Eric "Badlands" Booker Retires...for now?

Eric "Badlands" Booker. Father, husband, conductor on the 7 train, competitive eater, rapper, and one of the nicest guys you'll ever hope to meet.

Booker announced his retirement late last month, but he will not be entirely absent from competitive eating. His next album drops (we've always wanted to say that) at Thanksgiving and he plans to continue rapping before events and work behind the scenes as much as possible. On a message posted on eatfeats.com Booker said, "I'm not going to be retired and gone; like the Godfather [Charles Hardy], I will still be a driving force in the competitive eating community." Like anyone would let him disappear! Hello, it's Badlands! There also is a chance this might not be the end of the competitive eating road for Booker. When we asked the man himself for his thoughts on retirement he said, "Right now I'm in a reframing stage in my career and life, and I feel that the fans deserve the very best from me at the table. So I've put my fork down to take steps to be better than I ever was before, should I decide to pick up my fork again." Booker also has a dream that extends beyond the table, "If ESPN would have me, I would love to be a commentator when they air eating events, that would be a dream come true y' know." ESPN, are you listening? What a coup! That would rock and definitely be better than those golf commentators they normally ship in for the events.

To honor this occasion we asked some eaters to give us their thoughts on Booker's retirement and we've assembled those thoughts below. Together they show us a man who was generous with his eating tips, a person who taught others to stand up for what they believe in and remain true to themselves, and a man who was amazingly well-liked and respected. It is clear from the heartfelt responses we received from eaters that Booker will remain a very large presence in the competitive eating circuit. He might not physically be at the table, but he will definitely be held in the hearts of every eater.

Joey Chestnut : "Booker is a great eater and brought a lot more to the table than an appetite. Booker was the first to recognize the mental aspect of competitive eating and the need to focus. I have nothing but
admiration and positive feelings for Booker."

Crazy Legs Conti : "Booker rocked Buffalo like a Hurricane. People who thought they were rooted to the ground in the freezing rain were blown away, literally, when Badlands roared some "Ingestion Engine." Some 12-year-old kid named Scooter was blown all the way back to Rochester. Scooter had to hop a bus back to catch the Buffet Bowl (Scooter is a huge Arturo Rios fan). Badlands got up and did his thing. People left cover and charged the stage in the gale force wind and whipping rain just to get close to the big man's mouth. And his son, Brandon was like the lightning in the storm. If the IFOCE was going to hire Booker into some sort of official role it would have to be Traveling Bard. Trade in the ocarina, and pick up the microphone....and Badlands the Traveling Bard is, "All good".

Pat Bertoletti : "I will miss the big man. He will be missed and never forgotten, I hope he stays promoting the sport. He is a big man but has an even bigger heart."

Humble Bob : "Eric's retirement? That is too tough for me. You are going to bring me to tears. After I won the Buffet Bowl, I dedicated my victory to him on stage. This is but a tiny gesture to what he means to my eating career. This is a man who literally took me under his wing and made me feel like a truly special eater. One of my favorite moments I have had in competitive eating: it was our last night in Vegas at the US Open. We were in a karaoke bar. There were about 7 or 8 groups of people in the bar, not mixing outside of their group. Someone would get up and only their group really cared. No one in another group paid any attention to them; they were just waiting their turn. Then Eric gets up there and almost brings down the house. Literally everyone in the place is up there on stage moving to a karaoke song. That was special. But then again, so is Eric. To be honest, that night really wasn't so special. It was just another day, in another town hanging out with Badlands, as Eric has a way of making every day and everyone seem special. I will miss him at the table, we all will."

Don "Moses" Lerman : "When I first met Eric it was at the Belmont Nathan's qualifier in 2000. I said then that he was a very dangerous eater because in a contest he eats for pleasure. H'es one of the true pioneers in the sport; he will be succeeded but never replaced."

Chip Simpson : "Any time you lose a great eater and person like Booker to retirement, it is tough. I loved it when I saw Badlands walk up to the table. He was always all smiles and the first person to congratulate you when you got the victory. Not only was he a great eater but a great friend as well. He will be missed at the table but I know we will see him at events and hear much more from this great man. All the best, Badlands; we miss you and good luck with your future endeavors."

Tim "Eater X" Janus : "I was very disappointed to hear that Badlands retired, but I know he won't deprive us of his presence. The greatest thing about eating with Eric was that I got to hang out with him. He's gonna stay involved with the sport, and he'll be around, so I'll continue to have many opportunities to see him."

Erik "The Red" Denmark : "...Booker is so loved by everyone on the circuit and he is a worthy ambassador of our sport. Booker can't go far because he is an entertainer and that is what we all are and there will always be a place for him at contests and with the IFOCE - he IS competitive eating."

Seaver "The Achiever" Miller : "Badlands Booker was one of the first eaters I ever met and right off the bat he was really nice to me. The competitive eating world is definitely losing a great competitor. However, we can always look forward to his musical entertainment at events. The only reason I am upset by his retirement, is that I was able to share a table with him just once, which was a true honor."