The National Pro-Am Pecan Pie Eating Championship will be held in Birmingham, Alabama on May 12. Eric "Silo" Dahl will be the pro, and he is billed as the "#1 ranked profesional eater" (without any qualifications). It is not clear if Dahl still merits the top ranking among AICE/APE competitors after Stephanie Torres' victory in an Arizona contest Saturday where he was a no-show. update The phrasing has been changed to "#1 Ranked Professional Eater as ranked by All Pro Eating" (via email)

36 Comments »

  1. Whaa? said

    March 27, 2012 @ 10:51 am

    I don’t know what happens when you go below the Mason-Dixon line. But, suddenly when you go down South you automatically become the number one ranked professional eater. Dale Boone, Grace Lee, Suzanne French, this guy, and who knows else?

  2. Naader Reda said

    March 27, 2012 @ 12:05 pm

    Nice geographical reference. One day Eric and Stephanie will be in the same contest, assuming they both continue with All Pro. That should provide closure.

  3. Whaa? said

    March 27, 2012 @ 12:25 pm

    Naader: I didn’t mean to stereotype based on geography. However my only concern is that all these crappy eaters claiming number one status, tends to demean competitive eating as a whole and these claims can actually bleed into mainstream media. We particularly saw it with French when some CNN idiots actually bought Boone’s ranking system. My concern for people like Sonya Thomas, Joey Chestnut, Eric and Stephanie is no matter what do, and who they beat, idiot crap eaters like Boone, French and Lee will just continue to go around claiming they are number one, undefeated, etc. I guess it takes vigilence by people like you, Rhonda, and others who care about the credibility of competitive eating to continue to correct these false claims in whatever forums that are available. I guess eventually, as in Suzanne French’s case, people will see through the bull they are trying to sell for their own personal gain without having to do the hard work of achieving a real, bonafide top eating rating.

  4. DaxtheGinger said (Registered April 23, 2011)

    March 27, 2012 @ 12:51 pm

    I think some leagues play like boxing and have different champs at the same time. Eric is AICE/APE #1 eater.

  5. Craig Reed said (Registered February 21, 2009)

    March 27, 2012 @ 1:02 pm

    ICEBURN!!!!!!!!!!

  6. MOTIF said (Registered September 3, 2011)

    March 27, 2012 @ 1:09 pm

    I agree with Whaa? The fact that the AICE (and boones leauge) seem to have ranking systems that are very flawed, and obviously conflict with the MLE ranks, it degraded the sport of Competitive Eating. Outsiders who see this probably think, “wtf is up with this, its not even centrally organized?” I’m sorry but in my opinion AICE has to either go or acknowledge the fact that they are an inferior organization. Boones leauge needs to just dissapear.

  7. nunonabun2 said (Registered November 10, 2009)

    March 27, 2012 @ 1:28 pm

    There is plenty of room for multiple organizations. Hell look at boxing. Some have more clot than others. Stephanie looks to be the best eater with the AICE. She is for real and should not even lumped in with Boon or Grace and their claims of greatness and undefeated status. ST has never said she is the best in the world that I have seen, but she is a bad ass regardless.

    So says the King of Atlanta.

  8. DaxtheGinger said (Registered April 23, 2011)

    March 27, 2012 @ 1:42 pm

    since i have been beaten and consider to be friends by both Steph and Eric, I have to say I think Eric will take a 1 on 1 food fight between the 2, if Eric goes MLE he is up there with the Adrians and Erics.

  9. Whaa? said

    March 27, 2012 @ 1:56 pm

    Good arguments Nun and Dax. You guys are right. Multiple orgs offers eaters different and varied benefits that they are seeking. Some are more legit than others. Eric and Steph are great eaters but not MLE material so they choose another option. Boone’s league, well that’s just a joke and why Kobi and Pete doesn’t do more to to disassociate themselves with that joker’s league and ranking is beyond my understanding. I guess my problem is with all those with no legit eating achievements looking to cash in on Eric’s, Stephanie’s, Sonya’s, Joey’s, etc. talent and make a buck falsly claiming they’re number one. Fully knowing that they have no business being mentioned in the same sentence as real top eaters. Good point about Sonya, she never claims to be the best, others do that for her. I guess the real judge is when overwhelming, independent, credible sources say this eater is the best in the world. The real losers/phonies are those who make such top claims about themselves such as Dale Boone.

  10. DaxtheGinger said (Registered April 23, 2011)

    March 27, 2012 @ 2:03 pm

    And I dont think Eric has chosen to not go MLE, lets remember him and Stonie are the same age.

  11. nunonabun2 said (Registered November 10, 2009)

    March 27, 2012 @ 2:10 pm

    The hacks always sink to the bottom of the toilet or vanish, except that one piece of crap Dale. I just really dont like him at all.

  12. anonymous said

    March 27, 2012 @ 2:37 pm

    You hype that copycat eating thing as though its a real organization. Thy only real organization is MLE

  13. Huh? said

    March 27, 2012 @ 3:37 pm

    It’s only been one All Pro Eating contest that Stephanie has been in,so it’s too soon to start assuming she’s #1 in the APE rankings. I believe the next big All Pro Eating event is the Chicken Salad sandwich sandwich in Indiana,April 27. I’m hoping that Stephanie can make it to this one,it would be a great match!

  14. Whaa? said

    March 27, 2012 @ 4:11 pm

    Who, or what group, does APE rankings and how are they done? Dax you seem to be a fan, do you know?

  15. Huh? said

    March 27, 2012 @ 4:45 pm

    Anyone who blasts the APE rankings- as is going to happen here soon – same thing applies to the MLE rankings. They are pretty subjective too…

  16. Naader Reda said

    March 27, 2012 @ 4:57 pm

    @Whaa? I didn’t think you were stereotyping, I just got a smile out of seeing the Masin-Dixon reference. Reminds me of US history texts.

