Joey Chestnut not sure about 2008 Nathan’s
In today’s Wing Bowl column by Dan Gross, Joey Chestnut announces that Wing Bowl 16 will be his final Wing Bowl and that he is not sure about other major upcoming eating contests:
The San Jose State civil engineering major says his rigorous competitive eating schedule interferes with his studies. He also blames the sport and constantly being away from home for the recent breakup with his girlfriend of two years.
Chestnut isn’t sure whether he will defend his Mustard Yellow Belt July 4 at Coney Island, N.Y., in Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog contest. Last year he defeated Japan’s Takeru Kobayashi, bringing the title back to the United States.
The column also reports that the son of MLB reliever Tug McGraw is working on constructing Brad Sciullo’s float.
Big Brian Subich emailed the WIP odds for Wing Bowl 16:
10. Boring John 30-1
9. The Wolfman 25-1
8. Steakbellie 25-1
7. Humble Bob Shoudt 20-1
6. The Bulldog 20-1
5. US Male Dave Goldstein 12-1
4. Pat Bertoletti 10-1
3. BIG BRIAN 5-1
2. El Wingador 3-1
1. Joey Chestnut 2-1
update Philly.com has the odds for all eaters. Pat Bertoletti and Brian Subich are the #3 favorites at 10-1 odds.
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Philly Guy said
January 30, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
You mean country singing sensation Tim McGraw? Holy crap thats cool!
Philly Guy said
January 30, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
Next time I’ll read the article first, but still cool.
Anonymous said
January 30, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
Those odds are ridiculous.
Jake from SF said
January 30, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
Smart money is on Joey or El Wingador, but that 10-1 odds on Pat considering his hot streak of late, would be the best payout of the group. Big Brian is a good eater, but I dunno how he got such high odds as 5-1.
Rhonda Evans said
January 30, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
I can certainly understand Joey’s reluctance with future big events in C.E. One can have fun for a while, and then reality and the important, simple things in life take over. It’s no wonder many competitive eaters’ “fun” in the sport lasts only a handful of years.
Once you accomplish as much as Joey (or Koby or Sonya or Cookie or Badlands or DML) do you have anything left to prove? No. But it is great to see the greats keep a hand in to support the game and others who participate in it.
I hope all of those I mentioned above, along with many I didn’t mention, keep a hand in for many years to come. Just because a person lessens exposure to CE doesn’t mean he has to stop altogether.
Rhonda Evans said
January 30, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
About those odds. If the people who make those odds knew anything about competitive eating, or if the contest is really, really indicative of talent, the odds would look more like this:
1. Joey: 4/5
2. Pat: 8/5
3. El Wingador: 5-1
4. Gentleman Jerry: 8-1
5. U.S. Male: 10-1
I like Big Brian – a whole bunch – but having his odds at 5-1, and as the third favorite ahead of Bertoletti is so ridiculous it is not even funny. (If Sonya were going I’d have her 9/5.)
What the hell does Bertoletti have to do to make believers out of these people?
Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)
January 30, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
Brian called in the other day and had a really good interview before they made the odds. They like him because he’s abig guy, but were really impressed when said he had beaten Joey before in cheese fries an Pat in watermellon.
Anonymous said
January 30, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
What?!? When did he beat Joey in cheese fries?
US MALE said
January 30, 2008 @ 2:50 pm
I would have put Pat at 4-1 because of him beating Joey in past competitions. He will definitely be a major force. My odds are much better then the 200-1 I had last year, even though you anonymous haters out there will continue to call me a fraud & loser. What pressure!! I wish everyone well and hope to see you all at the final table.
LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!
ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)
January 30, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
Joey was eliminated in the first round of the 2005 US Open, where the food was chili cheese fries. Brian Subich advanced to the second round, so I guess that is what he is referring to.
Rhonda Evans said
January 30, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
That was a FAR DIFFERENT Joey Chestnut than the one today. Back then he had not even begun to learn how to speed eat.
I said
January 30, 2008 @ 3:47 pm
anyone, anyone, anyone would say the same thing brian did…….. he did beat joey……. sure he left out the ‘but’ but you cannot blame him for that……
Anonymous said
January 30, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
But I think Joey ate more than Subich did in that first round.
SuperPaul the Krystal Ball said
January 30, 2008 @ 3:49 pm
Best odds of the year, and possible century on Deep Dish PB….if you’ve got money, that is the play! Humble Bob at 20-1? Talk about no respect, the man ate a gazillion Krystals and loves it when he’s an underdog – BUT, the wildcard in all of this, is the judging – from what I’ve heard alleged over the years, anything almost goes….
That is why I make no predictions on the Wing Bowl – But, still, a great, fun event for the open-mouthed and open-minded and wingette worshippers world-wide!
