Hungry Hooligans set up camp in Atlantic City

February 26, 2007

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Calling it “as good a time as any,” Hungry Hooligans manager Dave Shoffner kicked off the first day of his squad’s Major League Eating spring training by running his nine gurgitators through a series of light lunch workouts at the team’s training headquarters in  Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“Top to bottom, bottom to top, we’ve got a team that can’t be stopped,” said Shoffner in a post-dessert press conference at the Cornucopia Buffet at the Atlantic City Hilton, noting that his quotes usually don’t rhyme and promising not to make a habit of it.

Team co-captains Pat Bertoletti and Chip Simpson were the first to report to camp and promptly called “dibs” on the table nearest to the omelet bar and the ice cream machine.

“The Hooligans are a team built around youth,” said Shoffner. “Except for Frank Wach. He’s kind of old.”

Hooligans rookie Kevin Ross, already with two IFOCE contests under his belt in 2007, was dropped off at camp by his mother who reminded him to finish his vegetables and not to eat with his elbows on the table.

When asked what he thought of this season’s competition and recent comments by opposing managers, Shoffner dismissed smack talk by Manitoba Meatweats manager Eric “Steakbellie” Livingston, calling it “protein induced confidence.”

“He shouldn’t talk with his mouth full,” said Shoffner. “Things tend to come out a little  garbled and just like his team at the end of this season, he might choke.”