MLE Investigating Switch To Metric Measurements

Major League Eating, the world body that governs all stomach-centric sports, is in the exploratory phase of converting all existing records to the metric system and conducting future MLE events under the metric system. The move is the direct result of intense pressure from the international scientific community, notably the AAFIMA (American Association For Immediate Metric Adoption) for MLE to use the international standard moving forward.

To date, only Myanmar, Liberia and the United States have not adopted the metric system as their official system of weights and measures. The International SI System of Units—abbreviated SI from the French Le Système international d'unités—is the modern form of the metric system. It is widely used across the sciences in the United States at this time.

"Those who suggest MLE fears European encroachment are mistaken," said MLE emcee Sam Barclay, an Australian native who is versed in both metric and imperial measurements. "We embrace the world. Our eaters routinely use international words in their day-to-day life, including ‘croutons’ and ‘frappé,’ which are French, and ‘babaghanoush,’ which is Middle Eastern."

On December 23, 1975, President Ford signed the Metric Conversion Act, which stated that the metric system was "the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce." Public opposition to the process of converting to the metric system was overwhelming. The Reagan administration repealed the act in 1982.

"The key issue may well be one of common understanding," Barclay said, "Everybody knows that Bob Shoudt (World #6, Royerford, PA) ate 312 fluid ounces of salmon chowder in sanctioned MLE competition on the 3rd of December, 2009, but how many people know he ate 9.226 liters? And, frankly, is that as impressive?"

This exploratory phase is underway and ongoing. Until further notice, eaters at the Hooters World Wing Eating Championship qualifier to be held on May 11 in Farmersville, TX, will each start with 20 lbs of Hooters chicken wings, not 9.017 kilograms of Hooters chicken wings.