97 Krystals... Did that Really Happen???

What a weekend! Months and months of work culminated in an amazing eight minutes. We're still wrapping up all the loose ends, but as things slow down in the next few days I will give you a behind the scenes look at the weekend. From who used the most cups during the contest to Pat Bertoletti's secret preparations the night before the contest to a look at the "real" Joey Chestnut, you'll find it all right here in the coming days. Just be patient.

In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures to exemplify the bizarro world where a human can actually consume 91 Krystals in eight minutes and still not win the contest.

Sonya "The Mouth of the South" Thomas

Dale "The Achiever" Boone

Show me the #s

Takeru Kobayashi - 97 Krystals

Joey “Jaws” Chestnut - 91 Krystals

Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti - 76 Krystals

“Humble” Bob Shoudt - 65

Chip “The Phenom” Simpson - 55 Krystals

Tim “Eater X” Janus - 55 Krystals

Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas - 53 Krystals

Rich “The Locust” LeFevre - 52 Krystals

Arturo Rios - 44 Krystals

“Crazy Legs” Conti - 42 Krystals

Seaver “The Achiever” Miller - 40 Krystals

Dale “Mouth of the South” Boone - 38 Krystals

Justin Mih - 36 Krystals

The Big Show, The Main Event.

Keep refreshing your browser because I'm gonna keep adding time stamps to this post as we go along. Feel free to comment, we would love to hear from you guys.

4.01pm - the ESPN cameras start rolling and the crowd goes nuts.

4.03pm - the Sackful Challenge begins...he Challenge is announced

4.04pm - much face stuffing ensues, pieces of hamburger are flying everywhere.

4.05pm - the Challenge ends and the winners are the "Russian Bear" and the "Birmingham...", George Shea couldn't come up with a nickname on the fly, but he is doing a great job with keeping the crowd pumped and the show going.

4.08pm - the Grand Prize for the Challenge is announced: $100 each!

4.12pm - the kids are getting involved with the event and will compete in the Krystal Box Stacking Championship.

4.14pm - tragedy strikes!! one of the box constructions has fallen and so has the face of the competitor.

4.16pm - the stacking concludes, "dramatic and compelling" is the description from George Shea and I couldn't agree more.

4.17pm - both teams are announced as the winners, this really is a landmark day in childrens box stacking.

4.21pm - George Shea goes over the rules and officially sanctions the judges, again with the "reversal" description and how to manage that unfortunate event.

4.22pm - "Fast hands and a strong heart" are given as the keys to winning the Square Off.

4.24pm - one of the officials predicts that Joey Chesnut will go home with the cystal Krystal Platter Trophy.

4.25pm - the beautiful Krystal girls are brought on to the stage. Their sole responsibility will be to count the number Krystals eaten by each competitor.

4.26pm - George Shea, "You must trust your heart. Trust the force, Luke". Man, I love this guy.

4.28pm - the music starts and the moment draws nigh.

4.29pm - George Shea begins the intros for the eaters. If I thought he was on point before, this is where he really shines.

4.31pm - I cannot possibly do the introduction do the introductions justice in this post, I really hope you are watching ESPN 2 right now.

4.33pm - TV commercial break.

4.34pm - back from break and the eaters are finally entering the arena and making their way through the throngs of adoring fans up onto the stage where they take their respective places for the Krystal Square Off.

4.36pm - the eaters individual sealed boxes are brought to them. In these containers of delight are held the keys to their victory. Some eaters just use water, but I have heard rumors of ginger ale, orange juice, and other unknown concoctions.

4.37pm - Joey Chestnut is introduced to screams and adulation, he could be the man to take down the defending World Champ today...

4.39pm - Enter the World Champ even with his energetic response to the crowd, you can see the intensity on his face. He is ready to take on all-comers. He was born to do this.

4.41pm - the stage is set. Arturo Rios and Justin Mih are wearing eater-cams so that ESPN 2 viewers can see the action up close.

4.43pm - 60 seconds to go and this place loud!!!

4.46pm - 2 mins in Chestnut is at 32, Kobayashi is at 39

4.48pm - 4 mins in Chestnut is at 60 Kobayashi is at 61

4.50pm - 6 mins in Chestnut is at 80 Kobayashi is at 80

4.51pm - 1 min left Chestnut 85 Kobayashi 88

4.52pm - Kobayashi wins at a new world record of (unofficially) 97!!!!!

4.54pm - I've just been told that Kobayashi has never looked so excited.

4.55pm - top 3 announced 3rd: Patrick Bertoletti (76), 2nd: Joey Chestnut (91), 1st: Kobayashi (97). All three broke the previous world record.

4.56pm - commercial break and ESPN interview with Kobayashi.

5.01pm - the awards are handed out and the superlatives roll off George Shea's tongue. This really is a great moment for the sport of competitive eating. The bar has been set impossibly high for all future events, can't you just feel the tension rising for next year already?

5.04pm - eaters leave for a post-event press conference and I leave for now. I need a break.

