Location: West Palm Beach, FL
CINCOTTI SETS STAGGERING SWEET CORN RECORD!
Well, that was something. Bad news for corn, good news for the history books, one could posit, and so it was as Carmen Cincotti ate 61.75 ears of Florida sweet corn in 12 minutes to set a new world record at the 2017 National Sweet Corn Eating Championship.
The previous record, set in 2016 by Yasir Salem, stood at 47. Cincotti, as anyone who has paid scant attention to this column or to Mr Cincotti's various social media emissions, does not care about the past. He does not acknowledge the time before his ascent. It simply does not exist. It is immaterial. He had never eaten sweet corn in sanctioned MLE competition previously and had no idea how many he could eat. That is because he does not use the past results of others as a guide. He exists, simply, in a vacuum—a soundless cloud in which all he can hear is the beat of his heart and the pounding of his ambition. And so he ate 61.75 ears of sweet corn in 12 minutes. If you told him the record was five ears in 12 minutes, he would have eaten 61.75. If you told him the record was 105, he would have eaten 61.75. Because all he does his him. He is the living embodiment of the sentiment "you do you." The Mutiny be The Mutiny. QED.
Asked for a reaction to his world record-setting performance by MLE reporters, Cincotti replied that he thought it was “A-maize-ing.”
So that's that. Cincotti walks into West Palm Beach, opens his mouth, devours 61.75 ears of Florida sweet corn, MLE history, the souls of his fellow competitors and a giant trophy in 12 minutes of competition. He has stated that due to his commitment to education he will be sitting out MLE events until the upcoming Queens, NY, Nathan's Famous qualifier on June 18th. MLE, for the record, commends his stance on learning. But one fears for those hot dogs, just as one fears, dare we say it, for Joey Chestnut himself.
Time will tell, of course, and history shall record. And it is not this columnist's place to get too far ahead of himself. But make no mistake: This record-setting feat is significant and it is chilling. The Mutiny offers no quarter.
Others ate less.
FULL RESULTS! 1st - Carmen Cincotti NEW WR 61.75 ears in 12 2nd - Gideon Oji 49 3rd - Yasir Salem 45 4th - Badlands Booker 31 5th - The One Called Dud Light 29.25 6th - Pedram Esmaeelzadeh 27.75 7th - Mr Michael Rodriguez 20 8th - Matt Matador 17
This contest took place at 3pm on Sunday April 30, 2017, at the Sweet Corn Fiesta, held in the Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Boulevard West Palm Beach, FL 33411
About The South Florida Sweet Corn Fiesta The annual South Florida Sweet Corn Fiesta, presented by the Sunshine Sweet Corn Farmers of Florida, is buttered with a family festival of children’s games, music, a national eating competition and, oh yes, mouth-watering and locally grown sweet corn.
CLICK HERE for more information on the National Sweet Corn Eating Championship at The South Florida Sweet Corn Fiesta.
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*All applicants must be 18 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.