Wing Bowl
Encyclopedia
Wing Bowl is an annual eating contest founded in 1993 by Philadelphia
talk-radio hosts Angelo Cataldi
and Al Morganti
as a celebration of gluttony
. The contest was first broadcast on WIP (AM).
About 10 people attended Wing Bowl I (held in a hotel) in 1993 to see a competition between two contestants. The event pits competitive eaters in a chicken wing eating contest. The Wing Bowl is traditionally held on the Friday preceding the Super Bowl
. The event, which began as a radio promotion, has grown to encompass television, the Internet, and a contest for women who are termed "the Wingettes."
It is currently held at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center, where it is still broadcast live on WIP. There are currently no television deals to broadcast the event live; however, a replay is usually shown on WPSG
, Comcast SportsNet
, or one of the other local stations within the following week. The Wing Bowl now draws crowds of 20,000 or more.
were not going to make the Super Bowl anytime soon. It is also suggested that Morganti was fed up with the Buffalo Bills going to the Super Bowl and not winning. The first Wing Bowl was held in the lobby of the Wyndham
Franklin Plaza Hotel
in Center City
. Carmen Codero walked away with the inaugural title, receiving a hibachi
as his prize.
Since then, media coverage has grown to the point where every one of the major Philadelphia television stations has covered the event. The ABC
, CBS
and Fox
affiliates all aired live reports from the event during their morning news. Features on the event have appeared in the Courier-Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer
and Daily News
as well as a host of newspapers in the surrounding counties. The event has been featured on ESPN and the syndicated television shows Real TV
and The Montel Williams Show
. Segments on Wing Bowl have appeared on TV newscasts in cities throughout the country. Several Wing Bowl contestants, including "El Wingador," competed in Fox's "Glutton Bowl
" in the spring of 2002. The 2007 Wing Bowl was carried on Comcast Cable's On Demand
channel.
Then Mayor of Philadelphia and future Governor of Pennsylvania Ed Rendell
attended Wing Bowls II, III, IV and VI, where he presented the winner with a "Liberty Bell
" trophy. Other celebrities who have appeared include retired heavyweight boxer Randall "Tex" Cobb, former 76ers
President Pat Croce
, former Phillies
manager Larry Bowa
, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter
, and others. Major-league umpire
Eric Gregg
served as the "Commissioner" of Wing Bowl from its second year until his death from a stroke
on June 5, 2006. On December 4, 2006, it was announced that Pat Croce
will be the new commissioner.
)
Entry into Wing Bowl can be gained in two ways, the first of which is successfully performing an "eating stunt" on air during The Morning Show at the 610 WIP studios in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
, with Al Morganti as judge. Stunts have included eating 20 cups of cooked oatmeal
, eating 60 ounces of creamed spinach
with 60 ounces of hot sauce
, and eating five Big Mac
s. The stunt must be completed within a time limit negotiated between the contestant and Morganti. Morganti, known to be a tough judge, has disallowed stunts that involved what he considers "cheating", such as dipping bread into a beverage to make it easier to swallow, or breaking up a food item into constituent parts for easier chewing (such as separating hot dogs from their buns). He is also tough on contestants who suggest a stunt involving liquid consumption; The Morning Show hosts prefer eating stunts over drinking stunts. If a person offers to perform a drinking stunt, it must be compelling to the hosts, such as Wing Bowl XIV champion Joey Chestnut
's offer to drink a gallon of milk
. The hosts deemed it not difficult enough, but, fortunately for Chestnut, former champion Bill "El Wingador" Simmons was present and declared the stunt to have a high level of difficulty, upon which the hosts accepted his offer, with a five-minute time limit to complete the challenge.
The other way to gain entry to Wing Bowl is to win a "Wingoff." A "Wingoff" is a 10 minute eating contest held at a Philadelphia or South Jersey
bar hosted by former Philadelphia Eagle and WIP Host Hugh Douglas and WIP Personality Marc Farzetta. The "Wingoffs" began in 2005 when 610 WIP decided to spoof the Philadelphia Big 5|Big 5 Philadelphia area universities basketball teams. The winner of these "Wingoffs" gain automatic entry into the Wing Bowl.
(IFOCE). Angelo Cataldi, in an effort to boost the level of competition, brought in professional eaters from outside Philadelphia, including 99-pound Korean-American Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas
from Virginia
and Long Island
realtor Ed "Cookie" Jarvis. That year, Thomas packed away 167 wings to defeat Jarvis and returning-champ Simmons (who finished with 151) to become the first woman to win the event, winning a new car for her victory. Both competitors and fans did not want to see an "outsider" win the Wing Bowl. When it became apparent that Thomas could take the title away from a Philadelphian, Simmons gained the support of his fans and long-time competitors. One of the most dramatic moments saw Simmons's long-time rival Damaging Doug show his support for Simmons and keeping the Wing Bowl title in Philadelphia.