T-minus 4 minutes

The stage is set for the beginning of the TV broadcast and the main event. We will start in just a few with the Krystal Sackful Challenge, which features 4 teams of 2 people who entered their names in a drawing to compete. Fastest to eat a Sackful (24 Krystals)wins...it's just that simple.

It is getting crazy in here.

The arrival of the eaters

Led by the UTC Marching Band, the eaters arrive.



Ever nearer their conquest, you can see the hunger in their eyes. Travelling in style in Corvettes the eaters are close to the goal.

This is your first glimpse of defending World Champion, Takeru Kobayashi...



and some of the eaters signing autographs.



I'm gonna be switching to text only posts from here on out just to get you updates as quickly and as often as possible.

Things are in full swing

People have turned out en masse and the pavillion is packed with folks playing games and eating Krystals. The band plays on as we count down to the big show. Can you feel it? The tension is palpable, the eaters should be getting here soon...

Make sure to tune in to ESPN 2 at 4.00pm to catch the "pre-game" and the live broadcast of the Square Off.

The web girls are here!

The anticipation is mounting.

So we're here at the First Tennessee Pavillion in Chattanooga, TN where the Krystal Square Off is getting set to .... go off. The public will be coming in at 2pm sharp (I actually see some arriving already to get front row seats for the big show). Here are some pics of the pavillion pre-event.

Notice the clock above the stage that ominously shows the "8:00" timeframe for the conquest of the Krystals.

The day has finally arrived.

This is the stuff of legends. Today will be the day that I will witness history.

A quick recap of the rest of the day yesterday in the form of "Things I Learned" at the press conference and the official reception:

1. Apparently, competitive eating will not get you dates. This according to Justin Mih, a Harvard grad student....which leads me to...
2. A Harvard grad student! Getting a degree in Public Health! Can we take this an an endorsement for competitive eating from one of our bastions of higher education? I think so.
3. Seeing IFOCE spokesperson George Shea describe what a "reversal" (use your imagination) is and the acceptable ways of catching the "reversal" and putting it back in one's mouth (hand ok, cup not ok, splatter on the table equals DQ) was probably one of the defining moments of my experience here so far. He also used the word "fluvium"...yeah, I don't know what it means either.
4. Dale Boone's prediction for the winning number today would set a new world record (currently held by Takeru Kobayashi at 69 Krystals in 8:00) at an incredible 75. This being the breaking of the mythical "70 in 8" mark that I alluded to yesterday.
5. I learned how to deal with the results of having a "hair-trigger epiglottis".
6. Joey Chestnut likes to make dramatic entrances. With a mere 2 minutes left in the press conference he came bursting through the door with an "I was caught in traffic" excuse. The tension in the room heightened as the arch-rivals Joey and Kobayashi caught sight of each other. Ok, so that might be a little of a dramatic interpretation on my part, but this is gonna be gooood. (there is a rumor floating around that Joey limited himself to 52 in Jacksonville to qualify for the main event so that he wouldn't be seated next to Kobayashi at the final table...will this strategy work?)
7. The IFOCE thanked Krystal for treating the eaters so well and they are hugely appreciative of the efforts that go into to making them feel like they are part of a truly spectacular event.

Ok, so let's leave it at that for now. I'm on my way over to the main event. The eaters are in their rooms preparing and giving interviews to the media (the London Times and National geographic are here!) and they will head over in a couple of hours.

Keep checking back here for updates and amusing anecdotes.

Charles

World Championship Press Conference

Um.... yeah.... well......before I talk Chuck down from what seems to be a sugar high of crack proportions, let me (Tiffany) apologize for not getting to post this earlier: Just drying out from all the rain here in Chattavegas.... Good thing this weather is moving out of the area tonight.

However, enjoy some great pictures from the World Championship Press Conference this afternoon.

the eagle has landed!

Does that sound a litte too self-aggrandizing? Oh well, this whole "guest blogging" thing seems to be going to my head.

My name is Charles and I am a blogaholic. This is what I do, I blog. Tomorrow, I will be "live blogging" the Krystal Square Off III World Hamburger Eating Championships. There will be fun, there will be games, there will be soggy Krystal hamburger buns, and there is the possibility that the mythical "70 in 8" barrier will be broken. How will you know if that, in fact, has occurred? How will you even know what that means? Because you will tune in here tomorrow as I educate you and you will follow me as I follow the action.

I am currently sitting in the hotel lobby watching as various "eaters" pass me by..."look, there goes Joey Chestnut", "oh, hey! that was Patrick Bertoletti and his mohawk is looking tight as ever". All the eaters are staying in this hotel and I'm a little concerned that there may be no food left by the time I get to dinner, hmmmm. Maybe I should be saving a little space for the madness that is sure to ensue tomorrow.

Well, it's about time for the press conference so be sure to check back here later for a quick recap and a goodnight post from this humble "guest blogger". Thanks again to the Krystal Marketing Coordinators for the generous use of their blog space.

Until later,

Charles

(Radical, heinous, and slipshod: these are the words I was told to include in this post, so there they were)

Its time for a Partay!!!!!

