All Eyes Turn to Philly

The first weekend in February is a time when months of preparation, training and hard work culminate in one of the greatest and most highly anticipated sporting events of the year. It is the WIP Wing Bowl -- a Philadelphia tradition for 13 years -- and this year promises even greater drama than in the past.

As fans recall from 2004, Sonya Thomas just edged out Cookie Jarvis and El Wingador to capture first place prize with a value of nearly $20,000. The legendary Jarvis/Thomas rivalry was pushed to the limit during the event with an an precedented two-minute overtime.

Jarvis and Wingador were close enough to taste victory, but the diminutive Thomas won the day, and the big men were left with nothing more than the sour taste of cold hot sauce. Jarvis and Wingador, though both gentlemen through and through, have made it clear that they want victory on February 4, 2005.

The brainchild of Al Morganti and Angelo Cataldi of WIP 610 in Philly, Wing Bowl attracts more than 20,000 fans to the Wachovia Center to experience athletic greatness, extreme pageantry and the type of revelation usually reserved for Mardi Gras.

The great Don Moses Lerman will return in 2005, as will Hungry Charles Hardy, Kevin "Krazy Kevin" Lipsitz, Eater X, Sloth, Crazy Legs Conti and Hank the Tank, among others. Eric Badlands Booker and Beautiful Brian Seiken failed to qualify in their initial stunts and it is expected that Booker will compete in the wing Off for a wild card slot.