Prior to the event, many fans were denied admission to the Wachovia Center
despite waiting in line throughout the night. Admission to Wing Bowl had been on a first-come, first-served, general-admission basis. At 5am, when many fans could not gain admittance and were told to go home, some minor riot
ing started and police
were called in. Following this, WIP and Wing Bowl organizers instituted ticketing for Wing Bowl to prevent another incident like this.
of San Jose, California
winning the event. Prior to the event, a banner was raised to the rafters of the Wachovia Center in honor of Simmons's Wing Bowl accomplishments. Photos of the Virgin Wing Bowl can be viewed here on PhillySportsline.com
Wing Bowl XIV, touted as "The Virgin Wing Bowl," since no past Wing Bowl winners were allowed to participate, featured the induction of "El Wingador" as the first member of the new Wing Bowl Hall of Fame
. He was elected by a poll conducted on the 610 WIP website. Wing Bowl XIV was also the first Wing Bowl in which tickets had to be purchased for entry. This decision was mainly due to past problems where nearly 50,000 people had lined up outside of the Wachovia Center for entry to a venue that can hold only 20,000 people. Sales proceeds went to charity.
. Pat Croce
was this year's Wing Bowl Commissioner. Pat took the helm after the tragic loss of WIP's dear friend Eric Gregg
.
The wings in this bowl were smaller and much warmer than past Wing Bowls, leading the commentators to predict that the competitors could get past the 200-wing mark. At the end of the first round, a record 112 wings were eaten by Gentleman Jerry (for Philadelphia), giving him a 21-wing lead, the first double digit lead at halftime in Wing Bowl history.
The five finalists for the final two minutes were:
After going into the second round in ninth place, Chestnut came back and took the lead in round two by twelve wings. He also won the crown for the second year in a row, finishing with a record 182 wings. Finishing in fourth place, Gentleman Jerry was the top Philadelphia finisher with 167 wings.
After the announcement of champion, Hall of Famer "El Wingador" announced his out-of-retirement comeback to take his crown back from Chestnut in next year's Wing Bowl.
View Wing Bowl 15 Photos Here on PhillySportsline.com
After the 1st round, Joey Chestnut set a first round record with 124 wings, breaking Gentleman Jerry's record from last year of 112 wings, winning him a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle. During the announcement of the second round qualifiers, there was an error in the wing counting, which prompted Pat Croce, to change the number of second round participants from 10 to 12.
Standings after the first round were:
At the start of the second round, it looked as if El Wingador was making up ground on Joey Chestnut, finishing his first plate before the incumbent champion. But age and fatigue had set in and El Wingador was unable to put significant pressure on both Patrick Bertoletti and Joey Chestnut. The dark horse from the "kiddie table", Brad the Lunatic, looked to pull an upset, but was disqualifed for a vomiting. After many years of speculation, the 200 Wing mark was finally broken during this round by both Patrick Bertoletti and Joey Chestnut.
Final Five:
In the final 2 minute sprint for the crown, Joey Chestnut, was poised to cruise to the Wing Bowl crown, but kept on the pressure, devouring 241 wings at the final whistle. Despite a valiant effort and a personal best, El Wingador, could not take down the eating juggernaut, finishing with 205 wings. He has finally broken the elusive 200 wing mark he has coveted since entering in his first competition.
Final Standings:
Next years Wing Bowl could bring us a new champion, as El Wingador had stated, "This year was a one shot deal" and Joey Chestnut's competitive eating tour de force may have come to an end. Patrick Bertoletti is considered to be the odd's on favorite for Wing Bowl 17.
View Wing Bowl 16 Photos on AngeloCataldi.com and PIXGargano.com and PhillySportsline.com
, was an all Amateur eater event, promoting eaters from the local neighborhoods in and around the Philadelphia area. There are 25 eaters in Wing Bowl 17, with Wing Bowl 8 Champion "Tollman Joe" participating. This marks the first occasion that Wing Bowl creator Al Morganti
gave a special dispensation that Tollman Joe did not have to perform an eating stunt to be in the Wing Bowl field, since he has been the only amateur to beat Bill "El Wingador" Simmons.
Jonathan "Super" Squibb of Winslow Twp., NJ, took the Wing Bowl 17 title of Wing Bowl Champion by eating 203 wings. His entrance into Wing Bowl is unique in that he was originally turned down. His stunt of 6 pounds of cottage cheese failed in its first attempt. "Super" Squibb expected to appear on the WIP morning show for his stunt a week after calling, however was asked to come in immediately due to time slots logistics. Because of his lack of time to prepare the original stunt failed. Determined, Squibb called again asking to be given just one more chance. He was granted this chance and given a week to prepare. He blew the stunt out of the water the second time eating the 6 pounds in under 2 minutes 30 seconds.
Final Standings:
touring professional, and is not affiliated with any other professional eating league, and the rules are that a defending champ will have his opportunity to defend his title, Squibb was allowed to compete.
