The MLE twitter reports that the first top 50 of 2009 will be released this week. The new poll asks which currently unranked eater should be ranked highest in the new poll.

August 19, 2009 at 11:16 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Rankings | Permalink * Comments (50)

50 Comments »

  1. Nic Fry said

    August 20, 2009 @ 12:41 am

    hmm i wonder if i will be on it?

  2. My two cents said

    August 20, 2009 @ 8:16 am

    Mongo’s gotta be in, Sean, Nick Fry, Bryan Beard, Rick Petrailia – Lots of room with all the “defectors”. I’m still hoping for a Chip Simpson return, and that Rich Lefevre is OK, and will be back tearing up the tournaments soon!

  3. my three cents said

    August 20, 2009 @ 9:45 am

    Who should be the highest ranked new entrant in the upcoming IFOCE poll?

    My question is who should be in the new poll and who should not.

    Records according to eatfeats database.

    Bryan “Big Sexy” Beard

    Started eating in 2009. May and June eats in IFOCE Nathan’s contests. Then July does two INDY contests with Skinny Boy Lane. We know what happened to Skinny boy when he went onto INDY contests. He is gone from IFOCE. Then Beard comes back to IFOCE last week and does one contest. Does he even deserve to be ranked?

    Sean “Flash” Gordon

    Started eating in 2006 with AICE where he won total of $700. While a Professional Eater with AICE, he entered and won an “AMATUER” shoo fly pie contest that was done by IFOCE. Then he went back to and won more AICE contests. He allegedly left AICE and began eating in IFOCE contests full time May & June 2008 and May and July 2009. He won ONE contest in IFOCE in 2009 that got him to the Nathan’s finals.

    Eating in an AMATEUR IFOCE Shoo Fly Pie contest while still winning as a Professional Eater with AICE would be considered deceitful by some. Does this allow him to be ranked?

    Marco “Mongo” Marquez

    Started with IFOCE in 2006. Has entered a mixture of IFOCE and INDY contests. Placed in the money 5 times with IFOCE contests and won $1,000 in an INDY contest. Do these records give him a spot in the rankings?

    Ryan “Big Red” McKillop

    Entered only 2 IFOCE contests. These were only in the past 45 days. Does being a NEW IFOCE member, not even 2 months now, grant you the right to be ranked when you never won or even placed in the money?

    John Palmgren

    Started 2008. Entered 5 contests. 3 were AICE and INDY contests. 2 were IFOCE. Sep 2008 IFOCE contest. Then OCT 2008 he enters AICE contest. Apr 2009 another INDY contest. Comes back to IFOCE June 2009. If he does not get ranked will he go back to AICE and other INDY contests like his record shows?

  4. Anonymous said

    August 20, 2009 @ 12:18 pm

    Nic Fry said
    August 20, 2009 @ 12:41 am

    hmm i wonder if i will be on it?

    ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

    U R on it at #30. Maybe U R concerned they may drop U?

  5. Rick Petralia said

    August 20, 2009 @ 12:40 pm

    I have been trying to get a rank for the past few years. I’d be happy with #50. I’ve never put up huge numbers nor have I won any money, but I have finished in the top three on four occasions (soon to be five after this coming Saturday), beating some ranked eaters. Here are the contests I have participated in:

    Chattanooga Krystal Qualifier 2007 – 2nd place
    Nashville Krystal Qualifier 2007
    Knoxville Krystal Qualifier 2007 – 3rd place
    Atlanta Krystal Qualifier 2007 – Personal best in 2 minute round, 16 Krystals in 2 minutes
    Memphis Krystal Qualifier 2007 – DQ’ed for reversing after 29th Krystal
    Broadway at the Beach 2008
    Atlanta Nathan’s Qualifier 2008
    Chattanooga Krystal Qualifier – 3rd place
    Atlanta Nathan’s Qualifier 2009 – 3rd place

    So hopefully I can get into the top 50.

  6. anonymous said

    August 20, 2009 @ 12:43 pm

    Beautifulbrian & Badlands Booker should be on top of the list as the pioneers of the sport. They are the last remnants from the past

  7. Nic Fry said

    August 20, 2009 @ 12:49 pm

    I wouldnt call it concerned but curious

  8. Anonymous said

    August 20, 2009 @ 12:58 pm

    Wow! You’ve done some serious research. Even I don’t recognize who half of those guys are.

