Spike TV to televise IFOCE contests
IFOCE announces that the cable network Spike TV will broadcast four Major League eating events in 2007 starting with the Saint Patrick’s Day Showdown in Savannah, GA which will be televised from a same day tape on March 17 at 7pm. The new contest will be a tournament similar to Broadway at the Beach and Takeru Kobayashi, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas, “Humble” Bob Shoudt and Chip Simpson are expected. The other three events to be televised in 2007 have yet to be determined. It is not mentioned if Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest will remain on ESPN or be shifted to Spike.
A Reuters article and press release are also available.
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Liz said
February 16, 2007 @ 10:50 am
I hope Pat makes it to defend his corned beef titles. This is great sponsorships. Now if only Maxim would come on board…
beautifulbrian said
February 16, 2007 @ 10:58 am
Dave Baer informed me some time ago that they were trying to do something with SPIKE TV as far as selling them the idea of telecasting all the edited out outrageous toilet humor commentary from eats of strength which involved myself , Don and George. What you did see on INHD was a “G” rated family friendly version. So far there is no mention on ifoce site or the spike link that the edited footage will make its way to the airwaves On that note i am sure ifoce and eatfeats will do a find job hyping this event .
anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 11:28 am
Don Lerman should be in this event. No questions asked
Jake from SF said
February 16, 2007 @ 11:39 am
Please no more Don Lerman… the guy hypes himself up more than anyone but hasn’t competed in an event since who knows when. At least other guys from his genereation like ron koch and beatifulbrian still compete in a few events a year… but don uses his pending weight loss as an excuse why he still is not currently competing. Don what are you weighing now? I mean I’d love to see you come back and, but people really don’t want to hear you talk smack if you aren’t going to back it and are only going to live on past accomplishments. It’s becoming a bad joke…
Mega Munch said
February 16, 2007 @ 11:42 am
This is great news for CE. Hopefully we can keep the Nathans and Brats on ESPN though. That broadcast partnership is much better than Spike and does a lot to help position CE (often with tongue in cheek) as a “sport.” Bigger audience too, I’d imagine.
Gentleman Joe said
February 16, 2007 @ 11:51 am
How are they going to broadcast eating on my buddies dog Spike?
Bit of a down grade from espn, no?
Beside the Girls Gone Wild Infomercials, it will be the best thing on the “network”
Wow, it looks like we (I) now have to call them the $hea BAER $i$ter$. Congrats Dave on becoming an equity partner in the evil empire.
Mr Wright said
February 16, 2007 @ 11:57 am
SPIKE is like what XM radio is to Howard Stern. You can basically say and do what you want. In contrast to ESPN they will be looking more along the lines of mocking the sport than promoting it
Anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 11:58 am
What great news this is.I am quite sure that the other contests that were shown on ESPN last year will remain there. I only hope that the IFOCE rounds out the list of invitees with the greatest legend in the history of competitive eating. The one and only DON MOSES LERMAN.He might surprise alot of people and beat everybody.
the boy king said
February 16, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
Actually, the best thing on Spike is UFC.
Then Pros vs. Joes….. wait, I see a crossover in the making.
A CE appearance on Pros vs. Joes cannot be far behind.
Anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Downgrade from ESPN or not. Extra TV coverage is good. Wrestling comes on Spike TV also, but not on ESPN, and it has a substantial following.
What??? said
February 16, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
Stop the bullshit ok. Are you trying to be funny or serious. Don Lerman would have to dig deep into his bank account and pay someone off for him to get an eating spot on this show.
anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Spike will be sort of replacing goldenpalace . A glorified version of ESPNC cheap seats
nathanbiller said (Registered January 29, 2007)
February 16, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
I wanna know if I can get in the field for the March 17th contest – sounds like fun.
KevinRoss said
February 16, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
Hey Nathan. That sounds like an invitational event for the top eaters and, no offense, but you gotta prove yourself WAY more for them to even consider you. You have good potential to go far, but I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself. Of course, if I’m wrong and it is not an invitational event, then any of us could get in. And it certainly would be fun like you said. . .
Spike TV is a really appropriate channel for CE I think. But it would stink if the major events stopped being on ESPN, as that does lend a lot of legitimacy I think to CE in general.
Anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
I am dead serious. Don Moses Lerman deserves a seat at all of the best events. What on earth does he have to do that he has not already done?
Anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
I hope Juliet can get in too.
Anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
Another closed event – or four. Really makes the point system worth something, doesn’t it?
Pete said
February 16, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
Hey Anonymous Layoff Lerman.Cheap Bastard.
Anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 1:35 pm
Pete, since you do not appreciate the sincerity of my comments about Don, then you must not believe in him, and are trying to protect him. That is admirable. But I would not say these things if I did not believe in Don. I have read and listened to his words and I now have hope in his comeback ability. Do you not?
anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
I predict that the implications of this thread will cause a major riff amongst some of the competitive eaters in the IFOCE with the exception of the eaters or fans that enjoy rooting for sonya joey kobe and the same bunch all the time .How boring can one get . The ones that do not get picked are going to finally complain and can you really blame them. Let the big names get all the attention while we are supposed to just sit back as usual and cheer them on. Closed door event point system i hear ya Anonymous
Anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
Can the IFOCE do anything right? Not by some’s standards perhaps. Thank God we have the people running it who are running it. They know what they are doing. They are the best promoters you could ask for for this sport, whether you acknowledge it or not.
anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
Lerman must have made a few quick phone calls to his relatives or his neighbors. “Please defend me on eatfeats everyone is ganging up on me”
Anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
The ones that do not get picked up are begi enough to understand why they did not get picked up. If they i fact do bitch and moan, then indepentents are what they need to be. That would be best for them and best for the IFOCE and AICE alike. So, you see, all things will work out.
anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
It appears that it all comes down to greed. Notice lack of ifoce contests because all the eggs were in this spike basket catering to several closed door contests for select eaters .
Anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
Just let DON MOSES LERMAN have a chance to compete in this event. Or are you all afraid to have Kobayasghi and Joey’s but kicked? He should be the face of the IFOCE, above all others. He has done so much.
Erik the Red said (Registered January 9, 2006)
February 16, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
Awesome. Spike is the perfect fit for competitive eating. ESPN is not going to give up the big contests either, so that means there could be up to 7 contests on national television this year. Howatd Stern has a large stake in Spike as well and this is a relatively young channel that is growing so those who say it is a downgrade are mistaken. CE can have a much bigger influence when we are spread across many channels and a mix of media.
Anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
Good point Erik. I agree.
SuperPaul said
February 16, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
I have to admit, I’m pleased we get some more TV coverage, but I’m also pissed that now there are contests with already announced contestants. This one is just a few hours away from Atlanta, and not one Georgia gurgitator is in the event.
Yes, I can hear you all saying, ” did you think you’d win anyway?”…but something about not even getting to sign up for a contest in our own state is disturbing to me. Imagine the Pennsylvania contingent not even getting the chance to be in the Shoo-Fly pie eating contest….it sounds almost un-American!! Believe it or not, for once I’m serious…something about this cabbage eating contest stinks, and it’s not the food.
I know I sound like a baby, so all I can say is WWWAAAAAAHHHHHHH I want my stinkin bottle!!
Wild Bill said (Registered September 19, 2006)
February 16, 2007 @ 7:36 pm
If the contests are closed to all but a selected few, it no longer becomes a contest; it becomes an exhibition. Consider if contests were closed in the past. Instead of discovering new talent, we’d be watching Cookie, Lerman, Booker, Hardy, etc. I appreciate what all of those eaters have done to forward CE, but if events had been closed, Joey, Pat, Chip, and even Juliet Lee would never have been discovered.
Anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
This is exactly the kind of event that favors Don Moses Lerman, who, and he will back me up on this, the fastest hands in competitive eating. If Don shows, he should be the favorite. Hands down!
Anonymous said
February 16, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
Wild Bill, the vast majority of contests are, and always will be open to everyone. The invitationals are for those who have earned the right to be there via past performances, just like the majors in golf — U.S,Open, British Open etc. Once those wonderful newly discovered prospects have proven themselves, then they will likely appear in future invitationals.
The_Hangman said (Registered August 30, 2006)
February 16, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
Super Paul and I may not be the best in IFOCE but Savannah is our home turf. Super Paul is a few hours away in Atlanta and I am only a few miles away. Just South on I-95 from Savannah.
