Big Judds

After a casual morning Teddy, Joey, Cole, Dan and I headed to Big Juds, a tiny local burger joint that is well known. Why’s it well known? It’s well known for the Big Jud challenge: eating a huge 1lb burger and a pound of fries or tater tots. They put me to the test and Bugsy and never turn down a challenge. Dan also went for it. The reward? …a photo on the wall for a place in history.

I was pumped! I was ready to represent Michigan and The Hometown Invasion Tour. I was ready to show everyone what I was all about. Out it came, a burger and bun the size of my head with all the toppings. I licked my chops, rubbed my hands together, and began feasting like Thanksgiving dinner. Delicious! And I was cruising past Dan. I was about half way done only about 16 minutes into it and going strong.

Out of nowhere failure set in. There were three bites of hamburger left and a dozen tater tots. I was slowing down, chewing slower, swallowing very slow, trying to wash it down with water. There was nowhere for it to go. My body was stuffed. I unbuttoned my pants, stretched, and tried shaking it off to do everything I could for those last few bites. It wasn’t physically possible, there was nowhere for it to go.

The guys were crushed with disappointment, but I was crushed even more. I couldn’t live up to it, I couldn’t do it (though Dan hardly made it half way through). I was a failure with only a few bites to go! I couldn’t believe myself. It was like having the Stanley Cup Championship right in front of me, it was that big of a deal. Ashamed of myself.

We drove to our next destination. I could hardly drive. It was a quiet ride of sadness and the only few words were from Teddy putting me down that I couldn’t do it. Oh it was sad.

A few miles down the road I finally spoke up… “We need to stop!” We pulled over at a gas station and out came about one pound of hamburger and one pound of tater tots. My body was pushed to its limits. But I went down like a champion, I was like Rudy. I gave it my all.

It was my first ever eating contest and I was confident and just couldn’t pull it off. But that few miles of driving and a little while after made for the most miserable couple hours of the trip. Perhaps it was my technique, maybe too much water, maybe too fast or too slow. All in all I must have downed about 1500-2000 calories in that single meal. And this is what happens when you hang out with a bunch of college guys. Big Juds, one day I will be back!

Update Feb 6th: SuperSizedMeals.com