IFOCE rankings updated – Brad Sciullo unranked
Nic Fry noticed that the IFOCE rankings have been updated. The previous rankings are still available in the Google cache. The top 8 remain almost the same. Tim Janus and Bob Shoudt are now tied at #4 and Rich LeFevre and Hall Hunt flip-flop at #7/#8. Brad Sciullo is not ranked despite winning the cannoli contest, so speculation that he has been suspended for doing the Belly Bruiser challenge might be correct. Patrick Vandam jumps to #11 from #45 and Dave “US Male” Goldstein ascends to #28 from #44. Some other changes:
New: Mike Fitzgerald (#24), Nic Fry (#30), Mike Springer (#40), Andrew McKirdy(#44), Cameron McKirdy(#45), Scott Zukowski(#46), Mike Landrich (#50)
Returning: Eric Booker (#13), Ron Koch (#35)
Dropping Out: Chip Simpson(#9), Justin Mih (#22), Marco Marquez (#23), Pat Bruss (#24), Loren Yarbrough (#33), Andrew “Skinnyboy” Lane (#35), Pete Miernicki (#36), Jim Hamrick (#42), Kevin Carr (#43)
update Here is a link to the urbanhonking.com article about the IFOCE policy against restaurant eating challenges by Liz K from February 2007
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shawn "the vacuum" kirby said
October 22, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
Here I go onward and upwards, lookout 1-41 I’m shootin for the top !!!! Congrats to all !!! Anyone who makes this list, or has ever been on it deserves a congrats !!!
shawn "the vacuum" kirby said
October 22, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
El Toro,, gotcha again !!!
Pat From Moonachie said (Registered December 10, 2005)
October 22, 2008 @ 7:38 pm
Here Come Those Tears Again!
…is a great Jackson Brown song! 😉
Anonymous said
October 22, 2008 @ 8:01 pm
I believe they are actually accurate now!
CLM said
October 22, 2008 @ 10:23 pm
Who is this Andrew McKirdy kid? I have heard of Cameron “Consumption” McKirdy, but Andrew remains a mystery. He doesn’t even have a picture for MLE. Maybe he doesn’t want to be stopped on the street by adoring fans.
Well done to those who made the list though.
CLM
Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)
October 22, 2008 @ 10:25 pm
Philbins been under-ranked for awhile so this is a move in the right direction. I think Jim Reeves continues to be under-ranked.
Tonto said
October 22, 2008 @ 11:05 pm
Gravy Brown is ranked too high. He should be below Erik Denmark.
Anonymous said
October 22, 2008 @ 11:24 pm
Booker should be ahead of Juliet. If detritus was counted, it would be so.
Pat From Moonachie said (Registered December 10, 2005)
October 22, 2008 @ 11:27 pm
That’s outrageous, i’d never do that! …Ohhh, you said “below”? …NEVERMIND! 😉
nic"TheIncredibleBulk"fry said
October 23, 2008 @ 1:49 am
im satisfied with the overall rankings you can tell some serious thought went into them
beautifulbrian said (Registered November 22, 2005)
October 23, 2008 @ 2:05 am
I am almost postiive the Shea’s read my take on the top 50 eaters before they revised the rankings. I like these rankings with a few minor corrections. I should be ranked ahead of Bonebreaker but he gets points for looking younger and dressing better than the former pickle champ . I’ll take an upgrade over a downgrade anyday. I should be in the early 30’s but i’ll accept 38 considering im supposed to be dead and buried with the rest of the retirees. Glad to see Badlands back in the top 15. Glad to see US male get the ranking he deserves and glad to see Ron Koch back in the picture. As far as the dropouts, Chip walked off the face of the earth so his dropout is warranted . Mierniki was never an eater to begin with . I honestly believed that he was ranked as a publicity stunt or his mommy and daddy called the shea’s and pleaded with them to rank him because their son needs to be accepted somewhere in society . Bubba must have called the office and sent in his resignation. It’s a no brainer with skinnyboy. He planned his own demise. I like Kevin Carr always thought he had potential but maybe he’s better off in the broadcasting booth. Toro would have a fit or quit whichever came first if the Mcnirdy brothers were ranked ahead of him
The _Hungman said
October 23, 2008 @ 5:47 am
What, no hangman in the new rankings? Enough said.
