The MLE facebook has a picture of the Nathan's Wall of Fame which is in the process of being repainted.

April 18, 2011 at 1:18 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:2011 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, New York City | Permalink * Comments (46)

46 Comments »

  1. I think said

    April 18, 2011 @ 1:44 pm

    I think jarvis will be pissed when his picture won’t be there, but why should it be anyway

  2. Anonymous said

    April 18, 2011 @ 2:02 pm

    It’s actually going to be really cool. They’re bring in renowned French muralist Pierre Puvis de Chavannes to paint a scene from last year’s event. It’s to be called “L’arrestation de Kobayashi” or “The Arrest of Kobayashi.”

  3. ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)

    April 18, 2011 @ 2:11 pm

    Jarvis, Lerman, Lipsitz and other retired IFOCE members were painted over last year. Here are posts about the wall being repainted last year:

    http://eatfeats.com/booker-jarvis-lerman-more-removed-from-wall-of-fame.html

    http://eatfeats.com/nathans-president-on-new-wall-of-fam.html

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

    April 18, 2011 @ 2:32 pm

    Again, it should not be called a Wall of Fame. If Booker and Jarvis don’t deserve to be on a Nathan’s Wall of Fame, I don’t know who does?

    If you want to honor the current best eaters call it a “Who’s Who Now” wall. If so, where’s Notorious BOB.

    It’s all politics and doing what’s best for the biz. I guess treating people with honesty and dignity was deemed an unnecessary factor in that equation long ago.

  5. obviously said

    April 18, 2011 @ 2:56 pm

    obviously this is so the MLE can distance themselves from their past ie Kobayashi

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

    April 18, 2011 @ 3:30 pm

    I suspect the IFOCE will attempt to get a restraining order against Koby during this year’s Nathan’s, so he won’t even be in the crowd. If they don’t you know the man will be there.

  7. I think said

    April 18, 2011 @ 3:32 pm

    Rhonda your right about politics, just as most things associated with mle,,,,,,, bullshit! Your also right in the name ,,let’s call it ” the we don’t care about you cause it’s our money wall of pictures”

  8. nunonabun2 said (Registered November 10, 2009)

    April 18, 2011 @ 3:53 pm

    That is not going to make a good acronym

  9. anonymous said

    April 18, 2011 @ 5:53 pm

    This is an outrage. Removing the legendary Don Moses Lerman from the wall is enough to bring tears to my eyes let alone the other names. Sad but lets face it, you have to ring out the old and ring in the new. I expect the new wall will not only get a super paint job but old images will be replaced with Stephanie Torres, Matt Stonie & Johnny Excell. Of course those images will be smaller in comparison to Crazy Legs Conti who;s image will be huge in stature

  10. anonymous said

    April 18, 2011 @ 5:56 pm

    Rhonda i think Bob will be the first to tell you , he’s an eater first a billboard stud second

  11. Pierre Le Bec said

    April 18, 2011 @ 6:54 pm

    The billboard is not complete until the Notorious B.O.B Shoudt is among the faces on it. I will send a sample painting to the offices of the MLE and hopefully they will like it better. Not only do we add Mr. Shoudt, but how can we not put the great Wrecking Ball up there too?

  12. historian said

    April 18, 2011 @ 8:08 pm

    What about Lerman? What about Jarvis? You could go on and on. (Why were Phil Lipper, Ed Kratchie, Mike DeVito, Ed Jarvis, Stu Birdy, Krazy Kev, Arai, Nakajima, etc, etc, not included.)

    See, this is exactly the reason I would never share my hot dogs if I won a qualifier. I give to one eater, I get slammed by others who did not get a taste. You can’t win in some peoples’ book so why the hell put yourself in that predicament?

    Instead of applauding past eaters, people look for the negative and get into this self-centered, jealous, what-about-me syndrome. That’s it in a nutshell and that’s sad.

    Let’s face it, some people are more talented than others, are truly legends, and are recognized much more by the public, as are Booker and Hardy. Why shit in the proverbial punch bowl!??

  13. Don Moses Lerman said

    April 18, 2011 @ 8:21 pm

    I made Nathans what is today along with my fellow amigos Ed Jarvis and Kevin Lipsitz , it was not Kobayashi that put Nathans on the U.S, map but us , and don’t anybody ever forget it. in the end you just get a kick in the ass for your efforts , believe me I never thought That I was building up a sport for Kobayashi or Chestnut and company had I known that i would have packed up my bags and left long ago

  14. I Got It said

    April 18, 2011 @ 9:25 pm

    Only Mustard Belt winners should be on the wall. Why take up space with losers?