The eating contest at Wing Bowl was one in which Squibb was facing past competitor's Joey Chesnut record of 241 more than it was a competition with the other eaters on stage. Squibb left the gate quickly pulling far ahead of the other eaters. By the end of round one, Squibb was far ahead of the others. By the end of the second round, Squibb was ahead 83 wings of the second place competitor. At that point, Squibb needed 21 wings to beat Joey Chesnuts all time record of 241. Though he could have skipped the final 2 minutes and taken his prize, he wanted more. He attempted in the 2 minutes to eat the needed 21 wings, risking possible disqualification (if he vomited). Squibb, confident and showing no sign of nausea, ate as fast as he could through the last 2 minutes. He ultimately fell 3 wings short of Chesnut's record by finishing with a grand total of 238. This setup a showdown of wing kings in Wing Bowl 19 as both Joey Chesnut (who appeared in part of another eater's entourage) and Squibb agreed to the showdown.
Final Standings:
For the first time in Wing Bowl history, John "The Freak of Nature" Harker and his entourage won the lucrative best entourage prize, back to back, two years in a row. In recent years the floats in which the eaters enter the arena have grown ever more complex and is a highlight of the event. Another first time Wing Bowl prize was a prize for the first person disqualified for vomiting ("reversal" in competitive eating language). The name of this award is the Donovan McPuke award named after former Philadelphia Eagles
quarterback, Donovan McNabb
, who himself has puked on the football field during games. The McPuke award was given to Lord Bemis.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
talk-radio hosts Angelo Cataldi
Angelo Cataldi
Angelo Cataldi is a sports radio personality for 610 WIP in Philadelphia. Airing from 5:30am until 10:00am Eastern time, along with co-hosts Al Morganti, Keith Jones and Rhea Hughes.-Career:Cataldi is a native of Providence, Rhode Island...
and Al Morganti
Al Morganti
Michael "Al" Morganti is a nationally recognized hockey analyst who has covered the National Hockey League and international competitions. He is currently a pre and post-game analyst for the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL for games broadcast on Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia and occasionally, The...
as a celebration of gluttony
Gluttony
Gluttony, derived from the Latin gluttire meaning to gulp down or swallow, means over-indulgence and over-consumption of food, drink, intoxicants or wealth items to the point of extravagance or waste...
. The contest was first broadcast on WIP (AM).
About 10 people attended Wing Bowl I (held in a hotel) in 1993 to see a competition between two contestants. The event pits competitive eaters in a chicken wing eating contest. The Wing Bowl is traditionally held on the Friday preceding the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
. The event, which began as a radio promotion, has grown to encompass television, the Internet, and a contest for women who are termed "the Wingettes."
It is currently held at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center, where it is still broadcast live on WIP. There are currently no television deals to broadcast the event live; however, a replay is usually shown on WPSG
WPSG
WPSG, channel 57, is a television station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. WPSG is owned by the CBS Corporation and is the east coast flagship station for the CW Television Network, which is owned jointly by CBS and Time Warner...
, Comcast SportsNet
Comcast SportsNet
Comcast SportsNet is a group of regional sports networks in the United States primarily owned by the Comcast cable television company....
, or one of the other local stations within the following week. The Wing Bowl now draws crowds of 20,000 or more.
Background
Wing Bowl was the brainchild of WIP radio host Al Morganti, who came up with the idea when it became apparent the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
were not going to make the Super Bowl anytime soon. It is also suggested that Morganti was fed up with the Buffalo Bills going to the Super Bowl and not winning. The first Wing Bowl was held in the lobby of the Wyndham
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is a group of chains of hotels and resorts located mainly in the United States and Canada, but also in Mexico and the Caribbean.-History:...
Franklin Plaza Hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
in Center City
Center City, Philadelphia
Center City, or Downtown Philadelphia includes the central business district and central neighborhoods of the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. As of 2005, its population of over 88,000 made it the third most populous downtown in the United States, after New York City's and Chicago's...
. Carmen Codero walked away with the inaugural title, receiving a hibachi
Hibachi
The is a traditional Japanese heating device. It consists of a round, cylindrical or a box-shaped open-topped container, made from or lined with a heatproof material and designed to hold burning charcoal....
as his prize.
Since then, media coverage has grown to the point where every one of the major Philadelphia television stations has covered the event. The ABC
WPVI-TV
WPVI-TV, channel 6, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. WPVI has its studios located on the border between Philadelphia and Bala Cynwyd, and its transmitter is located in the...
, CBS
KYW-TV
KYW-TV, virtual channel 3, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KYW-TV shares a studio facility with its sister station, CW flagship WPSG just north of Center City Philadelphia...
and Fox
WTXF-TV
WTXF-TV, virtual channel 29 , is an owned-and-operated station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
affiliates all aired live reports from the event during their morning news. Features on the event have appeared in the Courier-Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
and Daily News
Philadelphia Daily News
The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The newspaper is owned by Philadelphia Media Holdings which also owns Philadelphia's other major newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Daily News began publishing on March 31, 1925, under...
as well as a host of newspapers in the surrounding counties. The event has been featured on ESPN and the syndicated television shows Real TV
Real TV
Real TV is a reality television program that ran in syndication from September 9, 1996 to September 7, 2001. It aired footage of extraordinary events that were not usually covered in mainstream news. It was often played on Spike TV and the Fox Reality Channel.-The Idea:Real TV usually showed home...
and The Montel Williams Show
The Montel Williams Show
The Montel Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Montel Williams. On January 30, 2008 it was announced that The Montel Williams Show would stop production on new episodes at the end of the 2007-2008 television season after seventeen years...
