PHILADELPHIA – for now, the ultrapopular Wing Bowl event held by 610 WIP in Philadelphia won’t be working with a national organization that sanctions professional eating events, setting up a pubic feud.
Slideshow: Images from Wing Bowl 18
On Tuesday, former Wing Bowl champion bill “El Wingador” Simmons said he would enter this year’s contest as a professional eater.
The radio station had limited the competition to amateurs for the past two years. Major League Eating, a national group that has deals with eating superstars Joey Chestnut, the Black Widow and Kobayashi, doesn’t sanction the Wing Bowl.
But now, WIP’s move to allow professional eaters again will force the Major League Eating group to hold back its biggest stars from the event, or cut a deal with WIP.
George Shea from Major League Eating wouldn’t comment to the Philadelphia Inquirer about the spat with Wing Bowl.
The kicker for professional eaters is that Wing Bowl has become the biggest, most lucrative eating contest in the country.
This year’s winner at Wing Bowl 19 will take home $20,000 in cash to start, about twice as much as the winner of the Nathan’s hot dog contest.
El Wingador and local amateurs hope to cash in on the January 2011 event, but the Inquirer said Chestnut hoped to compete in spite of the ban from Major League Eating.
On Tuesday, Wing Bowl organizers were defiant and mocked the Major League Eating group because of the lower prizes offered at their events.
Last year’s winner, Jonathan “Super” Squibb, was accused of being a professional eater but allowed to keep his title when he was found not to have been linked to a professional eating group. In February 2010, the event got national exposure when the crowd of 20,000 fans turned on “Jersey Shore” star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, who made a paid appearance the event.
Polizzi flipped off the crowd of 20,000 but made amends by riding a mechincal bull in public.
Philly Wing Bowl Feud Goes Public
