G. Shea: El Wingador vs. Chestnut like Don Rickles vs. Tiger Woods
Dan Gross’ new Wing Bowl column on philly.com has quotes from George Shea who says:
Bill “El Wingador” Simmons “is the purest wing eater I’ve ever seen. He has complete comfort with the wing, but El Wingador competing against [Joey] Chestnut is like Don Rickles playing golf against Tiger Woods.”
Shea makes the following defense of “El Wingador”: “Wingador has something none of the other IFOCE eaters have. Passion.” and then apparently contradicts himself in the following sentence: “He has a passion for this event like most other eaters, but I don’t think he can beat Joey.”
The claim appears that Joey Chestnut “competes in IFOCE events around the world”, but I believe there are 8 active IFOCE/AICE eaters who have competed outside North America, with Sonya Thomas being the only IFOCE member in that group.
The column describes the relationship between the Wing Bowl and the IFOCE: “The IFOCE grants a provisional sanction to the Wing Bowl, but does not oversee the event and is not involved with its judging.”
Dave “U. S. Male” Goldstein, who will turn 40 the weekend of the Wing Bowl, also appears in the column and will be competing for more than prizes:
Goldstein is taking pledges for Rangerforacure.info, a charity set up by Army ranger Chris Young, who battled thyroid cancer and now raises money to fight childhood cancer. Interested parties may contact Goldstein at USMaleWingBowl@aol.com
PhillyBurbs.com has a report on Michael Sarian’s victory in Saturday’s hoagie eating qualifier which claims that the field for this year’s Wing Bowl is 28, including 10 professional eaters and 18 nonprofessionals.
Loading ...
joey b said
January 16, 2008 @ 8:52 am
Great stuff, US Male, I look forward to seeing you at wing bowl.
Ghost Of Eric Gregg said
January 16, 2008 @ 9:13 am
Sorry El Wingador I wont be around to give you the good call s, I’m now being judged by a higher athority good luck on your own.
Mega Munch said
January 16, 2008 @ 9:49 am
“Wingador has something none of the other IFOCE eaters have. Passion.â€
Gee, thanks, George.
Signed,
All other IFOCE eaters
Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)
January 16, 2008 @ 10:19 am
MM,
I doubt anyone’s REALLY offended, especially you given that you’ve been to the event. WB is pure melodrama and George is as good as anyone in the theatrics. You should hear the stuff that is said daily on the radio. George’s comment is meant to build the storyline.
Jeff Olson said
January 16, 2008 @ 11:43 am
if anyone cares, the link for official wingbowl rules has been activated on 610 website. good luck to everyone, hope to meet all of you.
anonymous said
January 16, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
i dont care and anyone that is not in the contest could give a shit either. They hype this junk way too much
Rhonda Evans said
January 16, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
None of the other eaters have passion? I have not been so taken aback with such a comment since the surprise birth of my former husband’s first child out of wedlock.
That’s why George seems so fake. Yes, El Wingador does have passion, and lots of it. But so does Koby, and Joey, and Sonya, and Juliet, and Rich, and Pat, and Brad, and Allen, and Dave, and many, many other IFOCE eaters.
He said
January 16, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
anonymous, thats what they do you bonehead
Erik the Red said (Registered January 9, 2006)
January 16, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
Come on George, if you really said that, that is weak. The only think El Wingador has is Philly on his side and that is why he is dangerous, not because he has more passion, not even close. If El Wingador had to fly to a different city to compete in a hostile environment where he would not be favored do you think he would even bother? Nope.
beautifulbrian said
January 16, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
Wingador is to angelo and al what Ed Krachie was to George Shea. Both of them are the knight and shining armor of their respective promotors. Krachie did a lot of extra promotional work for Nathans as a favor to George. Wingador is coming out of retirement partly because he wants to, but at the urging of angelo and al as well
He said
January 16, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
erik what do you mean by “if you really said that”???????????
UP's US said
January 16, 2008 @ 3:07 pm
The only reason ElWingador is back is his resturant failed in just a few months last year and he needs to win to get new backers.
US MALE said
January 16, 2008 @ 6:52 pm
I know for a fact that El Wingador was not coaxed out of retirement by Angelo & Al. He suddenly said it at the end of last year’s wing bowl because he was outgraged at an outsider winning it again. His wife was pissed!!!!! He had some marital difficulty because of his decision to do this but he had no intention of backing out after he made the announcement. He is very passionate about winning this event as are all of the IFOCE guys.
This will truly be the greatest Wing Bowl ever with the best field ever assembled in Philly. I predict big things for myself and will announce that thursday morning when I am in the WIP studio around 9:00.