. Segments on Wing Bowl have appeared on TV newscasts in cities throughout the country. Several Wing Bowl contestants, including "El Wingador," competed in Fox's "Glutton Bowl
Glutton Bowl
The Glutton Bowl was a two-hour Fox Network eating special in 2002 sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating. The special, which was co-executive produced by Nash Entertainment and IFOCE co-founder Richard Shea, featured Mark Thompson and IFOCE co-founder George Shea as...
" in the spring of 2002. The 2007 Wing Bowl was carried on Comcast Cable's On Demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
channel.
Then Mayor of Philadelphia and future Governor of Pennsylvania Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
attended Wing Bowls II, III, IV and VI, where he presented the winner with a "Liberty Bell
Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American Independence, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formerly placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House , the bell was commissioned from the London firm of Lester and Pack in 1752, and was cast with the lettering "Proclaim LIBERTY...
" trophy. Other celebrities who have appeared include retired heavyweight boxer Randall "Tex" Cobb, former 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
President Pat Croce
Pat Croce
Pasquale "Pat" Croce is an American entrepreneur, sports team executive and owner, author, and TV personality....
, former Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
manager Larry Bowa
Larry Bowa
Lawrence Robert Bowa is a former middle infielder, playing mainly as a shortstop, and manager in Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
, and others. Major-league umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
Eric Gregg
Eric Gregg
Eric Eugene Gregg was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1975 to 1999...
served as the "Commissioner" of Wing Bowl from its second year until his death from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
on June 5, 2006. On December 4, 2006, it was announced that Pat Croce
Pat Croce
Pasquale "Pat" Croce is an American entrepreneur, sports team executive and owner, author, and TV personality....
will be the new commissioner.
Qualifications for Wing Bowl
(As per Wing Bowl Commissioner Pat CrocePat Croce
Pasquale "Pat" Croce is an American entrepreneur, sports team executive and owner, author, and TV personality....
)
Entry into Wing Bowl can be gained in two ways, the first of which is successfully performing an "eating stunt" on air during The Morning Show at the 610 WIP studios in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
Bala Cynwyd is a community in Lower Merion Township which is located on the Main Line in southeastern Pennsylvania, bordering the western edge of Philadelphia at US Route 1 . It was originally two separate towns, Bala and Cynwyd, but is commonly treated as a single community...
, with Al Morganti as judge. Stunts have included eating 20 cups of cooked oatmeal
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is ground oat groats , or a porridge made from oats . Oatmeal can also be ground oat, steel-cut oats, crushed oats, or rolled oats....
, eating 60 ounces of creamed spinach
Spinach
Spinach is an edible flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. It is native to central and southwestern Asia. It is an annual plant , which grows to a height of up to 30 cm. Spinach may survive over winter in temperate regions...
with 60 ounces of hot sauce
Hot sauce
Hot sauce, chili sauce or pepper sauce refers to any spicy sauce made from chili peppers and other ingredients.-Ingredients:There are many recipes for hot sauces - the common ingredient being any kind of peppers. A group of chemicals called capsaicinoids are responsible for the heat in chili peppers...
, and eating five Big Mac
Big Mac
The Big Mac is a hamburger sold by McDonald's, an international fast food restaurant chain. It is one of the company's signature products...
s. The stunt must be completed within a time limit negotiated between the contestant and Morganti. Morganti, known to be a tough judge, has disallowed stunts that involved what he considers "cheating", such as dipping bread into a beverage to make it easier to swallow, or breaking up a food item into constituent parts for easier chewing (such as separating hot dogs from their buns). He is also tough on contestants who suggest a stunt involving liquid consumption; The Morning Show hosts prefer eating stunts over drinking stunts. If a person offers to perform a drinking stunt, it must be compelling to the hosts, such as Wing Bowl XIV champion Joey Chestnut
Joey Chestnut
Joseph Christian "Jaws" Chestnut is an American competitive eater. The , engineering student is currently ranked first in the world by the International Federation of Competitive Eating...
's offer to drink a gallon of milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
. The hosts deemed it not difficult enough, but, fortunately for Chestnut, former champion Bill "El Wingador" Simmons was present and declared the stunt to have a high level of difficulty, upon which the hosts accepted his offer, with a five-minute time limit to complete the challenge.
The other way to gain entry to Wing Bowl is to win a "Wingoff." A "Wingoff" is a 10 minute eating contest held at a Philadelphia or South Jersey
South Jersey
South Jersey comprises the southern portions of the U.S. state of New Jersey between the lower Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. The designation is a colloquial one, reflecting not only geographical but perceived cultural differences from the northern part of the state, with no official...
bar hosted by former Philadelphia Eagle and WIP Host Hugh Douglas and WIP Personality Marc Farzetta. The "Wingoffs" began in 2005 when 610 WIP decided to spoof the Philadelphia Big 5|Big 5 Philadelphia area universities basketball teams. The winner of these "Wingoffs" gain automatic entry into the Wing Bowl.