  17. DaxtheGinger said (Registered April 23, 2011)

    March 27, 2012 @ 5:36 pm

    Coondogs method of awesome.

  18. Whaa? answered said

    March 27, 2012 @ 6:15 pm

    APE (All-Pro Eating) used to be called AICE, which was a rebelling organization of MLE malcontents that didn’t like the contract. They distinguish themselves from MLE by not allow dunking in contests (picnic style rules). Funny thing is, Coondog O’Karma wanted his eaters to sign an AICE / APE contract a few years ago.

  19. Whaa? answered said

    March 27, 2012 @ 6:23 pm

    Correction – Arnie Chapman wanted his eaters to sign a contract, not Dave O’Karma

  20. Anonymous said

    March 27, 2012 @ 8:42 pm

    Chapman isn’t around anymore – Greenwald is the Chairman of APE / AICE and I think owner.

  21. Huh? said

    March 27, 2012 @ 9:20 pm

    New poll:who would win Steph or Eric Dahl?

  22. DaxtheGinger said (Registered April 23, 2011)

    March 27, 2012 @ 11:58 pm

    Eric

  23. anonymous said

    March 28, 2012 @ 1:12 am

    Its amazing Gilberts name is not mentioned here.He’s better than all of the AICE or APE eaters..He is going to try to compete in the hotdog contest in Vegas, but with no Cal contests the deck will be well stacked with pro eaters.

  24. Wipe my tears........... said

    March 28, 2012 @ 4:25 am

    Look at this link for a FAKE contest from this group ………………….. Such cheep white trash…………………….. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzfHNQgaQno

  25. Insight said

    March 28, 2012 @ 5:45 am

    Right now the only eaters who can beat Steph at anything are Joey, Koby, Tim and Pat B. Eric is not in her league.

  26. Larellmarie said (Registered May 9, 2010)

    March 28, 2012 @ 5:58 am

    Gr8 discussion, good points, diff of opinion & all w/o bashing one another…..niiice! Interesting points made.

  27. Eye Opener said

    March 28, 2012 @ 7:27 am

    Anyone notice a couple of big sponsors from last year are missing from the MLE website? Pepto? Heinz?

  28. ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)

    March 28, 2012 @ 8:23 am

    Crazy Legs Conti mentioned that Pepto Bismol sponsorship has not been secured for 2012 in the Andy Troy Podcast. I wonder if what will happen to Sonya’s pink belt if Pepto does not continue as a sponsor.

  29. anonymous said

    March 28, 2012 @ 8:58 am

    Eye opener i think the best way to test that out is one of the competitors show up with a bottle of pepto and wave it to the crowd as he is being introduced then lets see if Mike Rich or George yank out of their hand faster than you can say pepto bismol

  30. Anonymous said

    March 28, 2012 @ 11:01 am

    Look for Tom Gilbert to do 40+ for Nathans.

  31. Naader Reda said

    March 28, 2012 @ 11:29 am

    Gilbert has finished ahead of Steph in a few contests. There are a few eaters who can beat her in a 10 minute contest, but not many.. at this point you still have to add Sonya to that list. Still, she could be considered top ten material if you aggregate all the eating leagues and indies. I wonder how she’d fare against Furious Pete.

  32. Whaa? said

    March 28, 2012 @ 12:53 pm

    Hey, EATFEATS comments changes the wording of the press release!! Usin the caveat of being a number-one APE rating. Impressive, and you know what it adds credibility. Unlike French and Boone just saying they’re the number in the world without any context. Yet, I still haven’t gotten an answer regarding as to who does, and how the APE ratings are done. I know all ratings are mostly subjective, but I still think it is important. We all know MLE rankings come from the Sheas and its organization, using Nathan’s finals as the biggest factor. But, APE rankings seem a bit of mystery. I mean it’s not as bad as Boone’s joke of “ratings.” But, for credibility purposes APE really should provide an explanation.

  33. MOTIF said (Registered September 3, 2011)

    March 28, 2012 @ 1:17 pm

    I think the list for competitors who can best Stephanie in a contest is much greater then people think. I think she gets a major bump up because shes a girl. In my opinion here my list of people who “majority of the time” could beat her. Joey, Kobi, Pat, Bob, Sonya, Tim, Stonie, Gilbert, & possibly Adrian and Flash. You have to remeber, 10 minute contests are completely different then 1hour huge burger challenges. That list would greatly shorten if it were long term contests.

  34. Is Nathans Family Safe said

    March 28, 2012 @ 1:45 pm

    Here are a couple of reasons why Pepto and Hienz may have opted out this year. One of MLE ranked eaters stars in this video.

    In this video he is the subject, the name and display of both Hienz and Pepto clearly displayed in the background at Nathans last year while he and the photographer yell and scream obscenities at one another. Not exactly what name brand family products want to be associated with. Great promo for there product by a MLE star at Nathans. I have emailed the PR people Linz Ming ming.ej@pg.com of Proctor Gamble (Pepto) and Jessica Jackson ( Jessica.Jackson@us.hjheinz.com) with Hienz corporation. The promo by the legend starts at the 10 second mark.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvtLaEx6hzk&list=UUYIPfyIRGPc182skZSVANzQ&index=15&feature=plcp

  35. Anonymous said

    March 28, 2012 @ 4:22 pm

    That is a pretty poor presentation for public consumption. But not many people have seen it. Well, up until now. Hard to know who wants to screw who to the wall, but clearly the MLE players should be a lot more careful in how they present themselves to the public everywhere and anywhere.

  36. Anonymous said

    March 28, 2012 @ 4:51 pm

    Big deal.

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