My elementary school had two janitors: “Day Bob” and “Night Bob.” “Night Bob” was a tiny older man, who we built a throne and held a special assembly for when he retired. “Day Bob” was younger and larger. He wore zebra stripe pants everyday, and they never fully covered his keister. He was always around, but other than the fact that he fished a ring of mine out of the bathroom sink when I was in sixth grade, I didn’t have many memories of him.

Until eighth grade.

It was 1998. The front page of a local newspaper ran a cover story with a giant picture of Day Bob. In the picture, he was shoveling food into his mouth. This fateful article was how I was first introduced to the Wing Bowl.

Turns out, he was entering under the name “The Stormin’ Mormon.” To practice, he would get one of every McDonald’s Extra Value Meal during lunch and eat them all in under five minutes (minus the sodas). I found this simultaneously disgusting and fascinating.

Though I’ve never made it to the Wing Bowl, I imagine this is part of the draw. How, exactly, does one wrap their mind around what they’re seeing? Contestants are shoveling down tons of food – like, beyond the amount that should make you barf. Potential barfing = not cool. But the fact that they’re able to do this? Well, that is kinda mind blowing.

Wing Bowl 15
Philadelphia Against the World
Wachovia Center
Live Coverage Provided by 610-WIP
Fri, 2/2/07, 6 AM
This Event Is Sold Out

Image via philly.com.