2002
In 2002, Philadelphia native Bill "El Wingador" Simmons became the first competitor to win the Bowl three times; Kevin "Heavy Keavy" O'Donnell had won Wing Bowl II and Wing Bowl III in '94 and '95.2003
Bill Simmons became the first man to win the Bowl four times, and the first to win it three times in a row (again beating O'Donnell's previous '94-'95 record).2004
In 2004, the Wing Bowl was sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive EatingInternational Federation of Competitive Eating
The International Federation of Competitive Eating, Inc. is an organization that supervises and regulates eating contests across the globe, acting as a central resource for the sport. Top events include the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, La Costena "Feel the Heat" Jalapeno Eating Challenge, and...
(IFOCE). Angelo Cataldi, in an effort to boost the level of competition, brought in professional eaters from outside Philadelphia, including 99-pound Korean-American Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas
Sonya Thomas
Sonya Thomas , also known by her nickname The Black Widow, is a top-ranked Korean-born American competitive eater from Alexandria, Virginia. Thomas joined the International Federation of Competitive Eating in 2003 and quickly rose to the top of the ranks, beating competitive eaters such as Ed...
from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
realtor Ed "Cookie" Jarvis. That year, Thomas packed away 167 wings to defeat Jarvis and returning-champ Simmons (who finished with 151) to become the first woman to win the event, winning a new car for her victory. Both competitors and fans did not want to see an "outsider" win the Wing Bowl. When it became apparent that Thomas could take the title away from a Philadelphian, Simmons gained the support of his fans and long-time competitors. One of the most dramatic moments saw Simmons's long-time rival Damaging Doug show his support for Simmons and keeping the Wing Bowl title in Philadelphia.
2005
In 2005, Simmons regained the Wing Bowl title by defeating Thomas by a single chicken wing. This Wing Bowl coincided with the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl run. Fans in attendance broke into chants of "USA! USA!"Prior to the event, many fans were denied admission to the Wachovia Center
Wachovia Center
The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
despite waiting in line throughout the night. Admission to Wing Bowl had been on a first-come, first-served, general-admission basis. At 5am, when many fans could not gain admittance and were told to go home, some minor riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
ing started and police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
were called in. Following this, WIP and Wing Bowl organizers instituted ticketing for Wing Bowl to prevent another incident like this.
2006
In the 2006 Wing Bowl, only three IFOCE eaters competed, with Joey ChestnutJoey Chestnut
Joseph Christian "Jaws" Chestnut is an American competitive eater. The , engineering student is currently ranked first in the world by the International Federation of Competitive Eating...
of San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
winning the event. Prior to the event, a banner was raised to the rafters of the Wachovia Center in honor of Simmons's Wing Bowl accomplishments. Photos of the Virgin Wing Bowl can be viewed here on PhillySportsline.com
Wing Bowl XIV, touted as "The Virgin Wing Bowl," since no past Wing Bowl winners were allowed to participate, featured the induction of "El Wingador" as the first member of the new Wing Bowl Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
. He was elected by a poll conducted on the 610 WIP website. Wing Bowl XIV was also the first Wing Bowl in which tickets had to be purchased for entry. This decision was mainly due to past problems where nearly 50,000 people had lined up outside of the Wachovia Center for entry to a venue that can hold only 20,000 people. Sales proceeds went to charity.
2007
Wing Bowl 15 is known as "Philadelphia Against The World". Tickets sold out on the first day of sales. Wing Bowl 15 was presented by Philadelphia Park CasinoPhiladelphia Park Racetrack
Parx Racing and Casino is a thoroughbred horse racetrack and racino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. It currently houses 3,300 slot machines.-History:...
. Pat Croce
Pat Croce
Pasquale "Pat" Croce is an American entrepreneur, sports team executive and owner, author, and TV personality....
was this year's Wing Bowl Commissioner. Pat took the helm after the tragic loss of WIP's dear friend Eric Gregg
Eric Gregg
Eric Eugene Gregg was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1975 to 1999...
.
The wings in this bowl were smaller and much warmer than past Wing Bowls, leading the commentators to predict that the competitors could get past the 200-wing mark. At the end of the first round, a record 112 wings were eaten by Gentleman Jerry (for Philadelphia), giving him a 21-wing lead, the first double digit lead at halftime in Wing Bowl history.
The five finalists for the final two minutes were:
- 182 wings - Joey Chestnut (World)
- 170 wings - Patrick Bertoletti (World)
- 169 wings - Sonya Thomas (World)
- 167 wings - Gentleman Jerry (Philly)
- 138 wings - US Male (Philly).
After going into the second round in ninth place, Chestnut came back and took the lead in round two by twelve wings. He also won the crown for the second year in a row, finishing with a record 182 wings. Finishing in fourth place, Gentleman Jerry was the top Philadelphia finisher with 167 wings.
