Don “Moses” Lerman has started his blog at MosesNews.com, about 10 days before his announced opening date. The blog has a mailbag section where readers can post comments. The current mailbag question is “Should Don Lerman retire?”

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Levi “the Prophet” Oliver has a blog at http://levioliver.statesmanblogs.com/ The blog descibes both his training for a triathlon and his thoughts on competitive eating. Oliver does not say if he will be competiting in the Huevos Rancheros contest to be held on South Padre Island later this week.

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The Richmond Times Dispatch has an article about competitive eating. The main point of the article is that no medical research has been performed on competitive eaters to find out what enables them to do what normal people cannot.

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The seventh episode of Brian Seiken’s video podcast is now online, and it is the funniest show yet. Brian declares a truce in the Great Pickle Jihad (by jihad I mean the quest for the most spiritually enlightened way to eat pickles quickly and not violence or terrorism against pickles) and goes to chez Lipsitz for what he believes is a friendly dinner, only to have Kevin spring an escarole contest on him. The scenes of Kevin preparing the escarole with dubious sanitary standards should help discourage any dieter from eating. Brian also has a phone interview with Kevin’s nephew.

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Krazy Kevin Lipsitz will be Brian Seiken’s guest for the seventh episode of his television show. The episode is currently in post-production.

Brian has also made a commitment to improve his physique and health. Lets all support him in his efforts to lose weight. He intends to continue in competitive eating.

Seiken has also submitted two links:

• A show on radio station WFMU from early 2002 about competitive eating with interviews by Richard Shea, Cookie Jarvis and Andrew Goldstein can be obtained at http://www.wfmu.org/listen.php?show=2698
  (Real player required) The competitive eating segment begins at 1:04. The show occurred between the Glutton Bowl and the airing of the Gutbuster documentary (it was hoped at the time that the Glutton Bowl would be an annual event.)
• A blog entry by a Harvard Law student briefly mentions the MTV True Life competitive eating documentary. The author finds the milieu of competitive eating fascinating and hopes to write some personality sketchs of eaters on his blog.

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Crazy Legs Conti: TopicMag , 2004:

I [Conti] lost in Boston to Ed “Cookie” Jarvis (360 pounds—“one pound for each degree in a Lazy Susan,” George Shea would note).

Steve Rushin: Sports Illustrated, March 6, 2006:

He [Kobayashi] dominates dinosaurs like Ed (Cookie) Jarvis, who weighs 419 pounds, or more than one pound for each degree of a Lazy Susan.

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IFOCE.com has a graphic for the 2006 goldenpalace.net World Series of Competitive Eating with no additional information. It is not clear if the World Series will entail new contests or if it is just a term to describe all the contests sponsored by goldenpalace. There is also a graphic for Alka Seltzer, so top eaters should probably be making travel plans for Las Vegas in July for US Open II.

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In one of the ads in Visa’s new advertising campaign, a diner completes a large burger in a restaurant’s eating challenge (the burger appears to be about a third to a fourth of the size of Kate Stelnick’s burger) The theme of that commercial is “Life takes Determination” and it can be viewed in the advertising section of the Visa web site.

This is the second time I am aware of that a giant burger has been used in an advertising campaign. A Hardee’s commercial last year alluded to Kate Stelnick’s feat by mentioning Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub’s 4 pound Sourdough burger. The commercial claimed that no one had every been able to finish the burger. It did not state that no one could finish that sandwich regardless of his or her appetite because it is not currently on the menu.

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Two competitive eating books are now going to hit the shelves in April. The release date of Jason Fagone’s book has been advanced from early June to April 25, three weeks after Eat This Book by Ryan Nerz appears in bookstores. Fagone’s book has officially been retitled Horsemen of the Esophagus: Competitive Eating and the Big Fat American Dream, despite the fact that many top competitive eaters are neither fat and/or male. Two short review blurbs of Fagone’s book have been posted on amazon.com

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The Sheboygan Press reports that the Sheboygan Common Council has unanimously voted to file (which I assume means reject) Clarence Mertz’s request for the city to hold an advisory referendum asking if the bratwurst contest should continue. Mertz can apparently resubmit his referendum request in 2007.

