I thought this was about the other Eric... not Fozzy

That's right... it's "the Griddler"

http://www.cuisinart.com/catalog/product.php?product_id=295&item_id=397&cat_id=22

Hey Eric, punch this old man for me

Brat contest could be on the cutting board

March 1, 2006

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. --A local bratwurst-eating contest could be on the cutting board. A former city attorney hates it so much that he is asking the city to let residents vote on whether a bratwurst-eating contest as part of the Sheboygan Jaycees' annual Brat Days should continue.

"It's gross," said Clarence Mertz, 84. "This is a situation where you are saying to the young children that it's OK to overeat. In fact, we sponsor a contest to reward the person who overeats the most. Overeating is an epidemic among young children. They should be told overeating is bad for their health."

The contest has been part of the festival since the 1950s, said Tom Wolff, director of marketing with Johnsonville Sausage Co., which is one of the event's sponsors.

"It's entertainment, that's all it is," Wolff said. "This last year had one of the biggest draws we've ever seen. There was probably 2,000 people sitting out there for two hours, and they enjoyed it."

Sheboygan County Clerk Julie Glancey said it was too late to get an advisory referendum on the April ballot and the next scheduled election is the September primary -- after the festival is held in August. The common council is expected to vote Monday whether to hold the referendum.

ESPN and CNN carried segments on the 2005 event that showed 37-year-old Sonya Thomas from Alexandria, Va., setting a record by consuming 35 brats in 10 minutes.

"Anytime Sheboygan is on TV in regards to tourism and in a favorable light, that's good for the community," said Kim Swisher, manager of the city's tourism division.

The event grew last year as competitors from the International Federation of Competitive Eating got involved. The festival wants to bring the group back this year, Wolff said.

What kind of crap is this? Eating contests are awesome, Bratwurst is awesome...so what's the problem here? In fact, I think we should all fly out to Davis and have a deep fat Fryday reunion sometime.