After the announcement of champion, Hall of Famer "El Wingador" announced his out-of-retirement comeback to take his crown back from Chestnut in next year's Wing Bowl.
View Wing Bowl 15 Photos Here on PhillySportsline.com
2008
Going into Wing Bowl 16 WIP Host, Angelo Cataldi, billed it as the greatest Wing Bowl ever. With El Wingador coming out of retirement to square off against the number one eater in the world, Joey Chestnut. Wing Bowl 16 also featured a change in chicken wing providers, which contributed to the shattering of the elusive 200 wing mark.After the 1st round, Joey Chestnut set a first round record with 124 wings, breaking Gentleman Jerry's record from last year of 112 wings, winning him a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle. During the announcement of the second round qualifiers, there was an error in the wing counting, which prompted Pat Croce, to change the number of second round participants from 10 to 12.
Standings after the first round were:
- Joey Chestnut, 124 wings.
- Brad the Lunatic, 112.
- El Wingador, 107.
- Patrick Bertoletti, 104.
- Gentleman Jerry Orlando, 83.
- U.S. Male, 81.
- Wing Kong, 80.
- Unknown Eater, 79.
- Mike "The Caveman" Casciano and Gabe Cocktail, 74 (tie).
- Dr. Digestion, 71.
- Dave the Dumpster, 70.
At the start of the second round, it looked as if El Wingador was making up ground on Joey Chestnut, finishing his first plate before the incumbent champion. But age and fatigue had set in and El Wingador was unable to put significant pressure on both Patrick Bertoletti and Joey Chestnut. The dark horse from the "kiddie table", Brad the Lunatic, looked to pull an upset, but was disqualifed for a vomiting. After many years of speculation, the 200 Wing mark was finally broken during this round by both Patrick Bertoletti and Joey Chestnut.
Final Five:
- Joey Chestnut,
- Patrick Bertoletti, 211 wings
- El Wingador, 189
- U.S. Male and Gentleman Jerry Orlando, 133 (tie).
In the final 2 minute sprint for the crown, Joey Chestnut, was poised to cruise to the Wing Bowl crown, but kept on the pressure, devouring 241 wings at the final whistle. Despite a valiant effort and a personal best, El Wingador, could not take down the eating juggernaut, finishing with 205 wings. He has finally broken the elusive 200 wing mark he has coveted since entering in his first competition.
Final Standings:
- Winner: Joey Chestnut, 241
- Runner-up: Patrick Bertoletti, 227
- Third: El Wingador, 205
- Fourth: U.S. Male, 143
- Fifth: Gentleman Jerry Orlando, 139
Next years Wing Bowl could bring us a new champion, as El Wingador had stated, "This year was a one shot deal" and Joey Chestnut's competitive eating tour de force may have come to an end. Patrick Bertoletti is considered to be the odd's on favorite for Wing Bowl 17.
View Wing Bowl 16 Photos on AngeloCataldi.com and PIXGargano.com and PhillySportsline.com
2009
Unlike the past years in which professional eaters were allowed to participate, Wing Bowl 17 on January 30, 2009 at the Wachovia CenterWachovia Center
The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, was an all Amateur eater event, promoting eaters from the local neighborhoods in and around the Philadelphia area. There are 25 eaters in Wing Bowl 17, with Wing Bowl 8 Champion "Tollman Joe" participating. This marks the first occasion that Wing Bowl creator Al Morganti
Al Morganti
Michael "Al" Morganti is a nationally recognized hockey analyst who has covered the National Hockey League and international competitions. He is currently a pre and post-game analyst for the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL for games broadcast on Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia and occasionally, The...
gave a special dispensation that Tollman Joe did not have to perform an eating stunt to be in the Wing Bowl field, since he has been the only amateur to beat Bill "El Wingador" Simmons.
Jonathan "Super" Squibb of Winslow Twp., NJ, took the Wing Bowl 17 title of Wing Bowl Champion by eating 203 wings. His entrance into Wing Bowl is unique in that he was originally turned down. His stunt of 6 pounds of cottage cheese failed in its first attempt. "Super" Squibb expected to appear on the WIP morning show for his stunt a week after calling, however was asked to come in immediately due to time slots logistics. Because of his lack of time to prepare the original stunt failed. Determined, Squibb called again asking to be given just one more chance. He was granted this chance and given a week to prepare. He blew the stunt out of the water the second time eating the 6 pounds in under 2 minutes 30 seconds.
Final Standings:
- Winner: Super Squibb, 203
- Runner-Up: Not Rich, 180
- Third(tie): Da Disposal, 153
- Third(tie): Hank The Tank, 153
- Fifth: Cadillac Corrigan, 132
2010
Once again, Jonathon "Super" Squibb took home the crown of wing king by winning the all amateur wing bowl 18th wing eating contest. This year brought with it some controversy when Super Squibb was accused of being a professional eater. The first ever tribunal was held on Philadelphia 610WIP to decide whether or not Squibb would be allowed to compete. Because there are no clear rules as to what constitutes a professional, Super Squibb is not an International Federation of Competitive EatingInternational Federation of Competitive Eating
The International Federation of Competitive Eating, Inc. is an organization that supervises and regulates eating contests across the globe, acting as a central resource for the sport. Top events include the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, La Costena "Feel the Heat" Jalapeno Eating Challenge, and...
touring professional, and is not affiliated with any other professional eating league, and the rules are that a defending champ will have his opportunity to defend his title, Squibb was allowed to compete.
