Cry For Me, Argentina
by wise
The announcement i've been dreading for weeks has finally come. Hugo is gone, signed up with some outfit from Kitsop. Byron is not expected to return, either. Is Gavin determined to have a Latino-free Timbers or something? I know he's not the creative-player type, but surely it wouldn't kill us to have at least one guy with some skill with the ball at his feet?
Posted on February 27, 2007 | Comments (1)
Yay For Timmeh!
by wise
Everton have enjoyed the benefit of USA goalkeeper Tim Howard all season, leading them to one of the best records for clean sheets and goals allowed in the Premiership this year. By playing week-in-week-out first team soccer, Tim has really benefitted in form and minimized those oocasional painful lapses that got him benched at Man U.
So it's no big surprise that Everton consummated the loan deal into a permanent one: a 5 year contract with an undisclosed fee, that soccernet reports is somewhere in the £3 million range. I think this is great for Tim and Everton alike, and should solidify Tim as the first choice keeper for the national team in this summer's tournaments and the 2010 World Cup cycle. Congrats to both!
Posted on February 14, 2007 | Comments (0)
Phew. Rapids to stay Rapids
by wise
Well, that was a big fuss over nothing. Oh wait, that describes most of the internet.
Although, it did look like something was in the works that got blocked at the last minute (arsenal not willing to give up trademark rights, maybe?). But I'm feeling a calm wash of relief that one of the better team names in MLS is staying put for now. As for the partnership, Chelsea had a big announcement last year that they'd partner with the Galaxy, and Real Madrid has a similar partnership with their Salt Lake namesakes. Both of these have amounted to little else than the occasional friendly. It'll take a bit more than an Arsenal Center of Excellence for the Rapids to really reap anything from the Gunners. Although, with the team training in London next month, there's still the chance that the Rapids could have a bit of class rub off on them. We'll see the proof when the new-look Colorado takes the field in April.
Posted on February 9, 2007 | Comments (0)
More info on the Colorado changes imminent
by wise
There's a press conference scheduled today (in about 20 minutes, to be exact) that should outline the "new identity" and "new partnership" of the Rapids with North London's Arsenal. I won't be able to watch it, but you could do so at the MLS site if you're so inclined. in the meantime, here's what the Arse's official site has to say about it. Some interesting tidbits in there ... coaching knowledge exchange probably being what Colorado needs most right now, but no mention of a name change to go with it.
More this afternoon when all the dust has settled.
Posted on February 9, 2007 | Comments (0)
So Long Denny's Burger, Rockford Chili Dogs, Pointersaurus
by Liz
The competitive eater can take many forms: the professional, the amateur, the aspiring, the weekend warrior. While their goals and aspirations may vary, what they all have in common is a love of eating and a desire to test the limits of their bodies by doing what they love. Head-to-head competitions are one way to indulge their hungry side, but not all eaters can participate in all competitions, and often they look for other ways to keep their stomachs in competitive mode. The IFOCE restricts their eater to competing in officially-sanctioned contests only; outside of these, the next best thing an IFOCE eater could look forward to was a solid challenge offered by a local restaurant. An oversized hamburger. A twelve pound pizza. A dare to down as many malts as possible.
Unfortunately for those who loved this individual aspect of the sport, this week officially marks the end of an era. Earlier in the week, the IFOCE released an email to its members, banning their participation in restaurant challenges. Ostensibly, the ban is about upholding standards. The IFOCE has always taken a strict stance on safety measures. They disallow (to the extent possible) training at home, and are careful to adhere to standard safety guidelines for all their sanctioned competitions. Their website clearly states that they believe "speed eating is only suitable for those 18 years of age or older and only in a controlled environment with appropriate rules and with an emergency medical technician present." So, they may believe that by allowing eaters to participate in restaurant challenges where they have no say in safety measures, IFOCE concerns are undermined.