HUNGMAN OUT
badlands booker said
October 23, 2008 @ 7:07 am
Hoo Ah!! I’m back at #13! Thanks MLE, It’s so good to be back!
mike landrich said (Registered July 4, 2007)
October 23, 2008 @ 7:11 am
Hey, at least I have nowhere to go except up. I’m just happy to have made the rankings.
Rhonda Evans said
October 23, 2008 @ 7:25 am
Mike, you have a wonderful, refreshing attitude about things. I’m certain you’ll move up, but I agree with you. Being in the top 50 is indeed recognition.
SPBBBMB said
October 23, 2008 @ 7:32 am
I guess Brian is right, age and style were ranked before beauty, because I thought he and Larry would be easily ahead of me. BUT, I’ll take it – 36 is supposed to be my lucky number!
Larry should be moved up about 5 spots. No Bubba? What’s the world coming to? Ron Koch is a top 30 guy, easily, and Jim Reeves remains the most underrated eater on the chart. However, In the top 30, it’s hard to figure who needs to be moved up and down – they’re all deserving.
Finally, Rick Petrailia needed to be in here. He keeps showing up, doing ok, and staying invisible on the rankings radar. Rick, you need to start painting your face or something!!
Rhonda Evans said
October 23, 2008 @ 7:53 am
I applaud the effort and thought the IFOCE put into those rankings. They certainly did better than I or anyone else could have done, even given my difference of opinion, as noted below:
1. Nothing against Pat Bertoletti, he is one of the elite eaters and one of the best in the world. I love his attititude also. But he should not be ranked ahead of Kobayashi when he finished about a dozen HDBs behind him at Nathans, and in a virtual tie with him at Krystals. I don’t buy into the frequency of participation argument, because rankings should be based on ability and accomplishment, not frequency of eating.
I think it’s based on money. The IFOCE, the business that it is, can do more / make more money by having the top two eaters US-based. In a way, I don’t blame them. But it’s not accurate to say that Pat is a better eater than Koby.
2. Erik the Red is way too low. I’d have him # 11. I absolutely adore Crazy Legs, but he should not be in front of Erik. Erik very consistent, and he is a very neat, rule-abiding eater, not that others aren’t (as my eyes roll back in my head), but Erik is emphatically that way.
Those are my only points of contention, and opinions are like you know what. So, again, hats off to you MLE! Great job!
Anonymous said
October 23, 2008 @ 8:51 am
banned is more like it!
Anonymous said
October 23, 2008 @ 9:14 am
Not that it really matters but Biller should be ranked ahead of Rios unless the Shea’s are pissed he did the J&R’s steak challenge.
anonymous said
October 23, 2008 @ 9:17 am
And only 197 days since their last update, one day short of the 4th longest stretch between updates. Way to go!
Rhonda Evans said
October 23, 2008 @ 10:48 am
Congratulations Badlands! It’s not a real set of rankings with your name missing!
anonymous said
October 23, 2008 @ 10:53 am
One must feel some compassion for stinky mierniki . It wasnt that long ago that he made his debut in the rankings and butiful brian had to throw his two cents in with a sarcastic remark . If you look at eatfeats archives Pete was quoted” This was supposed to be a big day for me and you ruined it”. To him that was a big day. Like graduatiing from law school or getting promoted to CEO.
Rick Petralia said
October 23, 2008 @ 12:22 pm
Maybe I do need to start painting my face. I’ve competed in eight contests, and placed in the top three in three of those events. I don’t deserve to be in the top 10, 25, 35, or maybe even the top 49. I do think that I should get a rank. I actually talked to George Shea about it after these rankings came out and he said they only have me on record for eating in two contests. I’ve already accepted the fact that I will probably never be good enough to make any serious money doing this, but if I can’t get a rank or any notoriety, then there is really no point in me competing.
Rhonda Evans said
October 23, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
Rick, the squeaky wheel gets the grease—-sad, but often true.
