Dan Gross: Joey Chestnut: My last Wing Bowl

WIN OR LOSE,

Joey Chestnut

says Friday's Wing Bowl will be his last. The two-time champion told us exclusively Monday of his plans to retire from Wing Bowl as a competitor, but the 24-year-old says he hopes to return next year to cheer on someone else.

"It's the biggest competitive eating party around," Chestnut says. "Maybe I'll be in someone's entourage," Chestnut tells us.

The San Jose State civil engineering major says his rigorous competitive eating schedule interferes with his studies. He also blames the sport and constantly being away from home for the recent breakup with his girlfriend of two years.

Chestnut isn't sure whether he will defend his Mustard Yellow Belt July 4 at Coney Island, N.Y., in Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog contest. Last year he defeated Japan's Takeru Kobayashi, bringing the title back to the United States.

"I don't know what my place in competitive eating is after this Wing Bowl. I really just want to have fun with it. Last year there was quite a bit of pressure. Wing Bowl, Nathan's and the big ones require months of training," he says. "A lot of work goes into it."

Chestnut has a little entourage of family and friends and says he's confident that his performance will shine though he's "not expecting fans or judges to be on my side."

Chestnut gets to town tomorrow morning, but says he probably won't eat anything between last night and the 6 a.m. Friday contest. How does he survive? "I drink lots of liquid protein supplements," he tells us.

Wings, breasts, thighs, buns

Wing Bowl "is the biggest day of the year for the strip clubs," says Andrew Seawell. And he should know. Seawell publishes Unveiled, a monthly mag covering the local strip club industry.

He says Thanksgiving Eve used to be the biggest, but in recent years people "watching this big eating contest and then going to a strip club on the way home seems to be how people behave." Not him. Seawell he has no interest in watching an eating contest and seeing girls in the Wachovia Center stands bare their breasts or face non-stop heckling to do so. He'd rather see the dancers at any area club.

The Gold Club (15th & Chancellor) in Center City, South Philly's Club Risque (1700 S. Columbus) are among local clubs holding Wing Bowl after-parties. Porn starlets Gina Lynn and Nikki Benz will be at the party at Delilah's (100 Spring Garden).

A family affair for Wolfman

While many Wing Bowl contestants are accompanied by scantily-clad babes they don't know, one of Thomas "Wolfman" Wolf's Wingettes will be his daughter Meagan.

Asked yesterday what Meagan will be wearing, her mother Lisa replied "Something respectable."

Julio down by the boneyard

After hearing that Julio "El Zorro" Davila was the first Wing Bowl contestant who speaks only Spanish, we called him and in our best Spanish, which is not nearly as good as we thought, tried to interview him. Davila, 34, made it clear pretty quickly that he spoke enough English to understand us, which was helpful. The Puerto Rico native works at National Freight, in Vineland, and says he loves to eat.

He says it's possible that he'll win, but the gentleman was sure to wish luck to all the contestants, in English and in Spanish.

Mark McGraw's gotta believe

"Spice Up My Kitchen" host Mark McGraw, a carpenter by trade, is building a float for King of the Maniacs, aka Brad Sciullo's entrance. McGraw, a son of Tug McGraw, and half-brother of country sensation Tim McGraw, left town in 1991 after graduating from the Hilltop School. McGraw recently ran into an old friend, Adam Taxin, whom he knew while briefly attending Strath Haven High. Taxin, who competed in Wing Bowl 14 as Hungry Hungry Hebrew, asked McGraw for help with King of the Maniacs' float. McGraw is looking forward to the madness he's only heard about.

Big Daddy will be 'Big Pimpin' '

Look for 610 WIP's Big Daddy Graham to be dressed as Big Daddy Pimp in a purple suit, hat and cane, leading all the dancers into a special p.i.n.k. vodka section. P.i.n.k., an energy vodka with no added flavors or scents, was co-created by Mount Airy-bred David Mandell. There are only 50 tickets left for "Two Funny Guys," Big Daddy's Feb. 16 show with Joe Conklin at the Broadway Theatre in Pitman, N.J. It'll be taped for DVD release. Tickets are sold at thebroadwaytheatre.org. *