Badlands does the double deuce in Queens

June 20, 2009 at 11:53 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:2009 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Contest Results, New York City

update #2 NY1 has an article and video about the contest

Jo “Gavonne” Rose has uploaded a video

update Results from Rich Shea’s twitter: badlands with 40 pat from moonachie w/32, nasty nate w/25 yasir reversal Pat Philbin’s twitter confirms

Eric “Badlands” Booker and Pat “from Moonachie” Philbin will compete in today’s Nathan’s qualifier at the new New York Mets ballpark. According to Pat’s twitter, hot dogs might not require dunking.

Comments (60)

60 Comments »

  1. anonymous said

    June 20, 2009 @ 2:59 pm

    This looks miserable.
    http://twitpic.com/7×955

  2. Badlands Backer said

    June 20, 2009 @ 3:36 pm

    Hungry, wet, focused – Yeah, baby! That’s what I call Eatin good!

  3. The Natural said (Registered October 5, 2006)

    June 20, 2009 @ 5:47 pm

    Badlands is a beast!!!!

  4. Mongo said

    June 20, 2009 @ 6:43 pm

    Congrats on the “double duece”! I knew you had it in you. See you in Coney Island.

  5. Gavonne said

    June 20, 2009 @ 6:45 pm

    The video is on my youtube page(muzixan).

  6. Cameron CONSUMPTION McKirdy said

    June 20, 2009 @ 7:16 pm

    Gurgitating hero! Well done “G.”

  7. beautifulbrian said

    June 20, 2009 @ 7:25 pm

    Sorry i couldnt make it out there this afternoon . I knew Badlands had 40 or more in him all these years. Just a matter of time before the huge eruption. Great job big guy

  8. Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)

    June 20, 2009 @ 8:57 pm

    HOLY COW the big man is back in pursuit of #1 again! 40’s a BIG NUMBER!

  9. Bikeryjeff said

    June 20, 2009 @ 11:32 pm

    It is a shame that Pat from Moonachie was bounced out of Coney Island this year when there will be other competitors with only 20 + and less going to the big show. It just does not seem fair. Maybe the Shea boys should stop playing politics.

  10. anonymous said

    June 21, 2009 @ 1:09 am

    With 32 Pat should be at the table. New rule second place winner with highest total of all qualifiers should be allowed in. No excuse

  11. Furious Pete said (Registered July 21, 2008)

    June 21, 2009 @ 2:49 am

    Can’t wait to watch the final! I’ll be in the front row eating some broccoli 😉

  12. Anonymous said

    June 21, 2009 @ 5:24 am

    badlands is gonna have to prove it in coney. there are some shanangins here.

  13. Bubba said

    June 21, 2009 @ 8:41 am

    Good job Badlands!
    Way to hold back and not tip your hand. At the finals unleash the fury and eat 69 HDB’s.

  14. anonymous said

    June 21, 2009 @ 11:05 am

    In his first three years of competing it did it for the dogs, after 911 he solidified the name Badlands and did it for the glory . Two years after that he did the tre’ . Four years later he retired only to come back even stronger beating his personal best by 10 6yrs past his prime yet! 40 dogs at 40 yrs old is amazing in my book.

  15. Anonymous said

    June 21, 2009 @ 3:32 pm

    Badlands will do at least 28 on Coney. Stop the doubt.

  16. Anonymous said

    June 21, 2009 @ 5:46 pm

    http://www.youtube.com/user/muzixan#uploads/3/VZsYm8Ye6Bo Badlands eats 8 hot dogs in this video of last 4 minutes. So you want us to believe that he ate 32 in the first 6 minutes? Yeah right, he got extra plates

  17. Anonymous said

    June 21, 2009 @ 6:31 pm

    It’s not extra plates. It’s the counter. She just keeps flipping.

  18. Craig Reed said (Registered February 21, 2009)

    June 21, 2009 @ 7:10 pm

    I counted more than 8(not including the two he was finishing at the beginning), it’s not easy to get an accurate count or notice if Badlands was eating 1 or 2 dogs at a time with the camera moving so much and not focusing on him. I had to watch it a few times. I believe he can and did do 40.

  19. anonymous said

    June 21, 2009 @ 7:32 pm

    I don’t feel he cheated consciously, but would and should post his thoughts right now and explain to us how he “did it”. 30-32 is more realistic for him

  20. anonymous said

    June 21, 2009 @ 8:02 pm

    More cheating Here we go again. Who was the MC? that new guy?

