is that Joey is saying that Wingador is washed up and irellevant in CE and is wasting his time showing up.

  6. Dispute said

    February 6, 2007 @ 11:40 am

    Chestnut’s bravado type attitude is more than likely a gimmick to beef up his woody harrelson white men cant jump persona .I mean when you come down to it Joey Chestnut was not the public’s first choice in creating a colorful and charismatic media figure. True he lets his mouth do the eating and talking but the latest trash talk is only meant to add some drama to an event that Wingador has no chance of winning. I think the new kids came along and sent the old school eaters a message “Guess what we will put your old school records out to pasture by not only tripling them but possibly quadroopling them!” The way its going we just might see The Joey Chestnut show become Joey Chestnut entertainment and productions corp.

  7. Rhonda Evans said

    February 6, 2007 @ 1:22 pm

    At first I vehemently resented Joey’s tone. But I see him as being child-like honest, and like an innocent younster, he doesn’t sit back conjuring up how he will irritate or humiliate them. Joey’s just being Joey–his real, unconniving self.

    I have come to accept and appreciate Joey as the greatest talent the U.S. has ever seen in CE. I am sorry I misjudged him at first. I resented his talent, because I was / am such a devoted Sonya fan. I admit that freely.

    And, you’ve got the legends to be thankful for, surely, without whom, none of today’s great eaters would be where they are. But none of those legends can measure up to Joey talent-wise, whether they admit it or not. That is just simple fact. Look at the numbers, by God!

    Nevertheless, however, one’s talent level is not erased simply because someone of greater ability comes along. And past accomplishments are not devoured even when those records or achievements are broken or exceeded, respectively.

    There’s only one first time. All the legends would do well to remember that.

    Joey’s all right in my book!

  8. KevinRoss said

    February 6, 2007 @ 1:48 pm

    I dunno; with a whole philly crowd jeering, booing, and throwing things at the non-local eaters, this little incident of possible “trashtalk” in the other direction seems very mild in comparison.

  9. Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)

    February 6, 2007 @ 1:49 pm

    Guys,
    To be fair, please put Joeys comments in the context of WingBowl. WIP has bashed Joey for 5 days a week since Thanksgiving, trying to instill a sense of dread in the listening audience. At the weigh in, everybody booed him when he was on stage, and when he came down in the crowd, everybody wanted to shake his hand.

    It’s melodrama, and this town is looking for somebody to play the badguy. If Joey bashes back alittle, it just adds to the play. You should HEAR the junk people talk on the radio. The fact that he can back it up, even with the stomach flu, is just plain badass.

  10. Speak my mind said

    February 6, 2007 @ 2:16 pm

    Rhonda they talk about Don Lerman but has anyone ever saw or read about Joey patting another eater on the back if they beat him or win a contest that he was not involved in? I sure haven’t. Has he ever given credit to another eater’s past performances or even acknowledged such? .All you see is his pouting or sore loser expression when he is not the winner Most of you will come to his defense stating that he has the right to do whatever he pleases because his name is Joey Chestnut but in the long run the selfish ones will get what they deserve.

  11. Original Hater said

    February 6, 2007 @ 2:37 pm

    http://www.thewavemag.com/pagegen.php?pagename=article&articleid=26088

    2) Joey idolizes his nemesis.
    “My biggest influence? I mean, Kobayashi. He is the first real competitive eater – the first one to really treat it like a sport, where he pushes his body. And before he came on the scene five years ago, competitive eating was pretty much a joke.”

    While I cannot argue his skill, I still have a problem with him. In any other sport, comparing era’s or generations is impossible, ie who’s better Shaq or Wilt? CE has changed in a matter of a short time. Training and preperation both at the table and physically has become the norm, while the theory of the fatter the better is in the past. The eaters of the past paved the way and began to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Koby completely changed the face of CE and you don’t hear him badmouthing anyone. I just think that often there is a lack of respect for the ones who got us to where we are today.

  12. Speak my mind said

    February 6, 2007 @ 2:50 pm

    Nice work. What year was that 2005? People change in a year

  13. Mad Stork said

    February 6, 2007 @ 3:00 pm

    Speak my mind said,
    February 6, 2007 @ 2:16 pm

    “I sure haven’t”

    right, *you* havent. you dont know what he does. he may call them. he may speak to them at the contest, whatever, but you dont know. none of us do. ask him sometime. or ask someone who beats him what joey said to them. just because he doesnt say it here on eatfeats or bb or his own site does not mean he doesnt do it. either the issue is dead or provide some evidence.

  14. Rhonda Evans said

    February 6, 2007 @ 3:03 pm

    I think most ALL of the newer generation eaters respect their elders (eaters), some more than others, of course. If many of them were asked directly they would tell you so. I loved Pat wearing the “Hardy” headband at WB, for example. I think that was certainly showing respect.

    And Sonya often talks about those (who came) before her on her web site. Just look at her first FAQ. I think that’s showing appreciation. She even touts Eric’s CD, and she doesn’t strike me as one who enjoys rap, but she likes and respects Badlands.

    Don’t wait for the youth of CE to verbally pay homage on this blog, however, because that won’t happen. This is not the ideal forum to express it, mainly because of the maturity level of some respondents and naysayers–not most respondents, but enough of them.

  15. beautifulbrian said

    February 7, 2007 @ 2:28 am

    I really wish they would leave these kids alone and stop asking them to pay homage to the old school eaters Many of them have publicly stated they they respect the eaters that came before them so why push this issue any further. I have personally recieved emails in the past from a few of the new eaters and i cannnot begin to tell you some of the positive comments they have made about the older eaters. I think “Way back home” sort of opened their eyes up just a bit. I am the last one to dig up the past with bitter memories but myself, the Bison and a few others can never be classified as legendary eaters because of politics playing a part in our denial to wingbowl glutton bowl and Coney Island. Speaking for myself i truly believe that not being a part of the three events mentioned i could never gain entry or recieve enough votes to become eligible for the eaters hall of fame.

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