Thank you from the Keeler family
An email sent by Russ Keeler thanking several IFOCE members for helping with his daughter’s report follows after the jump.
I would like to thank the follow Major League Eaters for taking the time to answer questions for my oldest daugther’s report and presentation on competitive eating. They are:
Pat Philbin
Pat Bertoletti
Paul Barlow
Tim Janus
Crazy Legs Conti
Bob Shoudt
Brian Subich
Eric Livingston
Badlands Booker
Juliet LeeShe recieved an A on the presentation portion. I will let you all know the grade she recieved on the report when she gets it back.
Thank You All So Much
Russell “The Blackhole” Keeler
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badlands Booker said
January 13, 2008 @ 8:29 am
That’s Awesome Russ! Tell your oldest it was my pleasure and congratulations!
Nuts about Gnashers said
January 13, 2008 @ 9:46 am
I’d love to read the report – can Russ put it up on the web somewhere??
RussK said (Registered February 3, 2007)
January 13, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
Competitive eating has been around for many, many years. There have been numerous county and state fairs with “no-hands-allowed” pie eating contests and watermelon eating contests.
There are several local competitive eating competitions held in our area every year. My dad is the reigning champion at the pierogie eating contest held at the Scranton Cooper’s restaurant during their Oktoberfest. He is also the reigning hot dog eating champion at a local pub in Minooka.
There are two major groups that organize competitive eating contests. They are the IFOCE, or the International Federation of Competitive Eating and ACE, or the Association of Independent Competitive Eaters. The IFOCE is a little more restrictive. For example, IFOCE members are only supposed to compete in IFOCE approved events. But, the prize money for their events is greater than that of ACE.
One of the most famous competitive eating contests is the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog eating contest held every year on the 4th of July at the Nathan’s hot dog stand at Coney Island in New York City.
According to legend, the contest started on July 4, 1916 when four immigrants were arguing about who was the most patriotic. To settle the dispute they decided to have a hot dog eating contest. After twelve minutes, James Mullen had eaten thirteen hot dogs and was declared the winner.
Today, in order to compete in the 4th of July contest, besides being at least 18 years old, you need to fulfill one of four conditions: 1) be the reigning champion, 2) win a regional qualifying contest for that season, 3) qualify as one of two “wildcard” positions (“Wildcard” positions are given to the highest two average qualifier scores who did not win a regional qualifier) or 4) receive a special invitation from the IFOCE.
The winner of the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog eating contest for 2007 was Joey Chestnut, who ate 66 HDBs (hot dog and bun) in twelve minutes.
Another contest that is very popular is the Krystal Burger eating contest. Krystal burgers are similar to White Castle burgers.
Krystal has hosted eating contests since it first opened its doors in 1932. In fact, Krystal’s second customer, Roy Ward, claimed he could eat twice as many Krystals as French Jenkins, the chain’s first customer. He did just that by eating 12 Krystals, and according to legend, invented the Krystal Sackful in the process.
In 2004, the first Krystal Square off World Hamburger Eating Championship took place in Chattanooga, TN. It is an 8 minute contest. The Square Off has become a “major” on the competitive eating circuit.
Entry into the Square Off is similar to the Nathan’s contest. You can be the reigning champion, the winner of a regional qualifier, or one of four wildcards. One difference is that 2 – 3 days prior to a Square Off qualifier, several 2 minute qualifiers are held. Anyone, at least 18 years old, can enter a 2 minute qualifier. The top 8 – 10 finishers from the 2 minute qualifiers then move on to the 8 minute qualifier.
In 2004, 2005, and 2006 eater Takeru Kobayshi won the Square Off with 69, 67, and 97 Krystals respectively. In 2007, Joey Chestnut took the Square Off Championship with 103 Krystals in 8 minutes.
Other foods eaten in competitions are many. Some are ribs, tamales, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, toasted cheese sandwiches, buffalo wings, meatballs, turkey, hard boiled eggs, ramen noodles, pizza, pierogies, burritos, strawberry shortcake, grits, and corn on the cob.
My first trip to a competitive eating contest was in 2006 to Shoo-fly pie in Lancaster, PA. Shoo-fly pie is an 8 minute contest. Competitors can use their hands or a utensil of their choice. Most eaters use just their hands. Everyone is very sticky and messy by the time the contest is over.
In 2007, the Keeler Krazyies (as “Super” Paul Barlow calls us) came out in-force to see the shoo-fly pie contest. It is not hard to miss us. We all wear tie-dyed t-shirts to competitions. Our shirts all have different sayings on them. My sister and I have “My Dad Could Eat More Than Your Dad” on our shirts. Even my 85 year old great-grandmother comes to competitions. Her shirt says, “Grannies Love Competitive Eaters”.
In 2006 I attended the Sausage Sandwich eating contest at the New York State Fair. The fair grounds were huge! There were also a hundred different types of foods to choose from. My dad said you could have eaten your way from one end of the fair to the other!
My dad placed 6th out of 13 competitors. Some of these competitors were top ranked IFOCE eaters.
After the contest, I ate 1 ½ sausage sandwiches. This was more than the last place finisher who only ate ½ sandwich. I was hungry!
