Link Buffet: September 8, 2008

September 8, 2008 at 12:04 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Kobayashi (小林尊), San Francisco, Shreveport, Sonya Thomas, Unafilliated Contests

Comments (36)

36 Comments »

  1. Is this a joke? said

    September 8, 2008 @ 12:37 pm

    That is the shittiest prize breakdown I have ever seen! What is up with these sponsors giving all the money to first place? It’s bad enough that Krystal is giving almost all of its additional prize money to the winner, but now this stupid pizza place is going one step further. 13,500 is enough money that you can spread it around generously. Fuck this sponsor. What a waste of money. What a waste of a contest. Whoever doesn’t win it is a chump for taking part in it.

  2. Mega Munch said

    September 8, 2008 @ 12:41 pm

    Jeezus, would it kill them to take $1,000 of that $13,500 NYC IFOCE prize purse and filter it down to 4th through 6th place (or beyond)? Give $500 to 4th, $300 to 5th and $200 to 6th. It’s not that difficult and its a such a small gesture to some of the middle ranked eaters who work so hard and travel so far for some of these contests!

    I’m amazed that more mid-ranked eaters don’t raise this point. I don’t even eat in IFOCE contests and it bothers me!

  3. Anonymous said

    September 8, 2008 @ 1:39 pm

    Who all is going to the grits eating contest?

  4. I said

    September 8, 2008 @ 4:31 pm

    I heard Anonymous will be at grits. And Anonymous, too. Oh, also Anonymous. It will be quite the lineup.

  5. Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)

    September 8, 2008 @ 4:32 pm

    Wow, the drop-off is pretty steep for this amount of total prize money. The super high payout garuntees that many of the top 10 will be present and the lack of payout depth garuntees that I dont have a chance in hell of recouping my transportation costs.

    I can only hope that this email has no credibility as the IFOCE has not listed the contest on their own page.

    sigh…

  6. Mega Munch said

    September 8, 2008 @ 4:57 pm

    By the way “Is this a Joke?”, I wouldn’t hold the top-heavy prize breakdown against the sponsor…it’s almost certainly up to the IFOCE how that money is broken down. Even an $8,000 first prize would guarantee top ranked eater turnout because that’s still more than most other contests pay.

    Take that $13,500 and spread it out like this (note how 2nd and 3rd get MORE MONEY under this system):

    1st – $8,000
    2nd – $3,000
    3rd – $1,500
    4th – $500
    5th – $300
    6th – $200

  7. Stoney Rockhead said

    September 8, 2008 @ 5:01 pm

    What…no shiny rocks for prize?

  8. Anonymous said

    September 8, 2008 @ 5:18 pm

    Pat and Joey will be there!

    https://www.harrahs.com/EventsDetail.do?locationCode=LAD&detailName=world-grits-eating-championship-detail&eventTitle=World%20Grits%20Eating%20Championship

  9. crawfish said (Registered May 24, 2008)

    September 8, 2008 @ 5:26 pm

    I will be in the audience at the grits eating contest and will report the results as soon as I get home!

  10. Badlands Booker said

    September 8, 2008 @ 9:50 pm

    I like grits but I’ll be at Krystals in Nashville that day

  11. Swallowing Shutterbug said

    September 9, 2008 @ 6:07 am

    KRYSTAL ATLANTA PICTURES AND VIDEO ARE UP!www.krystalsquareoff.com

  12. Are you kidding? said

    September 9, 2008 @ 8:34 am

    Megamunch, I’ll bet you a billion dollars it IS up to the sponsor. and even 8000 is way too much for 1st prize.

    Here:

    1st: 5,000
    2nd: 3,000
    3rd: 1,500
    4th: 1,250
    5th: 1,000
    6th: 750
    7th: 500

    There! Lots of spread, and way better balance. First prize should never been half of the total purse. Totally ridiculous.

  13. Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)

    September 9, 2008 @ 9:14 am

    MM,
    Now thats a breakdown I’d take a shot at!