  15. Nicky Barnes said

    April 18, 2011 @ 9:35 pm

    From a personal standpoint there are not enough black people in the sport of competitive eating. After all these years only two brothas were able to grace the famous wall of fame? Gimme a break somethin wrong that pic . When you go down the line and look at the ranked eaters from 2001 to the present it is like pro hockey. The scouts should start movin their behinds and change the system

  16. Don Moses Lerman said

    April 18, 2011 @ 10:06 pm

    Nicky Barnes thank you for injecting race into this event, it wasn’t called for , champs are champs. I was a champ for all the people regardless of race ,ethnicity or religion, those who don’t make it just cant cut the mustard( no pun Intended)

  17. stephanie_wu said (Registered August 17, 2010)

    April 18, 2011 @ 10:19 pm

    Didn’t some old time eaters make a road trip across the United States once in the early 2000’s and have this featured on the Discovery Channel? I vaguely remember this. The first stop featured on the show was The Big Texan in Amarillo. One of the threesome was much slower than the others and barely finished the steak, and they had to keep traveling to various Nathan’s qualifiers to get him a spot in the finals.

    And then there was this guy from Las Vegas who had his own cheerleading squad.

  18. anonymous said

    April 18, 2011 @ 10:23 pm

    The show was called Gutbusters . Jarvis Lerman and Krazy Kevin JR Steakhouse in Huntington NY not Texas . Krazy Kevin was the one that finally got in when he competed in Phoenix. 12 or 13 dogs.

  19. stephanie_wu said (Registered August 17, 2010)

    April 18, 2011 @ 10:31 pm

    Ok, yes…now this is bringing back memories. Thanks anon 10:23. I remember feeling bad at the time for Kevin, but admired his perseverance. I also now remember the guy with cheerleaders was “Kid” Cary DeGrosa. And I remember them featuring Dale Boone, who they said was a direct descendant of the Daniel Boone.

  20. anonymous said

    April 18, 2011 @ 10:39 pm

    Stephanie Krazy Kevin was a legend . One of the greatest eaters of all time a pckle champ and a certified hall of famer

  21. I don't get it said

    April 18, 2011 @ 11:08 pm

    I don’t get what the big issue is. IF the MLE wanted to show respect to the old timers shouldn’t they update their hall of fame section on their website? that thing has been “coming soon” for years I’m tired of waiting for it.

    Second thing concerning the wall, as a causal fan of competitive eating I don’t want to see a wall of fame at the contest location and see people on there and be like “who is that.” The wall should be updated with the current field of competitors who continue to be relevant in the sport each and every year.

  22. I get it said

    April 18, 2011 @ 11:54 pm

    I dont get it you dont get it. MLE is waiting on the hall of fame committee to give the green light on a possible site to house the hall of fame. As of right now Atlanta GA is the frontrunner boasting the largest obesity rate of all 52. . Illinois and Lousiana are still in the running. Another factor is deciding which eaters are worthy of a gold statute erected in their honor prior to entering the building. Some names that were tossed around included Don Moses Lerman, Ed Jarvis, Ed Krachie Ray the Bison and the late Collard Green

  23. I think said

    April 19, 2011 @ 5:19 am

    1st – N. Barnes,,,, Race card? Really? Scouts? You moron, go back and crawl under your rock.
    2nd – This is a billboard don’t you get it? It’s called advertising. This is no more a wall of fame than the kfc on the corner is a museum for Col Sanders
    3rd- This is competitive eating it’s not real, it’s entertainment of a semi athletic nature
    4th – GET A LIFE

  24. Anonymous said

    April 19, 2011 @ 7:51 am

    Who is in so far? Joey, X, Sonya?

  25. stephanie_wu said (Registered August 17, 2010)

    April 19, 2011 @ 10:01 am

    Who is in so far? Joey, X, Sonya?

    From OJ’s first link:

    http://eatfeats.com/booker-jarvis-lerman-more-removed-from-wall-of-fame.html

    In: Joey Chestnut, Pat Bertoletti, Tim Janus, Juliet Lee, Tim Brown, Crazy Legs Conti
    Out: Eric “Badlands” Booker, Cookie Jarvis, Don Lerman, Charles Hardy, Kevin Lipsitz, Ed Krachie, “Kid” Cary DeGrosa, songwriter Amos Wengler.
    Staying: Takeru Kobayashi, Sonya Thomas
    Neither in nor out: “Notorious” Bob Shoudt (current #2 IFOCE ranking)

  26. I don't believe it said

    April 19, 2011 @ 10:07 am

    Really horrendous if you ask me. pioneers of the sport discarded like a piece of trash. . No race card ? Bullshit look who got tossed . Add the religion card while you are at it. Nicky Barnes a drug dealer speaks the truth .

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

    April 19, 2011 @ 10:19 am

    Steph I think that was from last year when they changed it the first time. I strongly doubt Koby will ever appear there again, unless by some miracle (which does happen) the Sheas have a change of heart.

    Also, I don’t know how long contracts are for, but I predict that as soon as someone misses a year/doesn’t re-sign, that person will be Off the Wall (thinking back to Michael Jackson’s pre-Thriller album by the same name).