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The Sheboygan Press has an editorial supporting Clarence Mertz’s efforts to put a referendum about the bratwurst eating contest on the ballot. The column stops short of agreeing with Mertz that the contest should be banned. A referendum in 1966 did result in the termination of the bratwurst festival due to excessive drunkenness.

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The sixth episode of Brian Seiken’s television show is now available. Commissioner Charles Hardy is Brian’s first in studio guest. Hardy describes how he became involved in competitive eating and his role in the 9/11 recovery efforts. Hardy also offers his opinion on if he would have disqualified Kobayashi in the 2001 Nathan’s contest. The most dramatic section of the show occurs when Dale Boone calls into the show from India and Hardy confronts Boone about his inflammatory statements and actions.

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The Tour de Gorge reruns will continue into March. If you want to see Sonya Thomas in high definition, you can view her wins in the 2004 taco and meatball contests.

• Tour De Gorge: Title Rally
  INHD, Tue Mar 07 08:00pm EST
• Tour De Gorge: 2004 World Taco Eating Championship
  INHD, Wed Mar 08 08:00pm EST
• Tour De Gorge: 2004 World Meatball Eating Championship
  INHD, Wed Mar 15 08:00pm EST

The Tour de Gorge has a page on the INHD website at http://inhd.com/item.jsp?item=29&mp=cb2

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Mike Nichols of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a column in favor of the Sheboygan bratwurst contest. He would consider banning the contest if it used Chicago style hot dogs. George Shea and Chowhound Chapman are both quoted and they have diverging opinions on the frequency of vomiting in contests. Nichols says that Oleg Zhornitskiy’s mayonaisse eating record is much more disgusting than the bratwurst contest.

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Powerlifter Marty Gallagher has an article about his theory on how the more slender competitive eaters consume massive amounts of food and avoid gaining weight. He says that eating 6 meals spread throughout the day will produce less weight gain than one massive meal containing the same amount of calories. Sonya Thomas eating one giant meal seems to disprove Gallagher’s theory.

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The next post in the series about rankings lists impressive performances by unranked eaters since July. The best currently unranked eater is definitely Chip “The Phenom” Simpson who has three top 4 finishes in non-qualifiers and should definitely be ranked in the top 15 in the next rankings. Other notable eaters, listed alphabetically include:

Leland Collins – winner of ABQ GC (did not participate in finals)
Ryan Delano – lost OKC GC to Conti by 1/2 sandwich
Erik “The Red” Denmark – respectable performances in Big Daddy Burger & chili cheese fries
Jason “The Erbivore” Erb – top NW eater in Seattle Voicewing
Ken “Mongo” Federighi – respectable performances in chili cheese fries & meatballs
Shaun Kessler – 3 #3 finishes in Krystal qualifiers
Andrew “Skinnyboy” Lane – #3 in ABQ GC – #6 in Raleigh with better result
Mike Nafziger – #2 to Janus’ record performance, top local in Iowa smoked pork
Justin Mih – #2 & #3, lost only to LeFevre & Donahue
Bryan Miller – #2 & #3 finish in Krystal qualifiers
David Ray – #2 in Miss. Krystal
Joe “Donkey Kong” Zakerski – #3 in Nashville Krystal qualifier

If IFOCE had a female rookie of the year award for 2005, the best choice for that would probably be Alicia Garcia, who ate 10 sandwiches at the Nebraska State Fair

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Gluttony is the topic of columnist Steve Rushin in the current issue of Sports Illustrated (subscription required to read column online). The second half of his column is devoted to competitive eating. Crazy Legs Conti, described as a lean former three sport letterman at Johns Hopkins, says he once ate himself out of a sarcophagus filled with popcorn and that to win a bet, the only calories he received for a week came from Guinness. Rushin makes two mistakes: he says the upcoming corned beef contest will be on Saint Patrick’s Day (it is actually on the 16th) and that Kobayashi weighs 132 pounds (he was almost 40 pounds heavier at the Krystal Square Off finals.)

