Molly Schuyler to defend her title at Wing Bowl 23
Huge prize pool even includes $10,000 for the runner-up.
"I want that bike!"
With those words, competitive-eating sensation Molly Schuyler announced she'll return to Wing Bowl to defend her crown.
Besides a 2015 Harley-Davidson Fatboy, which lists for $17,699, the victor on Jan. 30 at the Wells Fargo Center will get $10,000 and a championship ring crafted by Steven Singer Jewelers.
The list of prizes, for top eaters in various divisions and for the top Wingette, could be worth $100,000, as spelled out today by Morning Show host Angelo Cataldi on SportsRadio 94 WIP.
There's even a $10,000 prize for the runner-up, as an incentive to lure the best challengers for Schuyler, Cataldi said,
Tickets will go on sale at 9 a.m. Dec. 9, according to an online promo. Sales have been through Comcasttix.com in previous years. Price was $10 each last year.
This morning, the show also began accepting proposals for eating stunts that, if successfully completed, mean a chance to lead a crazily costumed entourage into an area filled with tens of thousands of people in various stages of inebriation, then stuffing a sauce-splattered face with wings distributed by winsome women.
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One guy called to suggest "nine feet of bread" in 9 minutes, which sounded like a lot until he explained he was talking about slices of Wonder Bread laid flat. Cohost Al Morganti, the event's originator, was dubious, said he might shorten the time when he sees how much bread that really is.
The top local competitor wins a new Chrysler 300, the winner of the college division will get a new Chrysler 200, and the top Wingette will get $5,000 and a hot tub. The best entourage usually wins a bunch of trips to a resort.
Last January, Schuyler, a 120-pound Nebraska mom, consumed 363 wings in 30 minutes, obliterating the old Wing Bowl record of 337, set by Takeru Kobyashi in 2012.
Just a few weeks before Wing Bowl, Schuyler rocketed to fame by consuming a 72-ounce steak in under three minutes (see amazing video) -- less than half the time of the previous world record.
This morning, Schuyler, speaking in what she called her "hot sexy morning voice," explained that she was now living near Sacramento, because "the military moved us."
She said she's lost only one eating contest, by a single bite, because it's tricky figuring out the best way to eat pumpkin pie.
Some of the nation's top eaters skip Wing Bowl because they're part of the Major League Eating circuit, and Wing Bowl is not an MLE-sanctioned event.
Before MLE took sides, Wing Bowl was won by pros like Joey Chestnut and Sonya Thomas.
Schuyler belongs to another group, All Pro Eating. The group's No. 4-ranked eater is David "Tiger Wings & Things" Brunelli, who became the first Wing Bowl 23 qualifier when he won a Halfway to Wingbowl corn-eating contest in July.
Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com. Follow @petemucha on Twitter.