Competitive Eating: Sometimes the Eyes are Bigger than the Stomach
Written by playerpress.com, Friday April 10 2009
In Amarillo, Texas there’s an establishment known as the Big Texan Steak House. It is widely mentioned in books on American road side attractions as the home of the 72oz steak challenge. Basically, the challenge is that if you can consume a 72oz steak, salad, baked potato, dinner roll and shrimp cocktail in one hour, you get the artery clogging feast for free. However, since you may have a difficult time reaching your wallet after consuming the meal, payment is required up front before you can take your shot at gastronomical immortality. In today’s market that means you fork over $72.00 before attempting to fork down the Big Texan.
For those who win, again, you get the meal for free, plus a t-shirt, a boot shaped mug and your picture is placed on the wall with your comment of choice. Some previous winners have been former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Frank Pastore who wolfed it down in slightly over nine minutes. That record stood until Joey Chestnut put away the 4.5 pound plus platter in 8 minutes, 52 seconds. Klondike Bill, a professional wrestler once ate two meals in one sitting as did a gent named Richard LeFavre. He polished his dinners off while appearing on the Donny and Marie Osmond TV show. For the record, he and his wife have 10 such meals to their credit.
The oldest person on record to consume the meal in regulation time is a 69 year old woman and the youngest is an 11 year old boy. In an age of liability it is likely that minors are no longer able to enter the epicurean fray.
I’m at a loss to understand why anyone would take a flyer on the Big Texan challenge simply for the cost of the meal, a t-shirt, a mug and a snapshot. I’m not completely clear on why anyone consumes mass quantities of anything, but a bigger payoff makes more sense and allows me to better wrap my head around the concept.
For instance the International Federation of Competitive Eating offers you to opportunity to binge for a payday. The Krystal Square Off World Hamburg Eating Championship V offers a $50,000.00 cash prize. By the way, both LaFavre and Chestnut are entered in the event. Interestingly, Sonja “Black Widow” Thomas declined a wild card entry into the competition when she was offered a spot after downing 55 Krystal cow patties in one sitting.
For LaFavre and Chestnut maybe the Big Texan is their form of spring training. MLB players don’t get paid until April, so they may just put away the 72 ouncer to prepare themselves for the long season ahead.
In a way I suppose that makes sense. After all, if you earn an entry into the Nathans Hot Dog contest held at Coney Island you will receive a $100.00 prize from the dog processor. That is new since in the past if you gained entry your reward from Nathans was free hot dogs. After all, what else would you want as a reward for entering a contest which requires eating massive amounts of frankfurters?
If you are interested in obtaining fame courtesy of your appetite the I.F.O.C.E. has entry forms for all events and membership to their organization. If you need the practice there’s a place in Amarillo where you can hone your skills and get a T-shirt to boot.
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It might make more sense if you think of it from an athlete or competitors point of view. I think they do it just to be able to say they did it. Something to look back on and an interesting story to tell. One time I got it in my mind to run a marathon. Everyone was asking me why why why? I couldn't really answer besides I just wanted to see if I could do it. It's still one of my biggest accomplishments.