The eating contest at Wing Bowl was one in which Squibb was facing past competitor's Joey Chesnut record of 241 more than it was a competition with the other eaters on stage. Squibb left the gate quickly pulling far ahead of the other eaters. By the end of round one, Squibb was far ahead of the others. By the end of the second round, Squibb was ahead 83 wings of the second place competitor. At that point, Squibb needed 21 wings to beat Joey Chesnuts all time record of 241. Though he could have skipped the final 2 minutes and taken his prize, he wanted more. He attempted in the 2 minutes to eat the needed 21 wings, risking possible disqualification (if he vomited). Squibb, confident and showing no sign of nausea, ate as fast as he could through the last 2 minutes. He ultimately fell 3 wings short of Chesnut's record by finishing with a grand total of 238. This setup a showdown of wing kings in Wing Bowl 19 as both Joey Chesnut (who appeared in part of another eater's entourage) and Squibb agreed to the showdown.
Final Standings:
- Winner: Super Squibb, 238
- Runner-Up: Not Rich, 145
2011
The great Bill "El Wingador" Simmons returned to Wing Bowl to challenge 2-time undefeated Wing Bowl champion Jonathon "Super" Squibb. However, Squibb was victorious defeating El Wingador by one wing, 255 to 254.- Winner: Super Squibb, 255
- Runner-Up: Bill "El Wingador" Simmons, 254
For the first time in Wing Bowl history, John "The Freak of Nature" Harker and his entourage won the lucrative best entourage prize, back to back, two years in a row. In recent years the floats in which the eaters enter the arena have grown ever more complex and is a highlight of the event. Another first time Wing Bowl prize was a prize for the first person disqualified for vomiting ("reversal" in competitive eating language). The name of this award is the Donovan McPuke award named after former Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
quarterback, Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb
Donovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
, who himself has puked on the football field during games. The McPuke award was given to Lord Bemis.
Wing Bowl champions
| Wing Bowl |
Date | Venue | Winner | Wings | Runner-up | Wings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | January 29, 1993 | Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel | Carmen "The Beast From the East" Cordero | 100 | ||
| II | January 28, 1994 | The Main Event | Kevin "Heavy Keavy" O'Donnell | 127 | ||
| III | January 27, 1995 | Club Egypt | Kevin "Heavy Keavy" O'Donnell | 133 | ||
| IV | January 26, 1996 | Electric Factory Electric Factory The Electric Factory is a concert venue in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaThe original "Electric Factory" venue was a converted tire warehouse at 22nd and Arch Streets, which opened in 1968. The first performers, on February 2, 1968, were the Chambers Brothers... |
Glen "Fluffmaster" Garrison | 155 | ||
| V | January 24, 1997 | Electric Factory Electric Factory The Electric Factory is a concert venue in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaThe original "Electric Factory" venue was a converted tire warehouse at 22nd and Arch Streets, which opened in 1968. The first performers, on February 2, 1968, were the Chambers Brothers... |
Eric "Gentleman E" Behl | 120 | ||
| VI | January 23, 1998 | Spectrum Wachovia Spectrum The Spectrum, formerly known as the CoreStates Spectrum , First Union Spectrum , and Wachovia Spectrum was an indoor arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania... |
Mark "Big Rig" Vogeding | 164 | ||
| VII | January 29, 1999 | Spectrum Wachovia Spectrum The Spectrum, formerly known as the CoreStates Spectrum , First Union Spectrum , and Wachovia Spectrum was an indoor arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania... |
Bill "El Wingador" Simmons | 113 | ||
| VIII | January 28, 2000 | First Union Center Wachovia Center The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... |
"Tollman Joe" Paul | 90 | ||
| IX | January 26, 2001 | First Union Center Wachovia Center The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... |
Bill "El Wingador" Simmons | 137 | ||
| X | February 1, 2002 | First Union Center Wachovia Center The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... |
Bill "El Wingador" Simmons | 135 | ||
| XI | January 24, 2003 | First Union Center Wachovia Center The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... |
Bill "El Wingador" Simmons | 154 | Rich "The Gavone" Sica | 129 |
| XII | January 30, 2004 | Wachovia Center Wachovia Center The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... |
Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas Sonya Thomas Sonya Thomas , also known by her nickname The Black Widow, is a top-ranked Korean-born American competitive eater from Alexandria, Virginia. Thomas joined the International Federation of Competitive Eating in 2003 and quickly rose to the top of the ranks, beating competitive eaters such as Ed... |
167 | Ed "Cookie" Jarvis | 153 |
| XIII | February 4, 2005 | Wachovia Center Wachovia Center The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... |
Bill "El Wingador" Simmons | 162 | Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas | 161 |
| XIV | February 3, 2006 | Wachovia Center Wachovia Center The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... |