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

    August 20, 2009 @ 1:13 pm

    three cents: If you read Andrew Lanes blog you’ll see that Beard didn’t have a contract when he did Independent contests after Nathans, he didn’t show up for a contest he qualified for(hot dogs?) because he did sign a contract.

    Anon@12:18: Nic hasn’t competed yet this season.

  10. Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)

    August 20, 2009 @ 1:55 pm

    I remember being surprised last year when Sean Gordon didnt get ranked after a 20 HDB debut. Certainly he will be listed this year and fairly high with such a strong sophmore performance. Yet another pro eater from PA!!!

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

    August 20, 2009 @ 1:55 pm

    Rick you should EASILY be in the top 50. You’re already better than some eaters ranked in the top 40

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

    August 20, 2009 @ 1:56 pm

    I’m curious too, but in another … oh … never mind.

  13. Anonymous said

    August 20, 2009 @ 2:04 pm

    Save your time. This is what the rankings will look like. It will go 100% off of Nathans. It does not matterhow many times you beat someone/they beat you. If you beat them at Nathans, then you are ranked higher. Pat will drop for sure even though he has a better record head to head then TK since Spike. Bob will drop even though he has a much better record head to head then X. Red will be ranked higher then Lee even though he has a worse head to head record then her. Gravy lower then Badlands…

    For those that did not make Nathans, you can only get ranked 20th at the highest.

    1st Joey “Jaws” Chestnut San Jose, CA
    2nd Takeru Kobayashi Nagano, Japan
    3rd Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti Chicago, IL
    4th Tim “Eater X” Janus New York City, NY
    5th “Humble” Bob Shoudt Royersford, PA
    6th Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas Alexandria, VA
    7th Hall “Hoover” Hunt Jacksonville Beach, FL
    8th Erik “The Red” Denmark Seattle, WA
    9th Juliet Lee Germantown, MD
    10th Eric “Badlands” Booker Selden, NY
    10th Tim “Gravy” Brown Chicago, IL
    12th “Buffalo” Jim Reeves Buffalo, NY
    13th Crazy Legs Conti New York City, NY
    13th Peter “Pretty Boy” Davekos Boston, MA
    13th Sean “Flash” Gordon Downingtown, PA
    16th Marco “Mongo” Marquez Engelwood, CO
    17th Micah “Wing Kong” Collins Drexel Hill, PA
    18th Franco “frenkybello” Camerini
    18th Bob Coccodrilli

  14. 'Big Sexy' Bryan Beard said

    August 20, 2009 @ 2:07 pm

    Craig, that’s true. I signed a contract before that hot dog contest, asked Mike Antolini about my eligibility, he said no, so I didn’t compete.

  15. 'Big Sexy' Bryan Beard said

    August 20, 2009 @ 2:08 pm

    I’ve followed all rules that the IFOCE has put in front of me and I will continue to do so

  16. Personal Opinion said

    August 20, 2009 @ 2:33 pm

    Anon 204, i agree but flip flop Koby and Pat.

  17. My two cents said

    August 20, 2009 @ 2:44 pm

    Freaky Franco and Bob Cocodrilli – IF ranked – will be #49 and #50

  18. Nun on a Bun said

    August 20, 2009 @ 2:46 pm

    Until you sign the contract why would the IFOCE care what you do between qualifiers?

  19. Captain Obvious said

    August 20, 2009 @ 3:05 pm

    They dont, nor should they.

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

    August 20, 2009 @ 3:23 pm

    How do you flip Koby and Pat when Koby fiished 10 HDBs in front of Pat in the most recent contest on the greatest competitive eating stage in the world?

    If Pat finishes that many Krystals in front of Koby at the finals, then perhaps a case could be made for Pat being ranked above Koby afterwards.

  21. Nun on a Bun said

    August 20, 2009 @ 3:25 pm

    So the only reason to sign a contract basically is to become ranked? Is there something else I do not know about?

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

    August 20, 2009 @ 3:43 pm

    I’d like to see Rich back too, and I wish him and Carlene the very best.

  23. Look at the Facts said

    August 20, 2009 @ 3:43 pm

    Koby has competed in ONE sanctioned event this year and got 2nd. Pat has WON SEVEN sanctioned contests since March.

  24. Nic Fry said

    August 20, 2009 @ 3:59 pm

    it is a membership agreement….

  25. Mega Munch said

    August 20, 2009 @ 4:00 pm

    It’s about time the new rankings came out! I really thought they were going to wait until after Krystals, but I guess they just wanted to take 50 days or so after Nathan’s to make sure they get the rankings just right.

    I agree with some of what My Three Cents said, except for the observation about Sean Gordon. He competed in the amateur round of those IFOCE shoofly contests, but that’s a non-issue. He’ll be ranked well within the top 30 in the new rankings. Mongo’s participation in IFOCE AND indy contests also shouldn’t matter (agree with Nun and Capt Obvious on that one). Until you sign on the dotted line, you shouldn’t be penalized for indy or even AICE activity.

    It’s sad that Nathan’s weighs so heavily on the rankings. I mean, it SHOULD have some weight, but it’s only one contest (albeit the biggest). Obviously, the reason Nathan’s is such a determining factor is that it’s easier to use Nathan’s results as the benchmark than it would be to actually go back and look at results of all the other contests and try to put some objective thought into the rankings.

  26. contrat law advisor said

    August 20, 2009 @ 4:38 pm

    Nun and Capt Obvious have a point. At the same time IFOCE has a waiver on theit contest site.

    ***All applicants must be 18 years of age or older and fully acknowledge and understand the inherent dangers and risks associated with participating in an eating contest. The applicant further acknowledges and understands that the MLE/IFOCE coordinates with event sponsor(s) to select and approve eligible participants, and that the MLE/IFOCE shall decide, at its sole discretion, whether an applicant is eligible to participate in any eating event, and/or related activities. The
    MLE/IFOCE may revoke an applicant’s eligibility to participate in the eating contest, or related activities, at any time, for any reason, at its sole discretion. The MLE/IFOCE and the event sponsors reserve the right, at any time, to change any and all details concerning the event, including, e.g., time, duration, location and prize structure.

    What that means is if you sign a contract or not, once you sign the waiver at a contest, you agree to the rules and IFOCE can suspend or kick you out at any time they want anf for any reason.

    Eventhough Mega Munch says “Until you sign on the dotted line, you shouldn’t be penalized for indy or even AICE activity.” in reality IFOCE can and does. Their waiver you agree to gave them that right.

  27. The_Hungman said

    August 20, 2009 @ 5:08 pm

    Nun on a bun. You asked “Until you sign the contract why would the IFOCE care what you do between qualifiers?”

    2008 Hangman was qualified to compete in Nathans in Myrtle Beah and Charleston. He was suspended from those two after myself and others told that Hangman was eating in a hot dog contest at a car dealership in his home town. He was not going to compete but we said he was. He had not signed a contract and he was removed from the Nathan’s

    Why should IFOCE care. Who knows why. Because they do my lie helped get Hangman suspended

  28. Anonymous said

    August 20, 2009 @ 5:20 pm

    El Taco will definitely be dropped from the rankings especially after his blasphemous ways.

  29. Nic Fry said

    August 20, 2009 @ 7:33 pm

    i thought i heard at one point that is you had to have the membership agreement signed to be ranked?

  30. history tells us said

    August 20, 2009 @ 8:26 pm

    http://eatfeats.com/first-ifoce-rankings-of-2008-out.html

    Mongo Marquez was ranked #20 in 2007. The first rankings in 2008 he dropped to #23. Now he is not ranked. Wonder why? Could it be all his indy contests like someone said?!?

  31. johnny5isalive said (Registered June 24, 2008)

    August 21, 2009 @ 5:35 am

    Until two weeks ago, I was an unsigned eater. That has now changed as I have officially signed my IFOCE contract. (John Palmgren) It sounds like “My three cents” can’t hang with the new talent and trying to discredit everyone. Must be it his only shot at being ranked, how sad for him. I can’t help it that in my second pro contest that I beat the likes of Hall, Booker and Gravy in jalepenos or placed second in my fourth event (pork rinds). I am not concerned with the rankings anyway. I just want to put on a good eat and do the best I can. In this sport, almost anyone can win on any given day and rankings don’t secure you a spot in the money. Popularity will put you in the rankings but performance will put you in the money.

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

    August 21, 2009 @ 8:09 am

    That’s a great attitude John. Good luck to you.

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

    August 21, 2009 @ 8:12 am

    Until and unless he announces his retirement, Rich LeFevre will be included in the rankings. I’d put him right around # 10.

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

    August 21, 2009 @ 11:04 am

    One thing I’ve noticed over the years, as far back as I can remember, is that the IFOCE always seems to post updated rankings late on Friday afternoons. I suspect this is to ward off complaints from and communication by disgruntled eaters who will have the weekend to settle down.

