Best Shots from the Wing Bowl

SI Staff | Feb 3, 2012

Best Shots from the Wing Bowl

Alex Brandon/AP

Competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi kicks off the start of the competitive eating season by winning the 20th annual Wing Bowl, eating 337 wings in 30 minutes. The Wing Bowl is an annual chicken wing eating contest held in Philadelphia the Friday before the SUper Bowl. The event was developed by Philadelphia radio host Al Morganti to distract from the Eagles not making the Super Bowl ... again. The first contest had a crowd of 10 people, and now, it draws more than 20,000 people.

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Someone needs a wet wipe.

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Kobayashi shows his Philly pride with a Liberty Bell themed sleeveless tee.

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Forget the wet wipe, Kobayashi needs a bath.

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Kobayashi destroyed the competition in his first Wing Bowl, eating 66 more wings than second-place finisher Jonathan "Super" Squibb.

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Not quite sure how you can eat 337 wings in 30 minutes and still have abs. The man is a freak.

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Competitor Martin "The Rooster" Russo enters the competition on a barnyard themed float.

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Adult film stars Mary Carey (left) and Jenna Jameson make an appearance.

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A Wingette holds a plate of wings for competitor John Harker. Wingettes, bikini- and lingerie-clad women who make up each eater's entourage, are a major Wing Bowl attraction.

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Contestant "Stevil Kanevil" (R) is struck with a bamboo cane as he enters the arena.

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Contestant "Damaging Doug" enters the arena with his Wingettes.

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Keep flexin' Kobayashi.

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Kobayashi makes a boxing themed entrance.

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NHL Hall of Fame goalie Bernie Parent poses with a few Wingettes.

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Kobayashi strikes a triumphant pose.

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Kobayashi shows off his wing bling.

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Kobayashi: King of the wings.