On May 19, 2007 we attended a Nathan’s Hot Dog qualifier in East Hartford, CT. At this contest my sister got a chance to compete in a “Neat Eat” contest. In a “Neat Eat” contest the rules are simple. The contestants need to eat one hot dog as neatly as possible. Napkin use is strongly recommended. Everyone did so well that they had to declare everyone a winner.
At this contest I met Eric “Badlands” Booker for the first time. He is a retired eater. He works as a subway conductor and is also a hip-hop rapper. My dad has all four of his Cds and is even mentioned on the 4th Cd. Badlands has also appeared on the TV shows Wife Swap and Animal Planet’s Most Extreme.
After having been to many of my dad’s contests I have met some really neat people. Eater X (Tim Janus) is one of my and my sister’s favorite eaters. Each year we get our picture taken with him and each year he gets a little shorter.
We also like Crazy Legs Conti. He once tried to eat Iggy, thinking he was a hot dog.
Juliet Lee is one of just a few female eaters. She usually travels with her husband and daughters. They are all nice.
Eric “Steakbellie” Livingston is another interesting eater. He wears a kilt in his clans’ tartan.
The competitive eaters I interviewed have occupations as varied as their personalities. There is a mom who’s a hairdresser that owns her own salon, a subway conductor, who’s also a hip-hop rapper, a chef, a courier, a 9th grade football coach who also works with kids with behavioral problems, a New York City window washer, a stock trader, a manager of a software department, an information technology manager, a printing salesperson, and the manager of the degreasing department of a perforated metal company.
During my interviews I found out that each eater got his/her start in different ways. Eric “ Badlands” Booker first saw the Nathan’s 4th of July contest at the age of 9. He entered his first contest on June 21, 1997. It was a Nathan’s qualifier and he ate 17 HDBs in 12 minutes.
Eric “Steakbellie” Livingston went to a contest call “Wing Bowl” with a friend who was competing one year and then decided to try competing himself the next year.
“Humble” Bob Shoudt saw competitive eating on TV and then read about a hot dog eating contest and decided to sign up and give it a try.
“Super” Paul Barlow was at the Atlanta Zoo with his son and daughter. That day they were having a hot dog eating contest and announced that there was an open slot. He stepped in and competed.
“The Lovely” Juliet Lee had heard of competitive eating on the radio and internet. Her first contest was an amateur pizza eating contest in August of 2006. She won that contest and turned pro in December of 2006.
“Crazy Legs” Conti always loved his vegetables so, when he reached the tender age of 18, entered and won the French cut string bean eating championship.
Pat “from Moonachie” Philbin entered an egg nog drinking contest on the Opie & Anthony XM satellite radio show and won. It was suggested that he enter the Nathan’s hot dog contest and he did.
Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti entered his first contest because his twin sister “made him do it”. He finished 4th after eating nearly 5 pounds of pizza in 15 minutes.
“Big” Brian Subich entered competitive eating after a friend challenged him to a McDonalds double cheeseburger eating contest. He beat his friend and won $20 dollars, too.
Tim “Eater X” Janus entered his first contest in 2004 just to get a day off of work. He had more fun than he expected to have and kept entering contests.
Each eater also has favorite foods that they prefer to eat in competitions. “Badlands” said he is an omnivore, but if he had to pick one food it would be buffalo wings up in Buffalo, NY. “Steakbellie” likes chicken wings and Krystal burgers. “Humble” Bob also likes Krystal burgers. “Super” Paul is another Krystal burger fan and likes ribs. “The Lovely” Juliet Lee prefers cranberry sauce or chili cheese fries. “Crazy Legs” Conti’s favorite competition food is Maine lobster. Pat “from Moonachie” likes hot dogs. Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti likes pizza the best. “Big” Brian prefers chicken wings. “Eater X” likes hot dogs the best because they are made the same way every time and you know what to expect in competitons.
One special note many of the eaters wanted me to let everyone know was that eating large quantities of food only happens at competitions. This is not the way they eat on a normal, every day basis. They try to eat a healthy and balanced diet and get plenty of exercise. Many of their hobbies include being active.
“Badlands” says that he retired from competitive eating to lose weight and get into better shape. Since appearing on the TV show Wife Swap he has lost 100 pounds. “Steakbellie” coaches his son’s wrestling team and likes bicycle racing. “Super” Paul runs 4 – 10 miles a day. “The Lovely” Juliet Lee enjoys swimming, studying ballet and yoga. Pat “from Moonachie” lifts weights and follows a healthy diet. Pat “Deep Dish” Bertolleti says he eats a strict diet when not in competition and tries to exercise as much as possible. “Big” Brian likes to coach and play sports such as football, basketball, and baseball. “Eater X” likes to ski and walk around the city.
Matt in CT said
January 13, 2008 @ 8:02 pm
Did any notice how absolutely gay the commercial was. Or, was it just us in CT who notice the spoog on Payton’s chin. No surprise it was Payton.
Anonymous said
January 14, 2008 @ 7:31 am
to Russk … for an post paramount to war and peace, I was a bit take back that I was not mentioned in your article , I was responcipable for crossing over as matzah ball champion to the hot dogs thus help rcreating the sport, I guess tis is just away to remove me from the history of the sport that I helped make..Don ”Moses” Lerman