  14. beautifulbrian said

    September 9, 2008 @ 10:21 am

    I saw the pics and videos and i look like shit. Stomach needs to be worked on big time! Those shirts make you look bigger than you are. Thanks to all for the kind words but 23 is not acceptabale in my book considering all the years ive been competing in the sport . I can make the excuse it was my first time competing in krystals but the totals i put up are lightweight. I hope to hit 31 at memphis if i actually make the trip . That number certainly wont make me a viable threat in the IFOCE but it will earn some sort of respectability amongst fellow eaters and might cut out some of the negative remarks coming from the peanut gallery

  15. Get with it IFOCE/Sponsors said

    September 9, 2008 @ 11:44 am

    IFOCE’s prizes are starting to suck. Everything is weighted way too much at the top. Golf and tennis don’t give almost everything to the winner. They pay out a lot of guys (in their cases, they pay out everybody), and the percentages are much different. They realize (apparently what eating sponsors are too stupid to recognize) that what catches the eye is the total purse. The first paragraph of the US Open’s press release about their purse touts the total value of the prizes given away, not just the first prize.

    FYI: The winner of the US Open won 1.5 million yesterday out of a men’s purse of 10.3 million.

    Here’s how the Masters broke down for just the Top 10 (they paid everyone who made the cut).

    1. $1,260,000

    2. $756,000

    3. $476,000

    4. $336,000

    5. $280,000

    6. $252,000

    7. $234,500

    8. $217,000

    9. $203,000

    10. $189,000

  16. I said

    September 9, 2008 @ 12:05 pm

    um this is not tennis or golf

  17. North Pole said (Registered April 28, 2008)

    September 9, 2008 @ 12:11 pm

    It does seem that if they spread out some of the money better, they’d have more people show up to compete, and could probably market that into more people to watch.

  18. anonymous said

    September 9, 2008 @ 12:28 pm

    They try to make it appear as though paying out 7 or 8 spots in an event is a great selling point that gives everyone a chance to make some money. Bullshit! Those 7 or 8 spots are usually top ten eaters which does not give lower ranked eaters a chance in hell of winning shit. Another point to bring out is the fact that unless you have big bucks to burn, nobody in their right mind is going to invest hundreds of dollars in traveling expenses to compete in the events. Eaters such as Joey, Pat , Humble Bob just to name a few are either being flown out or using their winnings from past events to pay for their expenses. Everyone else is fetch for your own which spells big hole in wallet.

  19. Rhonda Evans said

    September 9, 2008 @ 12:31 pm

    Perhaps a standard percentage payout system, such as the following, would be a fair outlay, given a $10K purse (in parentheses), as an example:

    1st: 40 % = ($4,000)
    2nd: 25 = (2,500)
    3rd: 15 = (1,500)
    4th: 10 = (1,000)
    5th: 5 = (500)
    6th: 3 = (300)
    7th: 2 = (200)

    A given percentage system can be used as a template in determining payouts involving purse money of any amount. And you can use varying percentage scales for paying additional placings.

  20. Locust said

    September 9, 2008 @ 1:30 pm

    I’ve been saying this all along even when I was reaping the benefits of the “winner take all” philosophy. The only way it will ever change is if enough people refuse to go to events where the prize money is so top heavy. Then you will end up with Joey, Pat, Bob, Tim and maybe Hall or Sonya. Without the rest of us that will prove to be pretty boring after awhile and interest will certainly wane and eventually die out.

  21. anonymous said

    September 9, 2008 @ 2:17 pm

    I agree 100% with Locust. When they start feeling the heat they act real nice to the members. Otherwise the selfishness sets in . Maybe they should just parade Joey around the country and let him compete against himself . See how entertaining that might be. I think everyone should get together and boycott the events and maybe they will get off they fuckin high horse and take care of the people that made they organization what it is today

  22. Slick willie said

    September 9, 2008 @ 2:21 pm

    Locust is absolutley right! Don’t support it…maybe the cry for help will be answered by Joey Chestnut, and bertoletti , and other top 5 eaters who will join u in protest. Thats the way to deal w this pizza pie.

  23. I said

    September 9, 2008 @ 3:16 pm

    if joey and pat do take a stand over this the $hea$ know others would hop in the vacated spaces

  24. Mega Munch said

    September 9, 2008 @ 3:23 pm

    I agree with Locust. Eaters need to stand up for what’s right. Instead of boycotting contests, a better first step might be for eaters to just SAY SOMETHING to the Shea’s about it. An e-mail, a phone call, a letter. An online petition signed by all the eaters. Anything.