    I’d do the same thing if I were them. You can’t please everybody, especially when dealing with 50 or more eaters.

  35. Anonymous said

    August 21, 2009 @ 3:18 pm

    (jeapordy theme music) ……and we wait and wait and wait. Must be drawing the names out of a hat for the bottom 20. AND at number 47, Sykobozo and at number 48 John Doe and at number 48…..it’s a tie, let’s flip a

  36. GC said (Registered May 15, 2008)

    August 21, 2009 @ 3:47 pm

    Ranking are up. http://www.ifoce.com/rankings.php

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

    August 21, 2009 @ 3:55 pm

    The rankings are out: http://www.ifoce.com/rankings.php.

    I agree with most of the top 10.

    I think at # 14, Eric Denmark is about 4 or 5 spots too low. That’s By FAR the greatest discrepancy.

    Juliet at # 8 is just a bit too high, though she is improving, but no way is she six places better than Eric —- maybe one spot better, but that’s it

    Kevin Ross (31) and Russ Keeler (28) should be higher ranked.

  38. Rick Petralia said

    August 21, 2009 @ 3:57 pm

    FINALLY RANKED!!!! #42, but I’m happy with it!

    They say that they are going to update it on October 1st again, so I have a chance to move up a little depending on how I do at the KSO…

  39. KevinRoss said

    August 21, 2009 @ 4:02 pm

    LOL, wow. . .someone at IFOCE must be pissed at me about something. . . Granted, I have done pretty mediocre this year (especially in hot dogs) and not done a lot of contests, so I expected to drop in rankings and probably deserve to. But saying some of the people ranked ahead of me are better eaters than me? Really? Go look at the eatfeats database and compare numbers. . .A little hard not to be insulted. . .

  40. Larry King said

    August 21, 2009 @ 4:17 pm

    Congrats Rick Petrailia – you got your wish! Buffalo back wnere he belongs – top 15. Big Sexy – hmmm, congrats but may be an over-achiever here. Russ gets no respect, Ross ranking is ridiculously low, Syko & El Toro still alive – must be based on their good looks. Wild Bill absolutely deserves top 50, but top 30? This must be his second “award” this year. Ron Koch could out-eat 7 eaters ranked ahead of him. Erb is a good guy, but 27th? Sorry, this is way off. Beautiful Brian will be pissed – he keeps sliding faster than a Krystal down Deep Dish’s throat. Is Joe Larue still competing? Finally, Juliet is extremely talented, but not Top 10 talented – can’t wait to see her dry Krystal totals.

  41. Anonymous said

    August 21, 2009 @ 4:47 pm

    congrats to the great Sykobozo. You are moving on up!

  42. The_Hungman said

    August 21, 2009 @ 4:51 pm

    I knew it. I knew it. Hangman got screwed again. GOOD!!!!!!!!!

    Hungman OUT

  43. Nic Fry said

    August 21, 2009 @ 5:15 pm

    Kinda gives me motivation to come and dominate at contests…. whenever i make it to a contest.. but hey one day all the stars will align and allow me to do that, i really wanted to eat some krystals this year but nope…

  44. anonymous said

    August 21, 2009 @ 5:28 pm

    Hey Nick thanks

  45. Nic Fry said

    August 21, 2009 @ 5:43 pm

    your welcome douche

  46. Popeye said

    August 21, 2009 @ 6:03 pm

    PETE DAVEKOS – WOW!
    KEVIN ROSS – OUCH!
    WILD BILL – WTF!
    JOE LARUE – WHY?
    BRIAN SEIKEN – OY!

  47. The Icebox said

    August 21, 2009 @ 8:10 pm

    In 2 rankings I will be in the top 50.

    Congrats to all those that jumped on the list!

  48. spraymucus said (Registered July 1, 2009)

    August 21, 2009 @ 9:18 pm

    I’m sorry but Kevin Ross ranked #31??? give me a break, did they just start putting names out there, forgeting he was there then said “meh just put him at 31”?

    Keving, rip it up tomorrow with the gyoza’s!!!!

  49. Anonymous said

    August 21, 2009 @ 10:08 pm

    Theyve lost it.

  50. Anonymous said

    August 23, 2009 @ 12:43 pm

    SEE, this is why Kevin Ross is down in the standings. He lost to a couple of nobodys on Saturday and really stunk up the joint.

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