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'Black Widow' Wins Chicken Wing Eating Contest

Posted on: Saturday, 31 January 2004, 06:00 CST

NEW YORK (AP) - Sonya Thomas, the 99-pound Virginia woman, beat out men literally four times her size by sucking down 167 chicken wings at today's Wing Bowl XII, the chicken-wing-eating contest run by the WIP-AM (610) morning show.

Thomas, known as "The Black Widow," bested Ed "Cookie" Jarvis, by two wings in a two-minute overtime round, the first in 10 years. The two tied at 153 wings after two 14-minute rounds and a two-minute showdown before heading into overtime. Last year's champion, "El Wingador" Bill Simmons, came in third with 151 wings.

"I feel great," she said as the way-too-big Wing Bowl crown fell over her head and onto her nose. She said she would return next year to defend her crown.

Contest officials said it was Thomas's overtime strategy - focusing on the drumsticks, which are easier to eat - that put her over the edge.

Singer/sports entrepreneur Jon Bon Jovi, who is plugging his new Arena Football League team the Philadelphia Soul, got a rise from the crowd by wearing a “Dallas Sucks” shirt. Bon Jovi and his band entertained Soul season ticket-holders last night in a private concert across the parking lot at the Wachovia Spectrum.

Simmons' recent domination of the event led organizers to bring in more and better competitors from the professional eating circuit, and the crowd, estimated at more than 20,000, was not happy.

One contestant, "Coon Dog" from Ohio, took his entry lap around the Wachovia Center flashing the score of the Carolina-Eagles game, and was soaked by beer and smashed by cans that flew around the stadium. Stadium officials then stopped contestants from walking around the track, except for "El Wingador," who said this was his last try at the wing table.

“I’m sad but not disappointed,” said Bill Simmons, whose nom de gastronome is El Wingador, after his third-place finish. Simmons, a four-time winner, said that he had matched Thomas’ wing-eating, plate by plate, but that “they [the judges] were giving her more points.” Contestants are judged on how much meat and skin are stripped from the bones.

Simmons, 42, a truck driver from Woodbury Heights, repeated his vow that this would be his last Wing Bowl. “This is it,” he said, still in his sauce-spattered shirt. “I’m worried about my health. I have little girls and a nice wife.” When reminded that other champions had returned from retirement, Simmons put his chances of retirement at 90 percent. He planned to throw a “Wing Bowl slash retirement party.”

“I was never a competitive eater,” Simmons said. “I am a competitor that loves chicken.”

Simmons carried 2-1 odds into the competition, as did Thomas.

Simmons described Thomas’ eating style as “amazing - very amazing.

Simmons hugged and kissed Thomas as she wore her chicken-festooned crown in the stands.

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