Rick Petralia said
October 23, 2008 @ 12:53 pm
Maybe I should start squeaking then. I just think a ranking is something you should earn, not something you should have to ask for…
Carey said
October 23, 2008 @ 12:59 pm
I am not sure if the Krystals qualifiers are run by the IFOCE like the Nathan’s qualifiers are. That could be the reason they only have you down for two events, Rick.
beautifulbrian said (Registered November 22, 2005)
October 23, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
I just saw the rankings and did not realize that Mike Landrich was ranked 50. He did very well in Buffalo and deserves a much higher ranking but thats how they rank someone in the initial debut unless you own a title before the ranking. I wouldnt take it personal Mike. You are certainly better than i and you will move up when they revise them again
nic"TheIncredibleBulk"fry said
October 23, 2008 @ 1:45 pm
… rhonda your assumption of some eaters is just far fetched sorry to say….
Tonto said
October 23, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
I don’t think Sonya should be ahead of Hall either. He enters more contests and does better at those contest than she. Her ranking is based off the past and not the present.
I said
October 23, 2008 @ 2:11 pm
right whatever, she will go down in the rankings step by step as her use to the $hea$ is over and over..
Anonymous said
October 23, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
Tonto,
Hall has beaten her once.
Once.
Every other time in history, every other time this year, Sonya has beaten Hall.
-Squanto
Rhonda Evans said
October 23, 2008 @ 2:50 pm
Tonto Hall Hunt has finished ahead of Sonya once. That was in the 2008 J-ville Krystals qualifier, 60 – 55.
The very next contest that they both ate at was Jalapeno Peppers and Hall did well, finishing in sixth with 85, but he was over 3 dozen behind Sonya who ate 117. Erik the Red finished in third, with Rich 4th.
Earlier in the year Sonya won corn on the cob the one and only time she ever ate corn in competition. Hall finished in third.
Sonya ate 34 HDBs to Hall’s 30 (in 10 minutes) in the Nathan’s finals. She ate 38.5 in the Norfolk qualifier in 10 minutes.
Please name one contest for me besides Krystals that Hall finished ahead of Sonya. Check the eatfeats database.
Rhonda Evans said
October 23, 2008 @ 2:53 pm
Nic that really says a lot (rolling my eyes).
At least you’re not on a diet of words like Tonto, because he’s now eating his.
Anonymous said
October 23, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
Beautiful Brian is definitely right. Definitely. Absolutely the IFOCE consulted his website before they revised the rankings. That is pretty much standard operating procedure at the IFOCE these days: (1) see problem (2) breathe deeply/calm down (3) go to beautifulbrian.com immediately (4) read everything he has to offer (5) using Beautiful Brian’s wisdom as a guide, develop a plan of action (6) brush aside any resistance, and implement said plan.
Rhonda Evans said
October 23, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
Math error —- only 2 dozen and change.
nic"TheIncredibleBulk"fry said
October 23, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
…. which contests have u been to and which eaters have u actually met rhonda….
Anonymous said
October 23, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
Yo Nic, what contests has u bin 2?
Rhonda Evans said
October 23, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
I said, I disagree. I really think the IFOCE, for the most part, doesn’t let subjectivity get into the rankings, except as a tiebreaker when trying to decide about the placement between two eaters of equal talent.
I’m sure many people will disagree with that, but that’s my honest opinion.
nic"TheIncredibleBulk"fry said
October 23, 2008 @ 4:02 pm
havent “bin” to any and i was just asking “her” out of curiousness thats it
Bronson Fan said
October 23, 2008 @ 4:54 pm
Pat has beaten Koby at Turkey, Ham and Krystals and only lost to him at Nathan’s that’s why he is #2!!!!
Tonto said
October 23, 2008 @ 6:38 pm
I don’t think I worded my last post very well at all, so let me try again. I have been impressed by Hall this year. Although he doesn’t have a good record against Sonya head-to-head, he has been present at more contests (10 vs 8 in the last 6 months) and has done very well in them. Also, I agree that it’s totally unfair, but the dominant factors that go into these rankings are Krystal and Nathan’s. He was only one ranking below her in Nathan’s, and she didn’t even show up to Krystals (where he would’ve beaten her anyway). You have a legitimate point of view Rhonda, but I don’t think head-to-head performance should be the only factor taken into consideration for these rankings.
