Wing Bowl

Wing Bowl is an annual event founded by Philadelphia talk-radio hosts Al Morganti and Angelo Cataldi as a celebration of gluttony in 1993. About 150 people attended Wing Bowl I to see a competition between two contestants. The event pits competitive eaters in a buffalo-style chicken wing eating contest. The Wing Bowl is traditionally held on the Friday preceding the Super Bowl. The event, which began as a radio promotion, has grown to encompass television, the Internet, and a contest for women who are termed "the Wingettes." It is currently held at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. The Wing Bowl routinely draws crowds of 20,000 or more.

In 2002, Philadelphia native Bill "El Wingador" Simmons became the first competitor to win the Bowl three times; Kevin "Heavy Keavy" O'Donnell had won Wing Bowl II and Wing Bowl III in `94 and `95; in 2003, Simmons became the first man to win the Bowl four times, and the first to win it thrice in a row (again beating O'Donnell's previous `94-`95 record).

In 2004, the Wing Bowl was sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE). Angelo Cataldi, inexplicably fed up with Simmons's winning streak, brought in ringers from the IFOCE, including 99-pound Korean-American Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas from Virginia and Long Island realtor Ed "Cookie" Jarvis. That year, Thomas packed away 167 wings to defeat Jarvis and returning-champ Simmons (who finished with 151) to become the first woman to win the event. She collected a new car for her victory.

Wing Bowl was the brainchild of Al Morganti. Morganti came up with the idea of Wing Bowl when it became apparent the Philadelphia Eagles were not going to make the Super Bowl anytime soon. The first Wing Bowl was held in the lobby of the Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel in Center City, Philadelphia. Carmen Codero walked away with the inaugural title.

Since its inception, media coverage of Wing Bowl has grown to the point where every one of the major Philadelphia television stations has been at the event. The ABC, CBS and Fox affiliates all aired live reports from the event during their morning news. Features on the event have appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News as well as a host of newspapers in the surrounding counties. The event has been featured on ESPN and the syndicated television shows "Reel TV" and "the Montel Williams Show." Segments on Wing Bowl have appeared on TV newscasts in cities throughout the country. Several Wing Bowl contestants, including "El Wingador" even competed in Fox's "Glutton Bowl" in the spring of 2002.

Former Philadelphia Mayor and current Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has attended and presented the winner with a "Liberty Bell" trophy at Wing Bowls II, III, IV and VI. Other dignitaries who have made appearances at Wing Bowl include former heavyweight boxer Randall "Tex" Cobb, Former 76ers President Pat Croce, Former Philles Manager Larry Bowa, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter and others. Major League baseball umpire Eric Gregg has been the "Commissioner" of Wing Bowl since its second year.

Wing Bowl Champions:

• Wing Bowl I, 29 January 1993 - Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel; Winner - Carmen "The Beast From the East" Cordero (100 Wings)
• Wing Bowl II, 1994 - The Main Event; Winner - Kevin "Heavy Keavy" O'Donnell (127 Wings)
• Wing Bowl III, 1995 - Club Egypt; Winner - Kevin "Heavy Keavy" O'Donnell (133 Wings)
• Wing Bowl IV, 1996 - The Electric Factory; Winner - Glen "Fluffmaster" Garrison (155 Wings)
• Wing Bowl V, 1997 - The Electric Factory; Winner - Eric "Gentleman E" Biehl (120 Wings)
• Wing Bowl VI, 1998 - The Spectrum; Winner - Mark "Big Rig" Vogeding (164 Wings)
• Wing Bowl VII, 1999 - The Spectrum; Winner - Bill "El Wingador" Simmons (113 Wings)
• Wing Bowl VIII, 2000 - The First Union Center; Winner - "Tollman Joe" Paul (90 Wings)
• Wing Bowl IX, 2001 - The First Union Center; Winner - Bill "El Wingador" Simmons (137 Wings)
• Wing Bowl X, 2002 - The First Union Center; Winner - Bill "El Wingador" Simmons (135 Wings)
• Wing Bowl XI, 2003 - The First Union Center; Winner - Bill "El Wingador" Simmons (154 Wings)
• Wing Bowl XII, 30 January 2004 - The Wachovia Center; Winner - Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas (167 Wings); Runner-up - Ed "Cookie" Jarvis (153 Wings); Second-runner-up - Bill "El Wingador" Simmons (151 Wings)
• Wing Bowl XIII, 4 February 2005 - The Wachovia Center; Winner - Bill "El Wingador" Simmons (162 Wings); Runner-up - Sony "The Black Widow" Thomas (161 Wings)