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The official IFOCE rankings have not been updated since September. I am going to do a series of posts providing information about the rankings which will help anyone who wants to create a more up to date listing.

I have not been able to find any information that the following eaters have competed since the US Open last July or earlier. This does not imply that the following eaters should be dropped from the rankings.

#13 Dale Boone
#17 Oleg Zhornitskiy
#29 Leon Feingold
#31 Randy Harrison
#32 Bill “Pit” Pendleton
#33 Lynn Curley
#37 Ken Tittle
#38 Cade Hardin
#41 Jason Kokoszka
#42 Ed Taboada, Jr.
#47 “Collard Green” Hughes
#48 Bob Ford
#49 Robert Brooks

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The page for MTV’s True Life: I am a Competitive Eater has a summary and video gallery (images 84-95) with screen captures of Takeru Koabayashi, Tim “Eater X” Janus and Ian “The Invader” Hickman (Carlene LeFevre also appears in the background in one of the pictures) Flash player required to view images.

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Myspace sites for other competitive eaters:

Pat Bertoletti
Chip Simpson
Loren “Bubba” Yarbrough
Levi Oliver
Jason “Erbavore” Erb
Laura (Jason Erb’s girlfriend)

Thanks for the information about myspace sites. If anyone is aware of other competitive eating myspace sites, please supply a URL to it if you know it.

Updated 2/25 11:36
Brian Seiken has set up a myspace site at http://www.myspace.com/beautifulbrian

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Humble Bob Shoudt has started a myspace site at: http://www.myspace.com/humblebob

Other competitive eating myspace sites I am aware of:
Badlands Booker
Pat “from Moonachie” Philbin
Hungry Charles Hardy
Larry “The Legend” McNeil
Wing Bowl

Please inform me of any other competitive eating myspace sites.

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If you are having a competitive eating television withdrawal after two shows on consecutive nights, go see the fifth episode of “Beautiful” Brian Seiken’s video podcast. Brian starts by reiterating the details about the “No Mas” affair and offers his anonymous critic a phone interview on his next television show. Brian does his first in-person interview with a competitive eater at Don “Moses” Lerman’s home. Don shows off his vast collection of eating trophies and paraphenalia, including what is most likely the world’s largest collection of competitive eating themed embroidered jackets. In addition to attempting 18 jalapeno peppers in under a minute, Don also does his standup routine and sings Sinatra. Don says “for the record” that he is going to come back better than ever and take the 2007 Laredo jalapeno contest.

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The Attack of the Show! website has a video clip of Badlands Booker eating a 100×100 burger from In N Out Burger in a one minute contest with a show employee.

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The first Tim Janus segment of MTV’s True Life: I am a Competitive Eater begins with footage from the TripRewards birthday cake eating contest at Grand Central Station. The next location is Eater X’s workplace where he works as a day trader. Childhood pictures of Tim are displayed. Janus then goes to Nathan’s to train with Crazy Legs Conti (wearing an outfit inspired by Angus Young of AC/DC) for Nathan’s French Fry contest. Brian Seiken, Charles Hardy, Allen Goldstein, Cookie Jarvis, Badlands Booker make cameo appearances. Cookie Jarvis wins the contest.

We are then transported to Ian Hickman’s apartment in Lexington, KY. Hickman does not consider himself a “metrosexual”, he views himself as a “straight man with good taste.” Then a montage of childhood pictures of Hickman eating is displayed. Hickman will appear in his first contest after some impressive performances in restaurant challenges. “The Invader” prepares for the contest by eating massive amounts of lettuce (3 to 5 pounds) to stretch his stomach.