Today we invited the Krystal Corporate Employees to a luncheon and.....well we also made them work. What can I say. We marketers are sneaky like that. Click here for some great pictures.....
Two days and 55 minutes to go!

Peace OUT!!!!

There Goes The Neighborhood....

On October 28th (Remember the Krystal Square Of World Hamburger Eating Championship from 2-5 p.m.??????) we will have a "Guest Blogger" who will live blog the entire event. Charles Simmons is new to our friends at Wicked. So, WELCOME CHUCK! And don't make us look bad.....(I kid, I kid)

The Regular Joes Get Their Day in the Sun

There is a little event, maybe you've heard about it, the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship? Well as soon as the ESPN broadcast starts you'd think that you would see the Championship, at first. Well, you would be wrong. This year Krystal is having a Sackful Challenge. There will be 4 teams of 2 people each. The point is for the team to eat a sackful within two minutes or the most Krystals they can in 2 minutes. People can sign up during the Krystal Square Off Festivities from 2-4 p.m. Teams will be randomly chosen by Krystal. And yes....it will be broadcasted on ESPN...

First Prize is $100/person
Second Prize is $50/person
3rd Prize is $25/person

Do Ya Feel Lucky Punk? Well.....Do Ya?

Just off the presses: The Online Betting website Bodog.com is now offering odds on the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship.

The following will be offered:

• Bet On: Will one of the contestants in the Krystal Square Off III World Hamburger Eating Championship eat more than 70 hamburgers in the allotted time?

• Bet On: Who will win the Krystal Square Off III World Hamburger Eating Championship on October 28th, 2006?

• Bet On: Will more than 645 hamburgers be consumed at the Krystal Square Off III World Hamburger Eating Championship on October 28th, 2006?

See here for more info....

I know this is my first Square Off, but this is getting exciting!

Now That's How You Pimp Your Ride

Less than a week away!

And I thought the Midterm Elections Were Controversial...

We don't have controversial text messages but we do have video. You'll only find it here, folks. I'm sure this will be one of the more popular ones watched on the Square Off site. You can now see the Jackson, MS finals here and determine for yourself....

Krystal Web Hostesses to be at Krystal Square Off Championship

That's right guys. The Web Hostesses have agreed to not only host the Krystal Lovers Lounge booth at the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship on October 28th (2-5 p.m.) in Chattanooga, TN but they will also be Counter Card Holders.

8 days and counting.....

Back by popular demand, its Kenny's desk.....

I'd like to title this picture "Square Off Organization"

A recent quote from a Krystal employee while delivering a package to his desk:

"Good Lord! What happened!?"

There are also rumors that the sight of his desk has made children scream and women cry....

Taking Krystal to the Next level

For the Krystal website, its been a year of takin' it to the next level. (And boy am I tired!) I've been lucky to get some great feedback (thanks Mega Munch) so far.... Here are some new installments. We have expanded the Hall of Fame profiles to include the inductees total story, pictures of the induction and the chance for them to post Videos....

Did someone say videos? Oh that's right, I did! (Note to self: find a better transition) The second new addition to Krystal.com is the chance for any Krystal Lover to upload a video explaining why they should be inducted into the Krystal Hall of Fame - with a catch. This year Krystal Lovers will be able to vote a couple of Krystal Lovers into the Hall of Fame. Think of it as an audition to get one of these snazzy new profiles. More details to come....However, for those of you that have joined the Krystal Lovers Lounge you can see the new video submission link on your profile. Don't have a profile yet?! THEN JOIN...... (No one likes a cry baby)

PS. If you look closely you might find me in one of these pictures....(Not my best look but you can't win 'em all)

stacey's fav

stacey's fav
Originally uploaded by acerbicat.

I love Flickr.....You never know what you'll find....

Krystal Pictures

From the afore-mentioned post.....By the way, this was food eaten by two women. No men were present. Behold the power of the female appetite.

Important Pageant Winners LOVE KRYSTAL

Hey guys, its been a little bit since I've posted but I had to post this story. My husband Toby works at a custom publishing firm here in Chattanooga, TN called True North. He works in the Editorial department which is by far the best department...(Ok so I'm a little, shall we say, biased) However, sometimes I have the chance to go out to lunch with them and today was one of those days. One of his co-workers Rachel Parsons (Former Miss Chattanooga AND a top-10 finalist in the Miss Tennessee pageant) offered to drive. Yes, I have friends in high places...

As she was cleaning out her back seat (she had just come back from a road trip) and apologizing for the mess, I noticed a couple of diamonds in the rough.....KRYSTAL BOXES!!!! I was so excited that I told her she could forget about the rest of the mess - I was comfortable chillin with my peeps. (the boxes) Anyways, she went on about how they spent (her and a friend) over $20 at Krystal last weekend. Now remember folks, this is a pageant queen admitting to gorging on Krystal. Now THAT IS A KRYSTAL LOVER..... I have added some photos (not my best work but gimme a break, its a camera phone)