Location: Scottsdale, AZ
ADRIAN "THE RABBIT" MORGAN DOWNS CHESTNUT TO LAND NATIVE GRILL & WINGS WIN!
Those who would call Adrian "the Rabbit" Morgan's win at the first-ever Native Grill & Wings World Wing Eating Championship an upset for the ages have not been paying attention. The Rabbit is a wing-eating master, his dexterous, strong, lithe fingers the perfect tool for meat-from-bone separation. He has long pushed Joey Chestnut in this discipline; even a cursory glance at recent results would tell you that.
Today, Morgan made up for too many second-place finishes in the wings discipline behind Chestnut. He was his trademark speedy self, ripping and tearing at each maw of wings—the hands doing the work before the teeth played clean up. Morgan's wing technique also utilizes core torque. Halfway through the contest, he moved his legs so that they were at a 45-degree angle from the table. With each bite, Morgan's tight abdomen—honed through competitive eating and his relentless quest for physical perfection in the classic manly way—would twist through that arc, like a hitter attacking a fastball straight over the plate. In rhythm. With speed. It was a sight to behold.
Cry not for Chestnut. He could not hold off the Rabbit forever and today he did not. Chestnut was unrelenting and gallant in defeat. He cast no shame on his name today. He remains the World's #1 eater. There is no chasm. The sun will rise.
And the sun will shine bright on the countenance of Michelle Lesco—the #1 eater in Arizona, home to Native Grill & Wings and this event. She was at her dogged best throughout the contest, her small frame reminding onlooker that it's not the size of the eater in the fight, it is the size of the fight in the eater. She ate for AZ pride.
But the day belonged to Morgan. He won a Championship belt and wore it proudly, his wide smile wider than ever. We imagine that the belt accompanied Morgan on the traditional rounds of post-contest celebration, perhaps being hoisted aloft in some of the greater Phoenix area's finer bars, accompanied with a "Woah!" or a "Yeah!". One can imagine Chestnut in the corner of the room, looking on, alone in his thoughts, Morgan's joy his sorrow.
It's a fine line between celebration and taunting. Don't poke the beast.
FULL RESULTS! 1st - Adrian Morgan, 134.8 wings in 10 min 2nd - Joey Chestnut, 121.2 3rd - Michelle Lesco, 109.6 4th - Steve Hendry, 98.8 5th - Josh Miller 92 6th - Badlands Booker, 76.8 7th - Erik Denmark, 72 7th - Dud Light Dudzinski, 72 9th - Mary Bowers, 46 10th - Steve Snyder, 35.6
This contest took place at 3pm on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at the Arizona Sports Fan Expo at WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ
PLEASE NOTE: The contest is open to contestants aged 21 and older.
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*All applicants must be 21 years of age or older and fully acknowledge and understand the inherent dangers and risks associated with participating in an eating contest. The applicant further acknowledges and understands that the MLE/IFOCE coordinates with event sponsor(s) to select and approve eligible participants, and that the MLE/IFOCE shall decide, at its sole discretion, whether an applicant is eligible to participate in any eating event, and/or related activities. The MLE/IFOCE may revoke an applicant's eligibility to participate in the eating contest, or related activities, at any time, for any reason, at its sole discretion. The MLE/IFOCE and the event sponsors reserve the right, at any time, to change any and all details concerning the event, including, e.g., time, duration, location and prize structure.