  21. anonymous said

    June 21, 2009 @ 10:16 pm

    What is this Queens man shit on NY1 ? They make it seem like he just started competing in Nathans and this is 1997 all over again. He is or at least was the most recognized figure in the sport appearing on Carson Daly, Kimmel , etc etc . The name Badlands Booker is about as household as mom, ice cream and apple pie .

  22. anonymous said

    June 21, 2009 @ 11:19 pm

    Arturo Rios was confused. He thought the qualifier was at Shea Stadium instead of Citifield. They still havent torn the place down yet. Word has it that IFOCE is contemplating charging admission while using that sanitation dump of a stadium for future competitive eating events

  23. Anonymous said

    June 21, 2009 @ 11:43 pm

    All this talk about cheating. Where was Wild Bill? He knows all the rules and confirms all the weights. No one cheats with Wild Bill aroud.

  24. Wise Butt said

    June 22, 2009 @ 6:41 am

    No one cheats with Wild Bill around except him – Badlands does not cheat, he just eats. No matter what totals you want to give him -he won

  25. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    June 22, 2009 @ 7:24 am

    Congratulations Badlands! It would have been an understatement to state you would qualify, but you made a profound statement! Dang!

    And Pat (from Moonachie), you made a heck of a statement too w/ 32. It would be a real travesty if you’re not at Coney. I have thought all along that you have the potential to be in the top 10.

    Getting back to Booker, I remember years ago Badlands stating something to the effect that no matter how long it took him, even if it took 20 years, he would eventually eat 50 HDBs and give Koby a run for his money. Somehow I always believed that. When BL Booker truly gets hungry and focused, he can do anything!

  26. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    June 22, 2009 @ 7:32 am

    There is no reason for Badlands to have to explain or give his thoughts (regarding the qualifier or anything else) to people who don’t bother to register and log in with some sort of identity.

    That would be like a mouse demanding a response from the lion as to why he didn’t eat him.

    If people have such little regard for themselves, why should anyone else address them —- especially someone of the status of Eric “Badlands” Booker.

    Be thankful he even posts here.

  27. Anonymous said

    June 22, 2009 @ 8:10 am

    Every time he eats 2 meats, the counter flips two cards. Every time he eats the 2 corresponding buns, she flips two more. It is plain to see.

  28. Mega Munch said

    June 22, 2009 @ 10:47 am

    Awesome job Badlands! It’s worth noting that his double deuce represents a 45 percent increase over his previous career high (27.5 in 2009). That’s pretty awesome. OJ – What are the best HDB increases from one year to the next?

  29. ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)

    June 22, 2009 @ 11:50 am

    Booker’s overall previous best was 30.5 at the 2006 NYC civil service qualifier. He also did 30 at the Belmont horse track in 2003.

    http://eatfeats.com/query.php?_table=eaters&id=5

  30. Pat from moonachie said

    June 22, 2009 @ 11:51 am

    Congrats Eric! ..you kicked (my) ass!

    (my computer died so my communication is limited.)

  31. anonymous said

    June 22, 2009 @ 12:11 pm

    Pat maybe the pests sent you a virus by mistake. Nothing worse than friendly fire by mistake

  32. Liz said

    June 22, 2009 @ 3:30 pm

    Amazing! Nicely done, Badlands.

  33. Anonymous said

    June 22, 2009 @ 6:25 pm

    Amazing to think that Badlands’ previous best was in a 12 minute competition as well.

  34. Anonymous said

    June 22, 2009 @ 7:55 pm

    Hell eat 50 on July 4.

  35. mike landrich said (Registered July 4, 2007)

    June 22, 2009 @ 9:26 pm

    Congrats to the Big Man himself. the Double Deuce is extremely impressive. This 4th is looking to be the best ever in total # of HDBs eaten. I wonder how many eaters will be 40+?

  36. anonymous said

    June 23, 2009 @ 7:45 am

    These comments are ridiculous, even comedic at times. Their is no way Booker ate 40 HDB’s. He’s a legend and a great person, but a double-deuce eater he is not. Obviously, being caught up in the moment, 40 might have sounded good, but when the dust settled he knew it wasn’t what he ate. Unfortunately, it’s too late to make a correction to the public, being uncomfortable for him to do so. I respect his ability, like we all do, but should be smart enough to believe that 30-34 is his capacity. I wish you the best of luck on the 4th and hope you do hit 40 again and prove myself and others wrong.