Table Ender or not. I for one, plan on being in my backyard of Savannah and hopefully I can compete in at least the first round. Savannah has been called the biggest St Pattys Day Festival in the US. What better place to hold the first of these Spike TV tapings but in what many call the Wildest St Patty’s Day Parties around.
See you in my backyard of Savannah
frankie said (Registered February 9, 2007)
February 16, 2007 @ 10:46 pm
Savannah is NOT in the backyard of Atlanta. Its about 4 hours away. Its like saying you should be at Nathans as a local Because you are from Binghamton Vermont.
If you haven’t earned an invitation on merit, don’t say you should be there in your 4 hour away backyard.
There are plenty of eaters from the low country (thats what people from around here call OUR backyard) who will be watching on local TV.
I’ll be at home 15 miles away
anonymous said
February 17, 2007 @ 2:11 am
Wild Bill and Super Paul you bring up good points and you are learning first hand what favortism lurks in this organization. The old school eaters Wild Bill just mentioned were getting the same kind of attention the kids are getting now. Nothing changes.
The_Hangman said (Registered August 30, 2006)
February 17, 2007 @ 6:23 am
Frankie, Frankie, Frankie
No one said Atlanta is in the backyard of Savannah.
Yes I know the Low Country too.
I watch WTOC TV, channel 11 at my home being I’m only a few miles South of Savannah, just off that never ending construction of I-95.
When the 2002 Winter Olympic Torch passed near here, my wife and I were the ones the Local, National and International Media were following for days as we repesented the SE GA Coastal Area to the World.
I can walk outside my place and almost step in the ocean. I’m just that close to Savannah.
That is why I said I am in the Backyard of Savannah.
And Yes, my wife loves a good Low Country Boil.
Hope to see you in Savannah. OUR backyard too.
Anonymous said
February 17, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
Happy Birthday Chowhound. No one knew until aice love& unity noted it. Keep eating forever!
Pete said
February 17, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
Happy Birthday Chowhound.
Anonymous said
February 17, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
North Florida is only 2 hours away from Savannah.
Anonymous said
February 17, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
South Carolina is only ONE MILE from Savannah, Georgia. On the other side of the river.
So is this contest in Georgia, Florida or South Carolina?
St. Patricks Day according to the Travel Channel is bigger in Savannah than Boston, NY and Chicago combined.
If you plan on entering the contest I looked and there are no hotel rooms available for that Friday or Saturday.
Anonymous said
February 18, 2007 @ 12:32 am
It will be very interesting to see who shows up. This may be a chance for Huliet to get her first victory.
Bubba said (Registered January 8, 2006)
February 18, 2007 @ 7:54 am
I’m with you Paul, I hope they don’t shut us out of a Ga event.
Anonymous said
February 18, 2007 @ 8:14 am
Paul I hope that you and Bubba can get in. I think the contest should be limited only to eaters within a 200 mile radius, since they are having it right there in your BY. You, Dale, Bubba, and others. It is not fair to invite other eaters just because of ranking alone.
Anonymous said
February 18, 2007 @ 9:39 am
Quote from the Competitive Eating Network
“The focus of the recently announced MLE Spike TV series has eaters and eating fans buzzing. The series of specials, which will begin with the St. Patrick’s Day ChowDown, will focus on the fast-paced eating action, but also on the personalities of the eaters themselves.”
Georgia delagation has a wide variety of colorful eaters peronalities that make good TV.
Dale Boone. The decendant of Daniel boone with his coon skin cap and large school bell
Super Paul. Very colorful, artistic and you never know what he will wear to a fight.
The Hangman. Cowboy hat, trail duster and a very loud cow bell.
Bubba. His “A’s” ball cap and his biceps are a down south Good “ol Boy Bubba classic mentality.
Georgia has many a colorful cast of eaters that would fit right in side by side with the dread locks of Crazy legs, face paint of Eater X, cape of the Black Widow, Fireman hat of Seaver the Achiever, Horns of El Toro, punk rocker Pat Bertolettie, smiley face tie and glasses of Hoover Hunt and the school boy charm of Joey Chestnut.