    Rhonda – I like where your head is at. A standard percentage based payout system is both brilliant AND simple (which, like the “box score” system of reporting post-contest results, virtually ensures it will never be adopted by the IFOCE).

  25. Tom G said (Registered May 27, 2007)

    September 9, 2008 @ 3:34 pm

    That payout is very good. $1 000 for third place is still one of the better amounts you will see. How many contests are there where someone doesn’t need to eat at a world class level to still earn a few hundred? How many contests are there that pay $10 000 to whomever can prove they are the very best? There need to be more of the latter

  26. Carey said

    September 9, 2008 @ 4:38 pm

    Rhonda has a good idea with making it a percentage. Work out whatever amount the sponsors put up into the structured format. The only thing that I would add is having multiple payout structures depending on the amount of people in each contest.

    There are those that believe the sponsors are paying for the top eaters to be there. If they want to get the top eaters, pay the top dollars.

    I, you keep using that fact as defense in a lot of arguments. This isn’t golf. I can say the same thing. They shouldn’t have the structure that they have now, because this isn’t a horse race. It is a promotional event, with contracted performers.

  27. A. Nonymous said

    September 9, 2008 @ 5:51 pm

    Bitch bitch bitch, whine whine whine. Nothing is going to change, because Joey, and Pat, and Tim, and Bob, keep getting awarded these huge amounts to show up and crush the table enders. If the table enders leave, or boycott, another group of newbie cannon fodder will just step in to take their place. When they get tired of no money, a new group will step in, and on, and on, and on ad nauseum.

  28. TheIncredibleBulk said

    September 9, 2008 @ 8:18 pm

    I agree with rich

  29. TheIncredibleBulk said

    September 9, 2008 @ 8:21 pm

    or maybe at least book x amount of hotel rooms for each event that would be a lil help even if eaters had to share rooms that would be great for the sport? something like that to be fair for everybody

  30. Mega Munch said

    September 9, 2008 @ 8:47 pm

    A. Nonymous – I see your point, but I’m pretty sure Joey, Pat, Tim and Bob wouldn’t complain about getting an $8,000 first prize instead of a $10,000 first prize. They’d still come out and crush the competition, collect a huge check and the competition would earn a few bucks to pay for gas/airfare. It’s a win/win and it’s up to the Sheas to do the right thing and make it happen.

  31. Anonymous said

    September 10, 2008 @ 6:52 am

    Just because an email says it, doesn’t make it true…chill, people

  32. ghost of evans said

    September 10, 2008 @ 8:53 am

    Now that Chip and Seaver have DEFECTED to Dale’s league, Hall , Joey, and Pat might be thinking the same. I have to ponder as to what will become of the RANKINGS!. Would Humble Bob, Eater X & Sonya battle it out for supremacy in the IFOCE? Will the purses remain the same? . Will i still engage in using CAPS for certain words. I believe that Sonya’s ability will be truly vindicated if Joey, Hall & Pat decide to jump ship. Now it’s back to a few more rounds of S&M with my kinky BF.

  33. Rhonda Evans said

    September 10, 2008 @ 9:46 am

    That ghost of evans must be of James Evans from Good Times, because it’s not my ghost. I’m still here—-always will be, just less prevalent.

  34. ghost of evans said

    September 11, 2008 @ 10:51 am

    Mulitiple payout structure is a BRILLIANT idea Carey because it gives a fair and honest balance in the realm of sportsmanship. One thing you failed to mention WAS the Shea’s percentage cut in this profitable but WONDERFUL transaction According to reliable sources their asking fee is a modest $7-$8,000 dollars to sponsor an event. With the price of gasoline these days this is a bargain you cannot pass up! Instead of taking out a costly ad in a local newspaper or magazine, advertising with the IFOCE will rake in thousands of dollars for your business. Brilliant quotes such as “Elvis has left the building” “If i have to lie , cheat , beg or steal i will never go hungry again” “I have never been this emotional since the birth of my firstborn child” , “We were worried that the delicious taste of the ribs would slow the eaters down” are just an example of some of the INGENIOUS wit that the Shea brothers will incorporate free of charge into their funny and witty dialogue.

  35. the boy king said

    September 11, 2008 @ 1:36 pm

    Usually, the fee paid to the organization and the prize money are separate.

  36. TheIncredibleBulk said

    September 11, 2008 @ 3:26 pm

    lol……

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