  28. Well uh? said

    April 19, 2011 @ 10:20 am

    I could understand removing images of don lerman and kid cary because both of them besmirched the IFOCE by competing with aice. Lucky both of them werent stricken from the IFOCE database permanently. Booker and Hardy ? They did alot for the sport removing them puzzles me . Amos Wengler? His songs were pitiful so in that case he has no biz being up there. Removing Krazy Kev is a huge mistake . Krachie said the hell with competitive eating it was an embarrasing part of my life . Good reason to paint over his ass. Jarvis? The Babe Ruth of the sport???? Mystery to me and he lost weight too so its not like he takes up a huge portion of the wall

  29. stephanie_wu said (Registered August 17, 2010)

    April 19, 2011 @ 10:35 am

    Thanks Rhonda! I stand corrected.

  30. anonymous said

    April 19, 2011 @ 10:41 am

    Beautifulbrian Seiken should be one of the new faces on that wall even though he is an old face . He has done so much for the sport of competitive eating and his stats prove it

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

    April 19, 2011 @ 11:17 am

    You know, if MLE ever does follow through with a “Hall of Fame”-type venue, the Sheas could likely turn it into a cash cow by opening up a pay-per-museum, perhaps on the order of Ripley’s Believe It or Not with videos, relics, games, signed T-shirts, Hats, games, etc.

    For instance, have people guess:

    1. Who is the original pickle record holder? (BB is so obscure most people will miss that.)

    2. The waist size of the eater who claimed the cheesecake record by downing 11 lbs of cheesecake in 9 minutes. (I’m not sure, but I doubt Sonya’s waist was/is more than 24 inches.)

    Also, have on display momentos like a) Rich LeFevre’s tooth (that he lost during a contest), b) Legs’ gloves, c) Juliet’s short, sexy blouse, d) Sonya’s DC 101 hat, e) Cookie’s doo rag/title coat, f) X’s assortment of face paint combinations, g) Joey’s first Mustard Yellow Belt, e.g.

    The ideas and possibilities are virtually endless!

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

    April 19, 2011 @ 11:34 am

    Is there a Beautiful Brian stats page that I can check out?

  33. nunonabun2 said (Registered November 10, 2009)

    April 19, 2011 @ 11:52 am

    What about MLE trading cards? Anyone?

  34. Anonymous said

    April 19, 2011 @ 12:06 pm

    Why not just put up eaters 1- 10 in the rankings? That would be current.

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

    April 19, 2011 @ 12:32 pm

    It sounds plausible to sell trading cards at large CE venues to fans, or at the museum/hall of fame. But, much like other CE-related merchandise, the idea would flop relying on the general public to buy trading cards. CE is just not popular enough.

    However, I’m in the market for a Beautiful Brian card. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep lately, and that would help.

  36. Anonymous said

    April 19, 2011 @ 12:47 pm

    RHONDA!

  37. anonymous said

    April 19, 2011 @ 12:55 pm

    isnt that a coincidence . Im in the market for a Rhonda Evans card. Do you think it exists? I doubt it . Trading cards deal with real names and real people . Not monkers !!!!

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

    April 19, 2011 @ 12:59 pm

    You might have a point A-12:55. Once I get your card I’ll sleep on it and make a decision.

  39. ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)

    April 19, 2011 @ 1:04 pm

    Actual trading cards have been made for Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi. On July 3, 2010 Kobayashi’s cards had an average price of $153.75 and Joey Chestnut’s card’s had an average value of $46.35 according to:

    http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=5351337

    If a MLE Hall of Fame ever materialized, it would be interesting to see what acknowledgement would be made of notable pre-IFOCE competitive eaters (Bozo Miller, Frank Pastore, Lynda Kuerth …)

  40. Anonymous said

    April 19, 2011 @ 1:04 pm

    12:55 is monkers. Takes one anony to know another.

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

    April 19, 2011 @ 1:11 pm

    OJ, I think the key is getting them signed. Over the last several years I noticed it’s possible to buy unsigned ones on some of the auction sites like eBay for either eater for $.99 + shipping.

    Also, they’re novelty items with a very elastic demand. You pay a higher price around the 4th—-$.99 the rest of the time.

  42. nunonabun2 said (Registered November 10, 2009)

    April 19, 2011 @ 2:14 pm

    http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=2405476162&searchurl=an%3Dpaul%2Bbarlow%26sts%3Dt%26x%3D0%26y%3D0

  43. A. Nonymous said

    April 19, 2011 @ 2:28 pm

    There were MLE trading cards available at the Philadelphia Nathan’s Qualifier in 2006. Also, apparently there were cards created before; I have a seen a Steve Keiner card.

  44. anonymous said

    April 19, 2011 @ 2:35 pm

    If Seiken wasnt in one of those trading cards the rest are worthless

  45. anonymous said

    April 19, 2011 @ 3:18 pm

    Is there a Pete Miernicki trading card? Since he retired, the value must of sored to an unbelievable amount

  46. anonymous said

    April 19, 2011 @ 3:49 pm

    I saw a miernicki card at the eaters convention last year. Classic shot at the end of the contest with his 11th hot dog and bun protruding from his mouth in total disgust

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