A slate of competitive eaters, including amateurs and pros, will chow down at the White World Cheeseburg Eating Championship at 12 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, on the XFINITY Court Of Honor Stage at The Big E in West Springfield.
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Billy "Demolition" Norris is a big dude who's been using his big mouth to call out one of his challengers in Saturday's first-ever White Hut World Cheeseburg Eating Championship at The Big E, which begins its 17-day run today.
"I'm coming for you," Norris, a truck driver and heavy-equipment operator, says menacingly in a video message to Colin LeDuc, a seemingly mild-mannered "insurance account executive" from Longmeadow.
Norris, who was raised in Holyoke and Chicopee, has been recording the messages during stops along his trucking route up and down the East Coast, then uploading the videos to Facebook. But it turns out LeDuc, whose alias is "Swollen Colon LePuke," is no shrinking violet.
"Billy 'Demolition' Norris is going down like a house of carbs! I'll have room for maple sugar candy from the Vermont building when I'm done embarrassing you!" LeDuc says in an online riposte to Norris, who's been mocking him for the past few weeks.
Although professional competitive eaters are the main attraction at The Big E chowdown — sponsored by White Hut, Balise Auto Group, Williams Distributing, Bolduc's Apparel, and Sampson's funeral parlor, and run by Major League Eating — the amateur card featuring Norris, LeDuc and several other Massachusetts natives is shaping up to be a big draw on its own.
In an effort to hype the White Hut cheeseburg event, Norris and LeDuc have been using social media to lob insults at each other. And they've managed to attract a following along the way, thanks to their showmanship and spirited exchanges — some of which have been downright comical.
Billy "Demolition" Norris, left, likes to eat bacon and eggs every day, washing down his high-calorie meal with "a nice cup of tea" and a big, fat cigar. The truck driver and heavy-equipment operator, who grew up in Holyoke and Chicopee, has engaged in an online war of words with Colin LeDuc, a mild-mannered insurance account executive from Longmeadow. The reason for the online enmity? Both men are seeking victory in Saturday's first-ever White Hut World Cheeseburg Eating Championship at The Big E. Norris and LeDuc, whose new alias is "Swollen Colon LePuke," are amateurs in the world of competitive eating, but each hopes to make a name for himself at the event. The contest is sponsored by Balise and run by Major League Eating, the same outfit behind the famous hot dog contest in Brooklyn's Coney Island neighborhood. (Facebook)
Sure, LeDuc was raised in one of Western Massachusetts' swankiest towns. But that doesn't preclude him from eating with peasants every once and awhile — even a 382-pound truck driver whose daily diet includes bacon, eggs and cigars.
For the record, Norris says proudly, it's six eggs (scrambled), three pieces of bacon, and a "nice cup of tea" to wash it down with. And he chases each meal with a Tony Soprano-sized stogie, which aids with digestion.
LeDuc, 45, isn't the least bit intimidated by Norris, 50, despite the whiff of classism (reverse classism?) in the trucker's taunts on Facebook, where he continues to post clips deriding LeDuc and suggesting he can't handle the White Hut challenge.
Instead of getting defensive, though, LeDuc has embraced the rich-kid role ascribed to him by Norris, even hamming it up for comedic effect. "My yachting coach taught me how to eat fast," he deadpans, fully embracing his inner "LePuke" — his pampered, aristocratic alter ego, who's clearly more at home at a country club than a country fair.
"I grew up on the mean streets of Longmeadow, where I had to learn how to eat with speed because I never knew where my next meal was coming from," says LePuke, who now calls West Springfield home.
Henceforth, we shall refer to LeDuc and Norris by their preferred pseudonyms. Like Daniel Day-Lewis, who's known for staying in character even when he's off set, Demolition and LePuke haven't broken character since they signed on for the cheeseburg challenge.
The daily insults on social media haven't exactly reached the ferocity of the Ali-Frazier feud, and probably never will. (Nobody's called the other a "Gorilla" yet.) But this is their "Thrilla in Manila," after all, and Demolition and LePuke plan to enjoy all 900 seconds of their 15 minutes of fame.
Speaking of minutes, the rules for the amateur White Hut event are simple: The man who stuffs the most cheesburgs down his gullet in 5 minutes wins. The prize for this feat is almost as straightforward: bragging rights and the glory of being the Greatest Glutton in Massachusetts.
"The contest is only 5 minutes," says LePuke. "I don't think Demolition has ever closed his mouth for that long. This might be a personal best for him."
Undaunted by his punier challenger's gibes, Demolition continues to crank out Facebook videos belittling LePuke. Here's a recent sample of "attempted intimidation" by Demolition, whose flat affect and serial-killer delivery is a bit more comical than menacing:
Colin, it's me again. Remember me? The "loudmouth"? (LePuke had previously called Demolition a loudmouth on Facebook.)
Guess what? (Demolition's eyes widen for a moment.) It's 5 o'clock in the morning in Boston ... and I'm lookin' for you. (His voice suddenly sounds De Niro-esque.)
