Ryan Nerz retires from the IFOCE
Ryan Nerz has sent the following email:
I am writing you at EatFeats to announce my retirement from the competitive eating game. It’s been a fantastic half-decade or so (for the most part), with over a hundred speed-eating adventures in dozens of cities, and I consider many of MLE’s competitive eaters to be among my best friends.
I would say that I’ll miss y’all, but I know I will see you in the non-eating contest world (which, it turns out, is pretty vast). Until then, may The Schwartz be with all of you out on the circuit, and may The Gods of Gurgitation shine upon you at every meal and every contest.
Cheers,
Ryan Nerz
(P.S. – For those of you closely following Hard White’s rap career, don’t fret…my retirement will not affect future cameos on wax with Badlands Booker. That said, this ain’t no Jay-Z publicity stunt “retirement”…I’m hanging up the boater hat for good.)
Good luck to Ryan in his future projects.
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beautifulbrian said
March 30, 2010 @ 9:11 pm
What the hell is he doing? .Thats it i am out of the contest i have had enough. Unless i get flown out i am not doing it . The entire trip is costing me $400 Do you think the real king would put up with this and not have his fav emcee doing the honors? Ryan you really broke my heart
Crazy Legs Mom said (Registered February 16, 2006)
March 30, 2010 @ 9:29 pm
Glad to read that Hard White will stay active. Boater hat in trophy case, your followers will await eagerly your next forays in the creative world. Sending you off with straw confetti and congratulatory wishes for your next adventures.
Anonymous Eatah said
March 30, 2010 @ 9:46 pm
You’re the best, buddy.
Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)
March 30, 2010 @ 10:23 pm
Love me some Nerz. Glad to have met you bro. Some day you need to sign my copy of ‘Eat this Book’ (once I steal it back from that f’er Wing Kong). You are the greatest!
Bison said
March 30, 2010 @ 11:17 pm
Ryan
I wish you best of luck in all you do.It was a pleasure to have met and work with you.
mike landrich said (Registered July 4, 2007)
March 31, 2010 @ 12:28 am
Good luck Ryan. We’ll miss you.
anonymous said
March 31, 2010 @ 1:23 am
Hopefully he will retire his own site eatfeats.com
anonymous said
March 31, 2010 @ 1:53 am
Very clever he sends an email on his retirement to his own website. Cut the nonsense Ryan aka OJ Rifkin is from Indiana shall we end this charade once and for all
anonymous said
March 31, 2010 @ 2:07 am
Well now that Ryan is history the big question is who will run the show at Lula MS for ribs. Will it be the dynamic talents of Mike Mantolini whos favorite or maybe only line is his monologue is who’s it gonna be? or will MLE rehire the one hit wonder midget version of david cassidy that performed so admirably at the cheesesteak contest in bklyn ny?
anonymous said
March 31, 2010 @ 2:15 am
CoMe On StEaKbELliE GeT tHe BoOk BaCk ALReAdY. We All kNoW F’in WiNg KoNg CaNt ReAd
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
March 31, 2010 @ 7:44 am
Since I first saw Ryan in action he has really improved as an emcee. He was always very good, but he really began to excel in that role the last couple of years.
Also, for what it’s worth Ryan, if, in fact you are OJ, you do a great job, to which no amount of, or explanation with, words can convey, and I hope eatfeats stays around a long time. CE wouldn’t be the same without it.
anonymouis said
March 31, 2010 @ 10:19 am
Rhonda now that you have made it clear that you attend IFOCE contests it is apparant that you are not just a spectator fan of the sport. you are someone that is very much in touch face to face with the eaters but for some bizarre reason you want to remain as the alias rhonda evans . Why is that?
Anonymous said
March 31, 2010 @ 10:39 am
OJ Rifkin is one of Ryan Nerz’s friends in Indiana.
anonymous said
March 31, 2010 @ 11:19 am
Ryan got a call or email from George asking him to explain his comments on salon article. Ryan is not one to take any guff so they might have had some words. Ryan got defensive and that was that. MLE never fires anyone. It’s usually a mutual agreement when someone leaves. Ryan got involved as a result of his friendship with college buddy Dave Baer. He was never an advocate of the sport.
SPBBBBMBBB said
March 31, 2010 @ 12:25 pm
Ryan’s a great guy…I look forward to seeing him in the real world…without a straw hat
Ryan Nerz said
March 31, 2010 @ 1:44 pm
I just wanted to say thanks for the kind words everyone – I really appreciate it. It’s true that I resigned as a result of a conflict I had with IFOCE brass over what they perceived to be unflattering words in the salon article (http://www.salon.com/food/feature/2010/03/25/competitive_eating_ryan_nerz). But I wasn’t defensive. I just said that I thought my answers were truthful and balanced, if a bit disenchanted. I had been planning to hang up the hat anyway, so in the end it was an organic split. Hope to grab a beer with y’all the next time your in town for an NYC contest. Til then, fare the well.
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
March 31, 2010 @ 2:09 pm
I watch a lot of videos.
It's obvious said
March 31, 2010 @ 2:17 pm
Ryan it could not have any other reason than the one you mentioned which explains your sudden retirement , However they did not know about the salon article until it was broight to they attention by some snitch on this site. I doubt they frequent this site and even in a lesser sense BB.com who mentioned the article as well
Just one said
March 31, 2010 @ 3:02 pm
Congrats Ryan. You are now finally free from the man…
Anonymous said
March 31, 2010 @ 3:03 pm
What a shame, The Shea’s really need to stop being such fucking control freaks and loosen the hell up. I know for a fact that some of the top eaters are getting a little sick of their bull shit. If the Shea’s aren’t careful some of their top talents may walk just like everybody’s favorite MC did.