All would be great on Spike TV.
beautifulbrian said
February 18, 2007 @ 10:34 am
If a contest is held near or close to someone’s home turf and eaters that live in that area are not invited , regardless of ranking i think that is a spit in the face. I had a similar experience five years ago when the contest was literally 5 minutes from my house . I have a hard time accepting the fact that if MLE decides to rank someone #42 it is automatically etched in stone by the mentality of certain eaters , that that person cannot beat anyone ranked ahead of him. I know it sounds bizzare but believe me some do think that way. Now you know how Koch feels. I am not saying i can beat so and so but there are alot of eaters ranked ahead of me that dont deserve it considering i never faced them to begin with. At this point in the game i dont expect to be invited unless they do something with pickles and thats not even a guarantee. If SPIKE airs that edited out eats of strength footage i will be more than content.
Bubba said (Registered January 8, 2006)
February 18, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
We all know the top eaters are going to get in period and rightly so. This is for 4 seperate contests and I would like into the one right by my house. I’ve been to Savannah for a few St. Patricks day celebration and the one in Georgia is the biggest and the best in the world. I vow right now if they let me in I’ll dress like a Leprechaun for the contest. That sounds awesome “Bubba The Leprechaun”.
frankie said (Registered February 9, 2007)
February 20, 2007 @ 3:05 am
Brucie, Brucie, Brucie,
If you are just off that never ending construction of I-95 and according to your self promoting web site, the 2002 Winter Olympic Torch passed near Kingsland about 2 hours fron Savannah.
When I lived in New York I could walk outside my place and step in the ocean, but I didn’t clain to be close to Savannah. It’s a big ocean.
I can now smell Savannah when the tides are right, that is why I said I am in the Backyard of Savannah.
My wife had a Low Country Boil, but some salve helped her out.
Hope to see you in Savannah. My backyard.
Hall Hunt said (Registered July 13, 2006)
February 20, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Maybe an undercard event will take place before all the TV cameras start rolling to get the crowd amped up.
I think some other good St. Patrick’s day foods could be green eggs and ham, or maybe I am thinking Dr. Seuss. For sure my personal favorite on St. Patty’s, besides a good Guiness or Irish Carbomb, is definitely green Jell-o.
anonymous said
February 20, 2007 @ 10:11 am
It is a disgrace and an outrage when people come on using the name anonymous . It gives them an unfair advantage by hiding behind their momma’s skirt while sneaking in hateful remarks. Give credit to the one’s that have the balls to use their real identities like Dale, Don Booker Jarvis and others.
grammar police said
February 20, 2007 @ 11:18 am
how about you?
anonymous said
February 20, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
I know i did it just to get a rise from you. YOU GOT PUNKED!
green_for_doughnuts said
February 23, 2007 @ 5:38 am
When will IFOCE announce if this is invitation only or open it up for others to enter?
The only motel room I could find not sold out is a dumpy travelodge that is miles away for $179 a night. This motel is normally $39. The $219 a night rooms are out of my range and are miles away in other towns.
Maybe a leprechaun will leave me his pot of gold to pay for a room.
Baby Huey said (Registered February 8, 2007)
February 23, 2007 @ 8:06 am
It is an Invite only situation. Top eight MLE eaters only, including Takeru. The rest of you guys have been kicked to the curb.
anonymous said
February 23, 2007 @ 8:22 am
One of the eaters that started with the IFOCE showed me the original contract from 2001 . The contract read like a win win situation . Appearance fees . You also got the impression that your airfare , room and board would be taken care of regardless of where you were traveling Bunch of bullshit is what it turned out to be. It should have read , anyone ranked in the top five or six will get preferential treatment.
Rhonda Evans said
February 23, 2007 @ 9:19 am
I tried to explain the logic behind that situation in another post, and it was lengthy, so I won’t repeat it. But lets face it, unless you have either lots of talent or lots of potential, or both, the IFOCE may not be for you.
I am absolutely not insinuating that the talent pool of independent eaters is shallow. That’s not true. Just look at Ian, GJoe, Vac, Goose, and Coonie, just to name a few, they’re among the best there are..
But eaters choose affiliations to match personal preference and perception. That’s what freedom is all about — the right to choose. But when anyone (whether that person is IFOCE or AICE) just sits back and points a finger at another organization in a destructive way it serves no point at all. It is simply negative energy that reflects more adversely on the people it emanates from than the ones it is directed towards.