But of course, there's a bigger driving force at play here: money. The organization's concern is that restaurants offering these challenges cash in on free publicity when a top IFOCE eater comes in and slaughters a record (see Joey Chestnut and his recent conquering of the Heart Attack Grill's Quadruple Bypass Burger). Because the IFOCE has contracts with sponsors who are paying money for advertising at appearances and competitions, they want to make sure these sponsors don't feel like their exclusivity is in jeopardy or that they're paying for what others are seemingly getting for free. Eric "Steakbellie" Livingston, 39th ranked eater in the US and recent Wing Bowl participant, put it this way, "The IFOCE needs a certain amount of exclusivity (or rareness) for them to be able to sell their product (the events) to their customers (the Sponsors). If an Eater shows up at a restaurant challenge and creates his own Spectacle (especially in front of press), then no one is getting paid for what the IFOCE perceives as their product."
While on the surface, this ban shouldn't come as a surprise to eaters familiar with the organization's strict policies, it hit home with many eaters who looked forward to these challenges as a way to test their eating capabilities and wow local restaurant owners and fans. There's a long history of eaters with professional accomplishments or aspirations seeking out establishments that offer big challenges. Often the prize is little more than a name on a wall or getting the challenge item for free, but for the eaters it represents a different kind of personal accomplishment. There are certain ones, like Denny's Beer Barrel Pub's burger challenges, that have become legendary within the competitive eating community, acting as a rite of passage for newbies and also as a bit of a litmus test for how good a seasoned eater really is.
And while some of the challenges, like aiming for Rockford Corner Bar's Hot Dog Hall of fame (chili dog title held by Tim "Eater X" Janus) or demolishing the Sasquatch Challenge at Big Food Lodge (most recently killed by Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti), are solo attempts, many others, such as Pointer's and Schiappa's pizza challenges, rely on team efforts. Adding another layer to the challenge, eaters can then build "dream teams" amongst themselves to shatter records. Sometimes it's not just about the solo eater--it's about two freakin' great solo eaters putting a standing record to shame together.
As it often is in this sport, where the big motivation behind eating isn't always the money and the fame (and how could it be for those who don't regularly grace the top ten lists?), sometimes eaters just want an excuse to hang out with other people who share their love of the food. And for those who can't afford, with money and/or time, to attend all the competitions their hearts desire, local challenges have always been there to fill the void. Steakbellie puts it this way, "Eaters eat like climbers climb. Because it's there. A restaurant challenge represents almost everything they eat for in the purest form...to be able to say, 'I made it to the top.'"
The IFOCE seems to be concerned about new places offering challenges in order to grab the attention of their top competitive eaters and gain publicity for it, but some of the more famous challenges have been around for years. The Pointersaurus debuted in ten years ago, Denny's has been challenging large appetites since 1991, and the Rockford Corner Bar's Hot Dog Hall of Fame has been up since 1968.
The restaurants that offer these are often mom and pop operations that started their challenges as a fun way to attract customers. While disappointed about the ban, there doesn't seem to be any illusion that it's not about the bottom line. Jon Basso, founder of the Heart Attack Grill in Phoenix, which opened its doors a year ago and specializes in oversized challenge burgers, expressed a deep admiration for the professional eaters and seemed sorry they wouldn't be allowed to wolf down his challenges in an official capacity anymore. Basso claims he is willing to put down a prize of $10,000 for anyone who can beat Joey Chestnut's recent win, and said he spoke to the IFOCE about sponsoring a competition. The IFOCE declined to comment for this article, but allegedly Basso was temporarily turned down due to the organization's current ties with Krystal. Basso stated, "I think it's sad that these athletes are bound by an organization that only allows one hot dog place, one burger place, one burrito place."
Dennis "Denny" Liegey, owner of Denny's Beer Barrel Pub echoed this sentiment, saying "I'm sorry to hear about the IFOCE ban. We offer a great product with unique challenges. The problem, as in many things today, is money. We would gladly work with Mr. Shea of the IFOCE if the price was affordable. We however will continue to be a spring board for all competitive eaters as they prepare themselves for bigger things."