The next segment is filmed in Takeru Kobayashi’s hometown of Nagoya, Japan. Kobayashi is eating massive amounts of food in a restaurant which has a conveyor belt to deliver food. He cleans at least 100 small plates and claims he is not near his maximum. He is notably bloated after his meal. His apartment appears to be about the same size as an American walk-in closet. Some footage of Japanese eating contests is displayed. Kobayashi then goes to the gym and shows off his stomach which he claims sits lower than the normal person so it has less impediments to expansion. He builds his muscle to increase his metabolism and calorie consumption. The Tsunami watches a tape of last year’s contest and tries to see how he can improve. He has a goal of 55 hot dogs, one more than the previous year.

Tim Janus then prepares for Nathan’s by eating 11 pounds of food and drinking 2 pounds of water. He eats a variety of foods but no hot dogs.

Hickman trains for the Spicefest chicken wing contest by going to Hooters and is served by a Britney Spears lookalike. He eats 135 wings. Driving back from the restaurant, Ian suffers a “reversal of fortune.”

Kobayashi goes to the supermarket with a white umbrella. He says that competitive eating is healthy if you pay attention to your health. The Japanese equivalents of hot dogs does not look like Nathan’s offerings.

Tim travels to the Nathan’s qualifier in Hartford, CT and stands next to Brian Seiken at the contest. A mark of 22.5 hot dogs gives Eater X victory and a trip to Nathan’s finals.

Kobayashi goes to a restaurant called Mountain because of its large portions. In Japan, chefs challenge great eaters to consume huge amounts of food. The chef of Mountain gives Kobayashi a huge plate of pasta and an iceberg of shaved ice flavored with chili peppers. The Tsunami receives two more giant plates of pasta. Kobayashi says that it is possible to die eating competively, but “to be professional, you don’t die.” The chef congratulates Kobayashi and says he consumed 22 pounds.

Ian Hickman travels to the Spicefest hot wing eating contest. He sits next to a large heavily tatooed man. He says the wings are hard to eat because they are so dry. Chowhound Chapman emcees the contest (no mention is made of IFOCE vs. AICE issues) and announces that Hickman came in third place.

Kobayashi goes to a pizzeria after arriving in New York. He describes his precontest eating plan. The eaters assemble in Central Park for the weigh in. Janus is impressed with Kobayashi’s muscularity. George Shea says that the goal of Nathan’s is glory and the mustard belt and not money. Pat Philbin, Sonya Thomas, Rich and Carlene LeFevre appear briefly. Gersh Kuntzman of the New York Post interviews Tim Janus who says that the only way he can win the contest is by Kobayashi vomiting or dying. Tim Janus does a hot dog sprint with a goal of 6 hot dogs in 75 seconds (He takes 110 seconds) He then tries to eat 13 pounds in 30 minutes to stretch his stomach. He is disappointed in the practice with both his speed and his perceived stomach capacity.

Hickman then attends the spoonbread contest where his major competition will be senior citizen Margaret Rappart. Hickman eats with hands while Rappart uses a spoon. Hickman wins, but Margaret (who is the only female competitive eater quoted) says she could have given Ian a stronger challenge if she were younger.

Janus wakes up at 7:15 the day of Nathan’s contest. His goal is 27 hot dogs. The competitors take the bus to Coney Island. The contest begins. Tim finishes with 22.5 hot dogs which puts him at 9th place. Kobayashi finishes with 49 hot dogs and fails to break his record which he blames on his jaw getting tired. He says it takes 12 hours for his stomach to digest whatever is inside it. Tim Janus signs autographs and poses for photographs after the contest despite being disappointed in his performance.

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Erik “The Red” Denmark has started a blog at http://erikdenmark.blogspot.com/
which will document his quest to qualify for Nathan’s and become the best eater in the northwest. He has pictures from the chili cheese fries contest, the Laredo Jalapeno Festival and his attempt during Super Bowl 40 to join Sharon Scholten in the 40+ hot dogs in four hours club.

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