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Major eaters bust bellies at KI competition

Humble Bob Shoudt, Joey Chestnut, and Patrick Bertoletti stuff their faces Monday, Sept. 7 at the second annual Kings Island Chili Spaghetti Eat Off.

Justin McClelland/Staff Reporter Humble Bob Shoudt, Joey Chestnut, and Patrick Bertoletti stuff their faces Monday, Sept. 7 at the second annual Kings Island Chili Spaghetti Eat Off.

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Photos: Chili Spaghetti Eat Off

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By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer Updated 7:17 PM Monday, September 7, 2009

MASON - His mouth smeared with red sauce, his stomach distended from ingesting more than 12 pounds of Skyline Chili spaghetti in 10 minutes, Joey Chestnut could barely contain his disappointment Monday, Sept. 7, as his stomach failed him for the second straight year.

Humble Bob Shoudt, a Philadelphia computer tech, successfully defended his crown at Kings Island as the reigning chili spaghetti eating champion, outgorging Chestnut, the consensus best eater in the world, for the second straight year.

More than 400 people attended the competition, which featured two other world champion eaters and several local talents looking to match their mouths against the kings of competitive eating. Some onlookers just stopped in while spending a day at the amusement park, while others clearly came specifically to see the eaters.

The Vogt family of Fairfield — Dan and sons, Josh, 13, Nick, 16, and Jake, 18 — wore matching shirts that spelled “JOEY” when lined up.

“I’m just in awe of what they can do,” Dan said, specifically mentioning Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas who ate more than 11 pounds of chili spaghetti, more than 10 percent of her body weight.

“We’ve watched Joey since 2004,” Josh said. “He’s awesome.”

“I really like the combination and I think it just tastes great,” Shoudt said after eating 13 pounds, 9 ounces of chili spaghetti. Shoudt said he had not eaten any solid foods since Saturday evening and would probably not eat again until Tuesday. He did plan to ride a few roller coasters with his son after his victory, which earned him a $2,500 cash prize.

“I like to stand up when I eat, and here, I had to bend over,” Chestnut said after the loss, where he ate close to 13 pounds. “I feel like a lot of the food settled too high.”

Major League Eating President George Shea served as the MC for the event.

“Eating is a test of inner truth and character,” Shea said. “It’s about the ability to push when everyone tells you to stop.”

Shea said he felt competitive eating provides a connection with the audience many sports lack.

“It’s not about eating,” Chestnut said. “It’s about the competition.”

“It was so hard fought,” Shea said. “To see Bob hold them off. He’s just an intuitive chili spaghetti eater.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com.

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