I’m not picking on anyone either. Eaters and previous posters on this site affiliated with BOTH orgs have fired verbal volleys back and forth. (I too have been guilty myself, and I realize and take responsibility for that mistake.)
Competitive eating is meant to be fun (someone else said this first, I think it was Vac.), and when an eater gives it his or her all in a performance he or she should be applauded. Eating is eating, regardless of affiliation of the ones dining.
anonymous said
February 23, 2007 @ 11:56 am
Agree Rhonda , but IFOCE should have made that clear in their original contract instead of shucking and jiving or beating around the bush all these years making unkept promises. Members that want to leave are still binded by the contract which prohibits them from competing or doing challenges elsewhere. What it boils down to is if you want to leave you cannot leave so fast.
Rhonda Evans said
February 23, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
Let me also say one other thing. The anti-IFOCE tone that is used at the AICE Web site, from which I visited recently (I drop in once in awhile to keep up with things.), is very unprofessional. The author(s) of that Web site do not do any justice for the good-natured people in that organization — internally, yes, but externally, no. I hope those who visit that site do not generalize the anti-IFOCE tone used there to anyone else, as that would be most unfortunate. (The eaters are more credible than that.)
Also, how in the world the author say that Sonya’s Taco record (48 in 11 minutes) was broken in 2 minutes and change. What the hell is/was that all about. Mark did apparently establish some sort of short duration record, but neither Sonya, nor the IFOCE, ever claimed to have any Taco record except for 11 minutes. I want to say I’m confused, but I understand the logic perfectly, and it’s sad.
But I don’t blame the eaters (except for the author) whatsoever!
Gentleman Joe said
February 23, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
Rhonda,
Besides the ‘should you sign’ which is more than fair btw I don’t see much anti ifoce bias.
Though they should be biased. It is a Hertz Vs Avis thing. Ok more like Hertz vs… Thrifty. I do believe aice does ‘TRY HARDER’
I agree with the Mark, Sonya thing. It was a mistake that should have been corrected, or altered.
Rhonda Evans said
February 23, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
I agree about the principles you speak of. But I’m unfamiliar with the contract itself. I can only say that they seem have many more people who are very content than are not. But I don’t know this first hand.
Quit Whining said
February 23, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
Some of you people need to give it a rest. The Sheas are running a business and this is the first event they have with their new client Spike TV. They need to put forward the best product they can, which is exactly what they’re doing.
Besides, in an event with a Broadway at the Beach format, the ONLY Georgia eater who could hang with this crowd is Boone. Combine this with his personality and I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t end up in the competition anyway.
Hater in the House said
February 23, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
It should be noted Rhonda, that there is plenty of AICE haters out there as well. Just take a look at Badlands album. Keep in mind it is a two way street.
Anonymous said
February 23, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
Arnie Chapman seems more concerned about breaking ifoce records and stats then worrying about making his organization prosper. Gentleman Joe , why must you complicate your comments. BTW? Hertz vs Thrifty? Instead of writing in full sentences we have to struggle to figure out WTF you are trying to say. In response to Stop Whining, the Shea’s can promote all the Joey chestnuts and sonya’s they want just let the little people do their thing like eating challenges. They want their fu–in cake and eat it too? I dont think so.
Anonymous said
February 24, 2007 @ 6:54 am
Can someone please explain something to me? OK IFOCE eaters are under contract to eat only for that organization right right? Koby is IFOCE, or at least I have seen him eat only in their contests right? I have never ever heard of him or viewed him eating in independent events. Then how can he possibly be ranked on the AICE Web site? Is he somehow connected to the AICE in some strange way that the ordinary person would not know about? If so, how? Because I see him on TV and the Net a whole bunch, but not one single time have I seen him watch or participate in any event that was remotely connected the other organization.
I am not trying to cause trouble either Ronda. I just want to understand. Okay?
Anonymous said
February 24, 2007 @ 9:30 am
Kobe gave them no authorization to be ranked on their website . Badlands famous eatfeats quote several months ago told it all. These are close to the exact words give or take a few. “Take Kobe’s name off your rankings . He aint down with any of you”
Anonymous said
February 24, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Can’t Koby or the IFOCE do something about that?