I'm training right now. I just ate a dozen Dunkin' Donuts — plain — and now I'ma have a couple of Egg McMuffins. Then I'ma follow that by a cigar and a cup of tea (long pause).
Then I'm going to the Cape, and I'm gonna get some chowda. And after I eat my chowda, I'm probably going to stop at the Lunch Box (Box Lunch?) and get a turkey roll wrap.
And guess what (pause, again)? I'm lookin' for you today, Colin. (Demolition's feigned disdain is palpable.) You know who you are.
So where are ya? Why ya hidin'? Why ain'tcha come out lookin' for me?
Meanwhile, the professionals competing in Saturday's cheeseburg contest are among the best-known competitive eaters in the world, and they're vying for a total prize purse worth $4,000. The first-place finisher will take home $2,000, while the second-place finisher will net a cool grand. Those placing third, fourth and fifth will take home $600, $300 and $100, respectively.
Major League Eating (the folks behind the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in Brooklyn's Coney Island neighborhood) has rustled up a slate of renowned eaters, including California's Matt "Megatoad" Stonie, the No. 2-ranked competitive eater in the world.
Megatoad caused a major upset last year after downing a mind-blowing 62 hot dogs and stealing the throne from Joey Chestnut, the eight-time champ of the Nathan's contest. Megatoad is also known for knocking back over two dozen Big Macs in one sitting, so the Californian oughta have a field day with White Hut's classic cheeseburger.
Rounding out the field of pros are Eric "Badlands" Booker of Long Island; Carmen Cincotti of New Jersey; Brian Dudzinsky of Arizona; William Myers of Pennsylvania; Jon Taylor and Steven Wojcik, both of Connecticut; and "Crazy Legs" Conti, James Burgess and Geoffrey Esper, all of Massachusetts.
Conti grew up in Belmont and now lives in New York City, while Burgess and Esper are from Athol and Oxford, respectively.
But back to the amateurs for a moment ...
Demolition and LePuke aren't the only wannabe competitive eaters in this game. They'll be joined by Springfield's own Chris "Grizzly Bear" Silva, Carver's Derek "Beast From The East" Brady, and MassLive's dining daredevil, Nick "The Torso" O'Malley, author of the website's popular "I ate it"" column.
O'Malley is already an eating legend in these parts, routinely tackling spicy foods, yucky foods, and downright scary foods — like Burger King's special black-bunned Halloween Whopper, which has become O'Malley's "arch nemesis." He took the burger for a taste ride last October, and it moved him in mysterious ways. In the name of decency, we'll say no more about O'Malley's movements.
While Johnny Cash once "shot a man in Reno just to watch him die," O'Malley once "ate six salads at Ruby Tuesday just because he was bored." It doesn't quite have the same sense of danger as Cash's line, but everyone knows that croutons come with a killer crunch.
The Torso took a sabbatical from his column to train for the White Hut challenge. Rumor has it O'Malley's secret weapon may be his jaw, which is allegedly more flexible than Nadia Comaneci. The young Nadia (circa '76), not the middle-aged Nadia.
For LePuke, training for the big event has included watching competitive-eating tutorials on YouTube. "I'm taking the more cerebral approach to this," he says, surmising that Demolition's training regimen is as unrefined as crude oil.
"I don't know how long Demolition has been training, so he might have a leg up," says LePuke. "Or a belly up."
LePuke isn't worried, though. He's managed to tolerate Demolition's braggadocio so far, so what's a few more days?
For the pros, the White Hut World Cheeseburg Eating Championship comes with trophies and cash prizes. For the amateurs, the prize is bragging rights and a chance to chew with the big boys. (Major League Eating)
Besides, LePuke is pals with "Beast From The East" Brady — a Boston bar owner who looks like he belongs on the Patriots' roster, not at a cheeseburger contest at The Big E.
LePuke is feeling good about his chances with Brady, whom he once bested in an impromptu hot dog-eating contest in Las Vegas.
"It was an unsanctioned event," says LePuke, describing Brady as a 6-foot-5 monster who's "built like an NFL linebacker."
Still, the decidedly smaller insurance exec managed to beat the Beast in Vegas by cramming 16 dogs down his throat. A proud moment in Longmeadow history, indeed.
Demolition says all of the pre-contest zinging is purely in jest, though he still hopes to win on Saturday. "I think I can win with 13 cheeseburgs in 5 minutes," he says confidently.
His only real concern is the temperature of the burgers. If the cheese and onions are too hot, Demolition may have to alter his attack. "That's a huge deal," he says.
Demolition has been getting advice and attaboys from friends and strangers alike, and he's expecting a posse of supporters at the cheeseburg challenge.
"I don't care if I win or lose," he says, sounding almost pensive after weeks of lobbing insults at LeDuc. "I just want to have a good show."
The White Hut challenge kicks off at 12 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, on the XFINITY Court Of Honor Stage at The Big E, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield.