El Wingador Wins Wing Bowl

Bill 'El Wingador' Simmons achieved one of the greatest comebacks in sports history today by defeating Sonya 'The Black Widow' Thomas, Cookie Jarvis and Eric 'Badlands' Booker to reclaim the title of 610 WIP Wing Bowl Champion.

Simmons (IFOCE Ranked #20) and the Widow (IFOCE Ranked #2), who each ate 147 wings during the 30-minute regulation period, went to overtime, where Simmons, the three-time champion, managed to eat just one more wing than Thomas, the top-ranked eater in the United States.

Cookie Jarvis put on a strong performance and finished third. Another notable showing was that of Eric 'Badlands' Booker, who led through much of the contest before being DQ-ed for over-stuffing his mouth. This was a tough call, but Booker was gracious.

IFOCE Chairman George Shea, who was so overcome with emotion that he initially had trouble typing the results into a handheld wireless device, said it was one of most intense competitions he'd ever witnessed.

"I have not felt this much emotion since the birth of my children," Shea said. "I witnessed a critical moment in the history of organized athletics."

The brainchild of Al Morganti and Angelo Cataldi of SportsRadio 610 WIP in Philadelphia, Wing Bowl 13 attracted more than 30,000 fans to the Wachovia Center (seating 22,000) for an event accommpanied by Mardi Gras-esque pageantry. The great Don Moses Lerman competed, as did Hungry Charles Hardy, Kevin "Krazy Kevin" Lipsitz, Eater X, Crazy Legs Conti and Bob Shoudt.

Rumors are swirling that Sonya Thomas is requesting a rematch with El Wingador on Labor Day in Buffalo at the National Buffalo Wing Festival. She has also said she will return next year to Wingador's home turf.