  37. anonymous said

    June 23, 2009 @ 8:57 am

    The sad part is that over the years the bar had to be risen in order to push everyone to their extreme limits. In a sense , its mind over matter. When Krachie did 22 1/4 it was considered impossible for anyone to even come close to that. Now 22 is like eating 10. Its nothing. When Kobe ate 50 for the first time it was like nobody is ever going to come close to that. . The next year or two a slew of eaters were eating in the 20’s and Booker and Jarvis were the first to reach 30. They tried to sell Booker vs Kobe 5 or 6 yrs ago even though Kobe would beat him by 20 or more . It was not a realistic rivalry because Booker’s only shot at beating Kobe was in the hope that he would throw up and get DQ’d . It’s nice to dream but lets face it Janus and Booker are still 20 some odd hot dogs away from catching Joey or Kobe in the finals . I think second or third place is what they should be shooting for because it’s more of a realistic goal

  38. anonymous said

    June 23, 2009 @ 10:51 am

    If Booker does 25 -28 in the finals its obvious some idiot that works for nathans credited him with two extra plates at citifield

  39. Dr. Bigtime said

    June 23, 2009 @ 2:20 pm

    That is absolutely incredible. Badlands, you are the man. Best of luck on July 4th. I am absolutely amazed.

  40. Gavonne said

    June 23, 2009 @ 2:37 pm

    Part 1 of the contest is now on my youtube page(muzixan).Congatulations,Badlands!!!

  41. George said

    June 23, 2009 @ 7:56 pm

    Wow! Nice Badlands!

  42. Stevie Adnor said (Registered October 31, 2008)

    June 24, 2009 @ 9:07 am

    I probably should just let this one go, but obviously a new urban legend has been born.

    Badlands’ phone must be burning up since I suspect a whole bunch of eaters are dying to know how to nearly double their first-half numbers in the last 3-1/2 minutes of a contest. Unless I missed something, it would appear that having a confused and hyperactive counter might be a crucial element. I was especially impressed with the 8 HDB jump from 22 to 30 while apparently eating at a pretty leisurely pace. Oh well, it makes a great story anyway. He should blow Sonya, Bob, Hall, and Juliet away this year. I’ll bet they’re pretty nervous.

    What’s even more amusing to me is how many posters are practically wetting themselves to jump on the bandwagon with this. But hey- it’s all about fun, right? “It’s all good.” I don’t know the guy, and he seems nice enough, but I agree with Rhonda that he shouldn’t bother to address anyone (including me) one way or the other. If the cards say you ate 40, then you ate 40 – end of story. And I think it’s a great story. Pat Philbin should be given some kind of “Mr. Gracious” award, though – with the right help, he might have done 50.

  43. Rhonda Evans said

    June 24, 2009 @ 10:24 am

    That post makes entertaining reading Stevie.Badlands has nothing to gain by chiming in here. Even if he didn’t eat the 40, it’s not his fault that the counters were overzealous. And given that possible scenario, he would really embarrass the IFOCE to state after the fact that their “official” total for him is wrong.

    If there’s anyone who deserves the benefit of the doubt, however, it’s “Badlands” Booker. I, for one, would need both hands, plus maybe a foot, to count the number of times he’s been on the receiving end of less than favorable judgment/circumstances in competitions that has cost him money and higher placings. But Badlands, being the exemplary person and sportsman he is, has always chosen the high road, with his, “it’s all good” attitude and friendly smile, instead of pointing a finger.

    Whatever he does on the 4th, whether it be 25 or 45, Badlands is Da Man!

  44. Mega Munch said

    June 24, 2009 @ 10:39 am

    Wow, he did go from 22 to 30 with one flip of the cards…

    That’s freakin’ awesome!! Badlands is a bad mo-fo.

  45. Anonymous said

    June 24, 2009 @ 11:48 am

    The same way U.S. Male suddenly surged ahead and ripped everybody a new one in A.C. Crawfish.

  46. Anonymous said

    June 24, 2009 @ 11:53 am

    Considering the 3 nicest guys in the sport were there (Badlands, Philbin, Nasty Nate) no wonder no one said anything about the inflated totals for the top 2. I doubt it mattered in the outcome of the contest.

  47. anonymous said

    June 24, 2009 @ 12:03 pm

    U.S Male should have split his winnings with the other eaters because that title is bullshit

  48. The Critic said

    June 24, 2009 @ 12:57 pm

    Rhonda’s rational response is right

  49. Anonymous said

    June 24, 2009 @ 3:25 pm

    watch the video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC_OvvCkfeU&feature=channel_page . Thanks Gavonne for posting and clearing up this controversy. Badlands eats 22 in the first 6 minutes, you can see it plain as day. You don’t have to count the hot dogs, just count the buns he eats – plain as day. add that to the 8 he eats in part 2 of the video and it’s a solid 30. And Rhonda, it is Badlands fault for not stepping up and admitting he only ate 30 – taking credit for 40 when you know you got no where close is a disgrace and don’t try to tell me that you lose track of how many you have eaten, you know the difference between 30 and 40.