By now I’m sure I’ve lost all my credibility in this post, but Kobayashi was put behind Pat because of attendance. You’ve got to show up to more than two contests a year, and that ended up being the tiebreaker.
Anonymous said
October 23, 2008 @ 7:21 pm
I think i could have beat kobi in turkey and ham but he really liked the chicken didnt he.
Bubba Yarbrough said
October 23, 2008 @ 10:03 pm
I never resigned but I guess they saw the writing on the wall! I Guess this is a good time to tell everybody that I’ve officially joined the WLOCE. I know that this may surprise some but after the screwing I got during the Krystal events it shouldn’t. Lets just say I feel as though I’ve done anything ever asked of me and then the one time I didn’t they pulled my spot. I’ve been a loyal soldier for years and they will treat you any way they want. I never cpmplained about it but then they don’t even bother to rank me! Screw them! Dale graciously offered a signing bonus and the check cleared today. Dale is absolutly serious and his company is legit. Good By IFOCE it’s been fun (I’ve had fun and zero regrets)
tonto fan said
October 23, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
wow tonto, thanks for showing us how to make rhonda angry and illogical: just bash sonya.
Anonymous said
October 23, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
Farewell Booba…
The IFOCE has Juliet and the WLOCE has Booba. Messy-Messy-Messy
Booba and BaBoone, a lovely match
Boy Gorge said
October 24, 2008 @ 12:14 am
If you really wanted to hurt me, and make me cry….Bubba, you just did.
Spell check said
October 24, 2008 @ 12:19 am
Even Bubba’s writing is starting to look like hayboy’s.
WLOCE.com said
October 24, 2008 @ 3:05 am
He is not the only big name signed .
Big news coming …………
Anonymous said
October 24, 2008 @ 8:03 am
Explain this signing bonus. And don’t say it’s private.
Rhonda Evans said
October 24, 2008 @ 8:13 am
That’s okay Tonto. Hall’s a great eater and good guy, and he, along with Humble Bob, are the two greatest rising talents in the IFOCE right now.
The eaters who caught and passed Sonya in the rankings —- Joey, Pat, Tim, Bob —- did so through lots and lots of practice. However, all that practicing is probably taking a bit of a toll on them physiologically, but no one knows the extent of that detriment. A person’s habits early in life affect his health in later life.
Sonya has the best of all worlds. Given her lack of practice (except an occasional minute or two for speed), and the “bad actors” that come with it, the risks to her health are minimal, if they exist at all. Still, she is able to remain a force in competitive eating. As she once said on her Web site, she has staying power in the “sport.”
Sonya and Kobayashi have the most natural talent of any two competitive eaters in the history of CE. Other than Takeru “The Tsunami” Kobayashi, no competitive eater accomplished as much in the first year as Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas. She’s been in the top half dozen IFOCE eaters for 6 years, and her momentum is intact —- not as evidenced by ranking or wins, but by the quantity of food and the speed at which she eats it —- she’s as good as ever. Even more emphatically, Koby has been in the the top 3 for 8 years, and put the “sport” as we know it on the map July 4, 2001.
How long will Joey, Pat, Tim, and Bob be in their “heyday,” and at what price? Only time will tell (as the group Asia once proclaimed in a 1980s hit song).
The future said
October 24, 2008 @ 11:28 am
Boone, signing mid ranked table enders with one year left in their career is like the expansion draft of 1962 when the ny mets signed a bunch of hasbeens to draw the crowds. What was the signing bonus $50 ? Bubba make up your mind for christ sake. One day you call him an asshole the next day you love him. By this time next year or earlier. Boone and Bubba will end up fist fighting while Bubba bitches about the big mistake he made by joining Boone’s joke organization
Big Fan said
October 24, 2008 @ 11:59 am
bubba for president what with all his flip-flopping!