Best of luck Ryan, you were without a doubt the funniest and most down to earth of the crew and you always made the competitions fun for the crowds. I really hope the Shea’s get it together and you guys eventually bury the hatchet and come back
Anonymous said
March 31, 2010 @ 3:19 pm
Glad too see Pat and Hall getting a free trip to Australia. Isnt this their first international trip? About time for those two.
KevinRoss said
March 31, 2010 @ 3:25 pm
Awww, I’m disappointed I won’t see you at the west coast contests, Ryan. You’re a smart and witty dude, so it’s just on to bigger and better things though!
Crawfish said (Registered May 24, 2008)
March 31, 2010 @ 3:27 pm
Ryan was an outstanding emcee at the grits eating contest. Last year I won a copy of his interesting book by answering a trivia question at the contest.
Erik the Red said (Registered January 9, 2006)
March 31, 2010 @ 3:29 pm
This hurts Ryan. I could sense this day was coming through your own accord. I hope that there is no bitterness on either end because I think MLE and us eaters were lucky to have you around and to represent us on stage as MC and friend for these years. Getting to meet you and see you in action at my first contest in SF 2005, and many more of my first contests was nothing but positive and encouraging to keep me going in CE. I read your book straight through as soon as it was available and felt it legitimized the feelings I already had about eating and the bizarre world I wanted to be a part of. I don’t really believe in the saying that all good things must come to an end, so I don’t think it had to, but if it really has than Cheers! my friend – you will be sincerely missed on the circuit.
On a brighter note, maybe now that there will be no conflict of interest, you can finally pursue a relationship with Stockton’s own, Brittney “Spears”.
Brittney said
April 1, 2010 @ 12:34 am
I hope Ryan comes back .I like his spears best
SyKoBOZO said (Registered September 17, 2007)
April 1, 2010 @ 2:18 am
for those of you that don’t know, Ryan calls “lil Ryan” Hard White sometimes hahaha – dammit Nerz, you made eating fun, I’m gonna miss your silly ass, your a great dude and a lot of fun to hang with, even your dad is cool – well good luck in whatever your going to do, if your ever in H-Town, let me know Have A Nice Day 🙂
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
April 1, 2010 @ 8:15 am
Hi SyKo! It’s good seeing you post here. Hope all is going well.
michael castellano said
April 1, 2010 @ 1:04 pm
Rye Bread! The sport of CE will miss you very much…without a shadow of a doubt. You brought an inteligent, bright, hilarious, well rounded comentary and performance to IFOCE/MLE events everywhere around the world. The best abassador to this fun thing we’ve called work for a long time. What a ride!
Now for the next expedition my friend!
On a personal note, to me , and many on the road to “perge”dition, Ryan was a thoughful friend, an perceptive thinker, and a rockin travel buddy. Many a city/state have we traveled trying to find a lil bit of “home” on the road. It seemed like Ryan had friends everywhere we went… and GOOD ones @ that… can tell a lot about a man by the company he keeps.
Well buddy if you find yourself out in Key West you got a friend here. Love to have you! Me and my brother and best friend opened up a restaurant on Duval st. BLACKFIN BISTRO…killing it down here. That goes for everyone out there that I haven’t seen in a year. Miss you all. Life is Gr8.
check out http://www.blackfinbistro.com. Love, peace, and chicken grease!
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
April 1, 2010 @ 2:27 pm
Hi Mike! It sounds like you’re a happy man. That’s wonderful to hear, and may you have continued success and happiness with your current and all future endeavors!
(I know where I’m going if I make it to Key West anytime soon!)
anonymous said
April 1, 2010 @ 2:37 pm
Mike please come out of retirement and do the lula contest. We beg of you. Beautifulbrian begs of you.( i am not him) It would be a night MLE and the sponsors would never forget
michael castellano said
April 1, 2010 @ 3:55 pm
Like Dr. Nerz I too am not JayZ> My boater is already bronzed and mounted. sorry to disappoint!
SyKoBOZO said (Registered September 17, 2007)
April 1, 2010 @ 8:55 pm
Hey Mike, damn it’s like a reunion in here, thats awesome your resturant is doing well – yeah if im ever in Key, I am gonna stop in for sure – thanks Rhonda, yeah things are great for me, been laying low taking care of other stuff, opening a online supplement business very, very soon just working the kinks out of the website’s, once there 100% ready i will be talking about it for sure. as far as contests go the one in Houston, I will be out of town at a wedding that weekend, oh well, lol – H.A.N.D. 🙂
SyKoBOZO said (Registered September 17, 2007)
April 1, 2010 @ 9:00 pm
what gives mike? no French Toast Challenge, – yummy!
Mega Munch said
April 2, 2010 @ 9:21 am
I’m late to the send off, but I wish Ryan the best. Like I mentioned here not too long ago, Ryan emceed the very first pro eating contest I ever attended as a spectator (Baltimore crab cakes in 2007). He also signed my copy of Eat This Book after the contest (YEAH Steakbellie), which was literally eaten by Tim Janus immediately after (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42103304@N00/137270436/).
We should all remember that Ryan was also the star of what is inarguably competitive eating’s biggest example of media exposure, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart back in 2007 (I think that was the year). Seriously, how many people get to be the guest on the Daily Show? Bill Gates, Jerry Seinfeld, Barack Obama… and Ryan Nerz. You will be missed, man.
CE Fan said
April 3, 2010 @ 12:19 pm
I wonder what Ryan is going to say about the ifoce in his tell all book?
anonymous said
April 3, 2010 @ 1:06 pm
Why does one get the impression that megamunch(evans), nerz and someone that works in the MLE office has a steak in this eatfeats blog
Mega Munch said
April 5, 2010 @ 11:19 am
Mmmmmm… steak.