  50. George said

    June 24, 2009 @ 6:11 pm

    Anony 3:25, So what? You’re taking this *WAY TOO SERIOUSLY*. It’s just a freakin’ eating contest! Enjoy it for it’s supposed to be, then go out and get a life~

  51. bikeryjeff said

    June 24, 2009 @ 6:57 pm

    I have to agree after checking out the video Booker did no where near 40. I mean they had little kids counting plates. If the Shea Bros.want this to become a serious sport they need to get decent officals, change the plates to a hard plastic and maybe even initial them. Let’s face it Pat from Moonachie got ripped off (no offense to Booker). I believe this conspiracy goes back a few years when O&A called out the Shea bros for suspending Pat for being on the Opie & Anthony Show. I mean he was ranked in the top 20 and passed up to go to the Spike TV eat off for no apparent reason. I mean Crazy Legs was not even ranked and he made the trip. This sport might as well be pro wrestling.

  52. The Hungman said

    June 24, 2009 @ 9:05 pm

    Sorry to disagree with bikeryjeff’s comment on June 24, 2009 @ 6:57 pm. If this sport was pro wrestling, The Hangman would be in the top ten. Or at least a judge, standing side by side with Brian Seiken, at Coney Island this 4th of July.

    I do agree with Anonymous comments on June 24, 2009 @ 3:25 pm. I do recall Broadway at the Beach in 2008 when Badlands got screwed by a false count from Juliet Lee. If it was fair then, it must still be fair now. The video from Myrtle Beach shows Juliet winning by cheating. This video shows Badlands HDB count must have been on Viagra because it sure shot up. I always wondered what performance drugs might be in those cups. Wonder who will have “blue water” at Coney?

  53. anonymous said

    June 24, 2009 @ 11:12 pm

    Hold up! How the F*** do you know Philbin even ate 32? Hearing what really happened, he definitely got an extra plate. Booker won with a low 30 number, but Philbin wasn’t cheated out of anything…he still would have lost.
    Booker 30
    Philbin 27
    Nate 25
    This is absolutely TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  54. Anonymous said

    June 24, 2009 @ 11:59 pm

    Anonymous 11:12pm has an excellent point. Anonymous 3:25’s analysis is incomplete. And anonymous 11:53am sums this whole thing up, “I doubt it mattered in the outcome of the contest.”

    -Anonymous

  55. Anonymous said

    June 25, 2009 @ 8:11 am

    I think I smell an Exhibition Rematch between Badlands and Philbin …wait! ..nah, it was just a fart!

  56. Mega Munch said

    June 25, 2009 @ 8:54 am

    BikeryJeff — Good idea with the plastic plates and numbering them to avoid mix-ups. The IFOCEMLE will likely move in that direction, but it’ll take them a good 12 to 18 months to figure out how to do it. It’s a pretty complicated process….all that writing and those numbers. And then they have to figure out a way to print numbers on paper and attach them to the eaters (scotch tape? safety pins? staples?). I mean, they’re still working on a system for recording contest results on something other than a paper plate.

  57. Anonymous said

    June 25, 2009 @ 9:21 am

    Why is Mega Munch so sarcastic all of the time? Must have a huge pork with the IFOCEMLE.

  58. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    June 25, 2009 @ 10:15 am

    I never did believe the IFOCE took the entertainment CE seriously as a sport, but I do think they take it seriously as entertainment. Unlike wrestling, however, there are no plots/planned scripts. Whatever happens happens.

    Haphazard counting and incorrect totals are natural harbingers for controversy and dissension among participants, which can make for great storylines among MLE’s ever-growing and ever-changing cast of characters.

    Instead of trying to make CE an Olympic event—-a most unrealistic quest, perhaps MLE should focus on the strength of their current brand of entertainment.

  59. anonymous said

    June 25, 2009 @ 10:42 am

    Badlands shows alot of class by not responding to negative idiots that refuse to leave real names. To those of you that feel a need to respond back to anonymous posters and not the real names, then it just proves that you have very little going on in your life

  60. Mega Munch said

    June 25, 2009 @ 2:36 pm

    Nah, I don’t have a pork OR a beef with the IFOCEMLE. I just get some jabs in now and then because I want to see it succeed and become better. (Seriously, no sarcasm this time.)

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