Conti Crowned King of Corn

Jammin' Joe LaRue walked into the arena in West Palm Beach to raucus cheers. A yellow shirt with the inscription "MLE -- Got Corn?" covered the enormous frame of this 6'8" champion. A South Florida resident and corn specialist, LaRue had arrived to defend his sweet-corn eating title in front of a crowd anticipating nothing less than a record-setting day. At the end of the 12-minute contest, a new record had indeed been set, but not by LaRue.

Crazy Legs Conti, a dreadlock-wearing Bohemian from New York -- and arch rival of LaRue -- took the corn crown by downing 34 3/4 ears of corn under very tight judging. LaRue placed second with 32 1/4 ears, while Brian Miller placed third. Chip Simpson placed fourth with a reported 30 ears and Justin Mih and Steven Gotlib tied for fifth. Hall Hunt placed sixth. The judging was much stricter than in years past, but most felt it was even-handed and fair.