Flashback 2011 to Cleveland Scene’s profile of Scott Bickel (RIP) which included this section on how he hoped his competitive eating career could reverse the fortunes of his hometown:

The cult of Beefcakes Bickel has sprung forth from a specific time and place: post-LeBron Cleveland, a cityscape in a desperate scramble for self-esteem. The years of losing seasons, national punch lines, the very public breakup with our hero — it’s all taken its toll, shrinking our civic ego to that of a touchy teenager’s, always sucking in that gut and checking the fly.

Is relief on the way? With the city’s pro athletes useless to salve our wounds, a cottage industry has cropped up among the amateur ranks: the search for a championship — any championship whatsoever — for Cleveland. From women’s boxing to ultimate fighting to Harry Potter fandom, newsmaking residents are eager to bring distinction back home. Prime-time glory? Not exactly. This is ESPN3-caliber fame.

Bickel is the latest — perhaps greatest — of them. He decided early on that his mission would not be merely about himself, but about Cleveland. Some would raise championship banners. Bickel will raise hot dogs.

In January 2012, Scott Bickel took his life by jumping off a bridge.

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Ray Maas has uploaded a video of yesterday’s Rock the Tot finals in Cleveland. The amounts of tater tots eaten in 3 minutes according to that video:

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update Jul 1 Joseph Cerulli has a contest video

update
1) Jeff Butler 22
2) Ronnie Hartman 20

1W) Liz McLurg 8.5

Ronnie Hartman and Scott Thomas appeared on Fox 8 this morning. Jeff Butler also is expected to compete.

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Dave Brunelli won tonight’s Rock the Tot finals in Cleveland with a total of 3 pounds and 12.7 ounces. Guinness is crediting that amount a record even though Molly Schuyler ate over 6 pounds in last year’s contest. (via Chance DeWerth) update Oct 27 The Times Tribune has an article about runner up Dave Wood.
update Oct 28 The finals results are now posted on rockthetot.com

1) Dave Brunelli
2) Dave Wood
3) Bob Kuhns
4) Tedy Delacruz
5) Amory Ronquillo

Joe Menchetti was originally listed as a finalist. His place was taken by Amory Ronquillo

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The field has been announced for the Rock the Tot finals in Cleveland on October 25 on the Bar Louie twitter:

1) Dave Brunelli 4.38 lbs.
2) Dave Wood 3.63 lbs.
3) Tedy Delacruz 3.5 lbs.
4) Bob Kuhns 3.44 lbs.
5) Joe Menchetti 3.39 lbs.

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update Winners Results: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
1) Brian Dudzinksi 29.5
2) Jeff Butler 29, takes wild card lead
3) Jim Reeves 22
4T) Crazy Legs Conti 20
4T) Brian Subich 20
6) Scott Thomas 18
7) Matt Bonnano 16
8) Bill Myers 14
9) Jacob Halicek 12
10) Tim Cain 10

1W) Nikki Rodriguez 10 – Neslie Ricasa takes wild card
2W) Molly N 5.5
update Brian Dudzinski might have won the men’s contest

Bob  Shoudt predicts he will eat 37 hot dogs in the first 8 minutes.

This might be the first qualfier where two unranked women hit 10+ if Nikki Rodriguez and Molly Nemunaitis compete.

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