Philly Guy said
January 30, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
To his defense thats what the station wants. They’re promoting this as the biggest Wing Bowl ever. This makes the field sound even deeper. The two biggest Wing Bowl chaps going at it. Yet there are those in the field that at least at one point have the ability to beat the top contenders. Joey was a different eater then but still got 3rd in Nathan’s a few days before that contest. His abilities now compared to Joey will show in the contest. This isn’t slight against either eater, but the bigger the event sounds the more press it will get. Thats something that we can all feel a benefit from.
US MALE said
January 30, 2008 @ 5:45 pm
Humble Bob is a great eater and deserving of top 10 on the IFOCE rankings. What Al & Angelo probably look at is past wing bowl results. Humble Bob never finished high in past bowls so they feel he is great except for wings. We know that is not true but these odds are only numbers for show. Shit, I went from a 200-1 last year to 12-1 this year all because of my finish last year in my first ever competition. I plan on being up there again and then continuing with better IFOCE finishes this year.
Erik the Red said (Registered January 9, 2006)
January 30, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
Odds mean nothing, unless they actually do mean something. Should look at the odds from last year to see if they “meant” something. Just looked, 5 out of the top 10 in odds made it out of the first round last year. There is so much uncertainty about the legitamacy of this contest, it is hard to know who will benefit. The only thing you can control is your entrance, so it better be damn good to make a difference. Mine should make a difference if I can pull it off.
Anonymous said
January 30, 2008 @ 10:40 pm
I agree entirely with Rhonda’s comments above. Esp. the part about Pat not getting the respect he deserves. If the contest isn’t fixed as it apparently has been in years past, Pat should win by a fairly close margin. El Wingador is a farce. He hasn’t won since real eaters have been in the contest with the exception of when they gave it to him against Sonja.
Just exactly when are they going to start actually counting the wings? It’s Philly…….so El Dingleberry well make the final table no matter how much meat he leaves on the bones this time. Unfortunately for Pat this Wing Bowl has been labeled a rivalry forming between Chestnut and El Dingleberry. There may be an exception due to Joey possibly pissing off the up and ups at IFOCE by stating he may not compete as much as last year. Past experience has shown that if you perturb the Shea’s you get snubbed. I wouldn’t be suprised if they actually allow Pat to win, which by the way he would fully deserve. Pat is probably the best distance eater in the world at this point in time.
Pat 4/5
Joey 8/5
El Dingleberry 6-1
G. J. 12-1
U.S. Uck 15-1
Brian Subich HaHa, Hee Hee, Ho HO
Odds on getting a life 100 – 1.
*Even MY head would hurt after beating it against a wall as long as he has.
Good luck Pat and Joey at beating the home town favorite.
Odds-On
Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)
January 30, 2008 @ 11:14 pm
Yeah, the odds are just to give the locals something to chew on. The guys in the studio dont know a whole lot about the out of town pros so it’s not surprising that someone like Erik the Red wouldnt be rated as high as I would put him.
I expected them to rate Gentlemen Jerry in the top ten
I expected them to rate Pat ahead of Joey again like last year (I think to piss him off)
I expected Wing Kong to be in the top 10 as he is somewhat memorable
I really expected Dr Bigtime to be rated higher. Al was genuinely impressed with him and his stunt, and it’s pretty rare that Al is impressed.
I’m not surprised that Subich is rated so high. His phone call came across pretty good the other day and he sounded knowledgeable, experienced and confident.
I’m pretty happy to be rated so high, and put a lot of training into making the second round. That would make for a good day.
I fully expect to win the Entourage Prize.
Rhonda Evans said
January 31, 2008 @ 7:58 am
Humble Bob certainly is one of today’s top eaters. His performances in various (even similar) foods is quite puzzling, however, and runs the gamut from a world class star in Krystals to something far less spectacular in chicken wings, hot dogs, pizza, etc, etc.
Bob is surely NOT a 1-trick pony (as El Wingador is in WB wings), and he would absolutely crush Wingador in each and every food except WB wings. But Wing Bowl, is just not Bob’s forte’; he may or not even make it to the second round. I don’t believe he did last year either.
US MALE said
January 31, 2008 @ 8:03 am
Anonymous said,
January 30, 2008 @ 10:40 pm
Sounds like you are just some a-hole with a chip on his shoulder toward the wing bowl (and that is why you hide your identity). You will always be one of those idiots who believes the WIng Bowl is fixed, unless you are one of the judges on stage which I highly doubt. There is no reason to screw anybody over even though you hear certain people complain. Wings must be clean, period! I know I got deductions for unclean wings last year and I am fine with that. As Steakbellie said, the odds are more for the local listeners as a fun gimmick. I would put Pat in front too but oddsmaking is not my job..GET A LIFE!