The winner of this contest is my BIL's cousin. Patrick currently is ranked 3rd or so on the world "competitive eating" tour. Rich also has a cousin who is a roller derby queen (for real! It's a very colorful family. )

I am essentially a life-long Midwesterner (moved to Kansas at age 3), and I have never "gotten" grits. Somebody explain the appeal to me!

grits-eating contest

As for the whole competitive eating thing -- that can be another discussion -- I personally think it's kind of gross and sends multiple bad messages. But Patrick is normal weight, and his biggest competition is a 105-lb. woman! He uses the money to pay his tuition. Joseph McCarthy of red-scare fame paid his way through my alma mater's law school with his poker winnings, so I suppose this is a little better.

CB