Bubba Fan said
October 24, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
Bubba is in a better place. WLOCE rules . Boone has beaten Joey . And is the World Champion
El Predicto Magnifico said
October 24, 2008 @ 12:46 pm
Hayboy gets beaten up by his own league members by January
Hayboy makes sure he loses no contests by making a “no-check” in his pockets rule
Hayboy yells at more sponsors, and gets sued so much he has to stay in India forever with the other cows
Bubba quits Loser league within two months, or…
above Bubba comment is not even Bubba – makes sense because Bubba hates him some Hayboy, just like the rest of us
Tonto said
October 24, 2008 @ 1:28 pm
Rhonda –
I agree that Sonya has had and will continue to have a great career. But all the things you just mentioned should not be considered in the ranking process. Just because she’s less susceptible to eating-related health issues doesn’t mean she should be ranked higher then Hall. I’m just pointing out that the difference between these two eaters is very small, and I give the slight edge to Hall. Feel free to disagree, just use relevant examples for support.
Rhonda Evans said
October 24, 2008 @ 2:15 pm
Tonto, those assertions I made have absolutely nothing to do with the rankings. I made no insinuation that they did either. That thread just happened to be the most appropriate one for me to list those them in.
And I disagree TOTALLY that Hall should be ranked ahead of Sonya, and for you to even think seems ludicrous. Support:? You must have a very poor short-term memory. … As I already said:
Hall Hunt has finished ahead of Sonya once. That was in the 2008 J-ville Krystals qualifier, 60 – 55.
The very next contest that they both ate at was Jalapeno Peppers and Hall did well, finishing in sixth with 85, but he was over 3 dozen behind Sonya who ate 117. Erik the Red finished in third, with Rich 4th.
Earlier in the year Sonya won corn on the cob the one and only time she ever ate corn in competition. Hall finished in third.
Sonya ate 34 HDBs to Hall’s 30 (in 10 minutes) in the Nathan’s finals. She ate 38.5 in the Norfolk qualifier in 10 minutes.
Please name one contest for me besides Krystals that Hall finished ahead of Sonya. Check the eatfeats database. …………
When your record against someone is at least 12 wins versus one loss, and that person you’re making a case for finished a distant 6th to Sonya’s second in the most recent contest, I’d say that your logic has a fork stuck in it..
And you want to talk about competition that wasn’t head-to-head? What about Sonya’s back-to-back wins in Buffalo just last Labor Day WE? Exactly what food besides Krystals do you think Hall would finish ahead of Sonya in? Go ahead, pick a food group!
ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)
October 24, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
Here are Sonya’s & Hall’s head to head performances over the last year:
Rhonda Evans said
October 24, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
Thanks OJ. You’re as amazing as The Black Widow, only in a different context. 🙂
(I better cut that out or people will think we’ve got some hanky panky going on.) 🙂
However, Tonto believes Hall should be ahead of her for sentimental / superficial reasons.
it s going to happen said
October 24, 2008 @ 6:05 pm
It will be great to see these 2 in another League … I hear it is really happening
Tonto said
October 25, 2008 @ 10:02 am
Unbelievable. You’ve made up your mind and will not listen to anything I say. I thought only Dale Boone supporters did that.
Anonymous said
October 25, 2008 @ 12:19 pm
I agree with Squanto.
anonymous said
October 25, 2008 @ 1:01 pm
I just finished reading Rhonda Evans & Tonto long and drawn out arguments over who is the better eater Hall Hunt or Sonya Thomas. Who cares? Rhonda , your constant praise of Sonya , Juliet & Crazy Legs along with your two faced opinions of the IFOCE (one day you shit on them , the next day you praise them) can only point to one female identity . Give it up already.You have no life but you know everything about everyone in the IFOCE. You even claim to know what makes them tick. I just read on BB.com that you narrowly edged out a popularity poll for new commissioner of the IFOCE. Congrag for if a ficticious name such as yours can win that poll it doesn’t say much about the organization as a whole.
Tonto said
October 25, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
I never thought I’d say this, but for once I agree with an anonymous. Alright world, I give up. You win.
Anonymous said
November 5, 2008 @ 8:25 am
how is there a tie for #4? hasnt x crushed humbl over the last year like sonya crushed hall?
Anonymous said
November 5, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
oj – cant you pull a report on their contests over the same time that you did with sonya and hall? i don’t think it was close
ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)
November 6, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
Tim vs. Bob up to Nathan’s 2007. Tim hasn’t beat Bob in regulation since July 4:
Anonymous said
November 6, 2008 @ 2:20 pm
oj nice work why go back to july 07 with tim when you didnt with sonya? r u really tim janus?