Wing Bowl 16

[GannonFan]

Philly's annunal wing eating contest went off this morning and Joey Chestnut, he of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating fame, won his 3rd consecutive Wing Bowl Title, holding back a challenge from El Wingador, the local champ who had won 5 previous Wing Bowls (a record) before retiring two years ago after defeating Sonya The Black Widow.

More than 22k packed the Wachovia Center in Philly at around 6AM this morning for the festivities, which feature a procession of all the participants, their Wingettes, and yes, they serve alcohol as the doors open. It's quite the spectacle (and yes, competitive eating is a sport - there's even a federation that governs it, the International Federation of Competitive Eaters - the IFOCE).

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/wingbowl/20080201_Wing_by_wing.html

[BlueHen86]

9:04 a.m. Brad the Lunatic is disqualified by Commissioner Pat Croce... for snorting chicken out his nose. Wingette Jillian wins a new Scion car.

There is a term for this - narfing.xlolx

[GannonFan]

Yeah, I'm not sure if anyone's been disqualified before for narfing. One contestant a few Wing Bowls back, known by the very descriptive name of "Sloth" was actually one of the first to be hit with the "you puke, you're out" rule as he had a hurl of a very impressive nature. They show the replay of that at every Wing Bowl since and it's quite the video. There's a youtube video it - just type in Wing Bowl Sloth and you'll get it. Not really something I'll put in a link.

[andy7171]

9:04 a.m. Brad the Lunatic is disqualified by Commissioner Pat Croce... for snorting chicken out his nose. Wingette Jillian wins a new Scion car.

There is a term for this - narfing.xlolx

Pat Croce lives down the street from my in-laws beach house in OC NJ. We see him on the beach and in church all the time during the summer. He seems like a nice down to earth guy. xthumbsupx

[BlueHen86]

Pat Croce lives down the street from my in-laws beach house in OC NJ. We see him on the beach and in church all the time during the summer. He seems like a nice down to earth guy. xthumbsupx
Next time you see him tell him to buy the Phillies.xthumbsupx

[bluehenbillk]

Yeah, I'm not sure if anyone's been disqualified before for narfing. One contestant a few Wing Bowls back, known by the very descriptive name of "Sloth" was actually one of the first to be hit with the "you puke, you're out" rule as he had a hurl of a very impressive nature. They show the replay of that at every Wing Bowl since and it's quite the video. There's a youtube video it - just type in Wing Bowl Sloth and you'll get it. Not really something I'll put in a link.

Actually the official lingo is "If You Heave, You Leave".

If anyone has never experienced a Wing Bowl, it's one of the truly unique events you've ever seen. The wing eating is actually secondary to the processions & the activity in the stands.....

[GannonFan]

Actually the official lingo is "If You Heave, You Leave".

If anyone has never experienced a Wing Bowl, it's one of the truly unique events you've ever seen. The wing eating is actually secondary to the processions & the activity in the stands.....

Agreed - and yes, I couldn't quite remember the actual verbiage.

As for the stands, it can be summed up in one word - mammaries. Maybe that should be two words. xsmiley_wix

[LacesOut]

I've always wanted to go. Then I think to myself do I really want to waste a vacation day from work in January?? lol

Also I think they never sold tickets before this year, it was free right? Just a first come first serve, so people would tailgate around 2am and lineup at the doors around 4am to get in.

[BlueHen86]

I've always wanted to go. Then I think to myself do I really want to waste a vacation day from work in January?? lol

Also I think they never sold tickets before this year, it was free right? Just a first come first serve, so people would tailgate around 2am and lineup at the doors around 4am to get in.
It used to be that you just showed up, but as the numbers grew you needed a ticket.

Tickets used to be free, I think last year was the first year they cost money.

[LacesOut]

It used to be that you just showed up, but as the numbers grew you needed a ticket.

Tickets used to be free, I think last year was the first year they cost money.

Got it, thanks.

Have you ever gone to it?

[BlueHen86]

Got it, thanks.

Have you ever gone to it?
No, for the same reason you gave, I don't want to waste a vac. day in Jan. (Or Feb 1 in this case.)

[Ivytalk]

A Philadelphia institution!xthumbsupx Who needs winning sports teams when you have the Wingettes?:p

[bluehenbillk]

No, for the same reason you gave, I don't want to waste a vac. day in Jan. (Or Feb 1 in this case.)

Just call out sick, or better yet, show up late, it's over by 8:30.

[LacesOut]

better yet, show up late, it's over by 8:30.

I think I'd be waaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to drunk to come to work!! Hell I hope I'd be able just to find a safe way back to Newark!

[GannonFan]

I went to Wing Bowl 3 when it was down at the Electric Factory. I tried going up to Wing Bowl 2, the year they had it at Club Egypt on Delaware Ave, but we got there too late and the place was already filled. I also did go to Wing Bowl 12, which by then was moved to the 22k seat Wachovia Center. It's definitely an experience.

And strangely, except for the gratuitous display by several women, the drinking and such was on par with the title game this year in Chatty. I felt an odd connection this year to Wing Bowl 12 based upon that observance. xrolleyesx

[proasu89]

Just call out sick, or better yet, show up late, it's over by 8:30.

Help out the uninformed here. Why so early in the day?

[GannonFan]

Help out the uninformed here. Why so early in the day?

It was originally and still is the brainchild of the Morning Crew team on 610 WIP. It's on their show and they are on from 6AM to 10AM every morning. It's become such a phenomenon that the bars and, well, gentlemen's establishments in the area, open up for business early in the morning specially because of Wing Bowl.

[proasu89]

It was originally and still is the brainchild of the Morning Crew team on 610 WIP. It's on their show and they are on from 6AM to 10AM every morning. It's become such a phenomenon that the bars and, well, gentlemen's establishments in the area, open up for business early in the morning specially because of Wing Bowl.

Thanks!

[BlueHen86]

It was originally and still is the brainchild of the Morning Crew team on 610 WIP. It's on their show and they are on from 6AM to 10AM every morning. It's become such a phenomenon that the bars and, well, gentlemen's establishments in the area, open up for business early in the morning specially because of Wing Bowl.
It is unbelievable how Wing Bowl has evolved over the years. I remember the first one was in a small 'mom and pop' type establishment.

[gmoney55]

Sounds like a blast! Chestnut must be a wing beast, he's won during the Great American Chicken Wing Festival in Buffalo in June the past few years. That one is a riot, they get 80,000+ for the weekend for the "U.S Wing Eating title"

[GannonFan]

It is unbelievable how Wing Bowl has evolved over the years. I remember the first one was in a small 'mom and pop' type establishment.

The first one was in the lobby of the Wyndam Hotel (or a place like that). Due to the "quality" of the people who attended, they were asked to go elsewhere the following year.