For an organization that has been criticized in the past for being too controlling with their eaters, is this most recent ban going a step too far? Some eaters are questioning the set boundaries as somewhat arbitrary and confusing. One eater, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "A 'restaurant challenge' -- in most cases -- is just a oversized menu item. As a ranked eater, if I go to a restaurant and see a three-pound burger on the menu, am I not allowed to order it? And where do you draw the line? If it were only a one-pound burger, would be okay for me to order it?" Steakbellie added, "What if I just show up at a restaurant and order a big meal? How big is too big? I can see their point, but lets not squeeze all of the fun out of this."
Most eaters understand and support the IFOCE's desire to cater to paying sponsors; after all, it is they who attract ESPN, create recurring competitions, and pay out the big prizes. However, some wonder if the organization's tight reigns aren't a bit shortsighted at times. Can publicity for a top-ranked eater completing a restaurant challenge ever be bad publicity? Steakbellie sees it this way, "I don't believe that [competing in restaurant challenges] dilutes the IFOCE brand in the same way that I expect they do. I think that an eater finishing something like Denny's Burger, does more to support 'The Legend' of the eater and makes them more marketable and of more interest to the public. Look at Kate Stelnick--she's done a single challenge and we all know her name. A boy seeing a plaque on the wall for the time Steakbellie ate the 50-pound pterodactyl burger, might just Google that event and become a fan." Dave "Mega Munch" Shoffner, an unranked eater who has competed in IFOCE events and regularly participates in casual competitions among friends and restaurant challenges, believes the IFOCE can benefit from having a top competitor win a challenge. "It's good publicity for the organization and the more publicity the IFOCE gets, the more fans they attract. The more fans they attract, the more sponsors they can sign."
From a restaurant owner's point of view, the money-making aspect of it is pretty cut-and-dry. Basso is offering the $10,000 dollars for the person who can beat Joey's time, he says, because he knows he'll see $11,000 in business as a result. His dream right now is to have Kobayashi, the world's #1 ranked eater, come in and claim that money. He says after Joey did the stunt, he had someone teach him the correct Japanese phrasing in the hopes that the Kobayashi would hear the challenge he broadcast over the television. "And if someone can beat Kobayashi's time, I'll give them $12,000," he said. Though for now, that challenge will have to be put on the shelf.
Will this open the doors for non-IFOCE affiliated eaters to dominate the restaurant challenge scene? Of course, the top-ranked eater competing in these challenges has always been the exception, not the rule. Those with big dreams and bigger stomachs will continue to face the burger behemoths and impossible pizzas, but the IFOCE may lose some of them among their lower ranks. "I believe the IFOCE will have some success with the eaters who are winning money at events," said Steakbellie, "and a harder time controlling eaters who are strictly 'The Faithful'."
Posted on February 9, 2007 | Comments (3)
Ugh. Will Another MLS Team Succumb to Acute Poseritus?
by wise
BigSoccer is aflame with a previously password-protected website staging ground being released into the wild. The talking point? That yet another MLS team will change its name from a Not Very Bad American Sport Name to a Shameless Cry For Acceptance By The Kool Euro Kidz.
No confirmation of the truth of these rumors, but for the moment, one can see the damage at http://www.coloradoarsenal.com/. The first page has a nice animated logo saying Colorado Rapids, in the new team colors (shown to hardcore fans at a supporter's summit earlier this year), but click further into the site, and the logo changes to the one above. Please let this be a hoax.
UPDATE: well, that was quick. the site's been pulled once again. The news item declaring "Colorado Rapids Unveil New Team Identity" was future dated Feb. 23rd, 2007. Might have to wait until then for the bad news.
Posted on February 1, 2007 | Comments (1)
Trailblazing
by kmikeym
The 6th richest man in the world and I were in the same room yesterday.
I was too nervous to say hello. Oh, and the Trailblazers beat the Nuggets.
Posted on February 1, 2007 | Comments (3)