Joey Chestnut Joey Chestnut Joseph Christian "Jaws" Chestnut is an American competitive eater. The , engineering student is currently ranked first in the world by the International Federation of Competitive Eating... |
173 | Rich "The Locust" LeFevre Rich LeFevre Rich LeFevre is a competitive eater from Henderson, Nevada . Rich and his wife, Carlene LeFevre, are said to form the "First Family of Competitive Eating" in spite of having normal weights and ages around 60, and are both top ranked members of the International Federation of Competitive Eating... |
151 |
| XV | February 2, 2007 | Wachovia Center Wachovia Center The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... |
Joey Chestnut | 182 | Patrick Bertoletti Patrick Bertoletti Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti is an American competitive eater from Chicago. He is ranked second in the International Federation of Competitive Eating... |
170 |
| XVI | February 1, 2008 | Wachovia Center Wachovia Center The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... |
Joey Chestnut Joey Chestnut Joseph Christian "Jaws" Chestnut is an American competitive eater. The , engineering student is currently ranked first in the world by the International Federation of Competitive Eating... |
241 | Patrick Bertoletti | 227 |
| XVII | January 30, 2009 | Wachovia Center Wachovia Center The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... |
Jonathan "Super" Squibb | 203 | "Not Rich" | 180 |
| XVIII | February 5, 2010 | Wachovia Center Wachovia Center The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... |
Cassandra "Wings" Gillig | 238 | "Not Rich" | 145 |
| XIX | February 4, 2011 | Wells Fargo Center Wells Fargo Center Wells Fargo Center may refer to:*Wells Fargo Center , Colorado*Wells Fargo Center , Florida*Wells Fargo Center , Nevada*Wells Fargo Center , California*Wells Fargo Center , Florida... |
Jonathan "Super" Squibb | 255 | Bill "El Wingador" Simmons | 254 |
Miscellaneous
- "El Wingador" would practice to strengthen his jaw muscles by eating lots of frozen Tootsie RollTootsie RollTootsie Roll is a brand of chewy candy. It is a form of candy that has been manufactured in the United States since 1896. The manufacturer, Tootsie Roll Industries, is based in Chicago, Illinois.It was the first penny candy to be individually wrapped....
s in the weeks before the Wing Bowl. - Seats located in sections 114 to 124 (lower bowl) and 214 to 224 (upper bowl) offer the best viewing as that half of the arena is where the stage, seating all 25 contestants and all the WIP Morning Show hosts, is set up.
- The event usually starts around 6:15 to 6:30AM, shortly after The Morning Show on WIP starts.
- The event usually ends around 9:30 to 10:00AM, which coincides with the end time of The Morning Show.
- The event is known for an excessive number of intoxicated fans in attendance, an increasing number of women exposingFlashingFlashing may refer to:*Exhibitionism, briefly exposing one's body in a usually sexual way, acceptable or not depending on context*Flashing , construction material used to prevent the passage of water around objects...
themselves (above the waist and below), and an excessive amount of profanityProfanityProfanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
from fans. The hosts also promote younger women to sign up as "Wingettes" who dress up in lingerieLingerieLingerie are fashionable and possibly alluring undergarments.Lingerie usually incorporates one or more flexible, stretchy materials like Lycra, nylon , polyester, satin, lace, silk and sheer fabric which are not typically used in more functional, basic cotton undergarments.The term in the French...
or bikinis while escorting the Wing Bowl contestants to the stage. - Attendees planning to sit in the lower bowl are encouraged to bring a rain jacket or a poncho, as fans have thrown objects at the contestants as they made their procession around the rink. Objects have included unopened cans of beerBeerBeer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
, half-full, opened cans of beer, cups of sodaSoft drinkA soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
or beer purchased from the concessionsConcession standA concession stand , snack kiosk or snack bar is the term used to refer to a place where patrons can purchase snacks or food at a cinema, fair, stadium, or other entertainment venue. Some events or venues contract out the right to sell food to third parties...
, nachosNachosNachos are a popular food based on nixtamalized corn, of Mexican origin associated with Tex-Mex cuisine that can be either made quickly to serve as a snack or prepared with more ingredients to make a full meal. In their simplest form, nachos are tortilla chips or totopos covered in melted cheese...
& cheeseCheeseCheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
, pretzels with mustardMustard (condiment)Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant...
and other food. - Many of the contestants in recent years were sponsored by local strip clubs and those clubs also add to the debauchery in the stands.
- Local veterinarian St. George Hunt (brother of journalist Al HuntAl HuntAlbert R. Hunt Jr. is the executive Washington editor for Bloomberg News, a subsidiary of Bloomberg L.P. Hunt hosts the Sunday morning talk show Political Capital on Bloomberg Television, which airs on Friday night.-Personal life:...
), served as the "official veterinarian" of the event until his death in December 2008. Wing Bowl 2009 was dedicated to his memory.