2008 Woodie Awards
Pancake Politics
Kellie Woodhouse
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: News
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This one had to do with pancakes.
On Friday, Brayman and Friedson went head-to-head in the renowned College Park pancake-eating contest.
But the competition came to symbolize far more than simply who could stuff the most pancakes down their throats the fastest, or who could raise the most money per pancake for Prince George's County Special Olympics. In the end, only the manliest man would be left standing.
A few days before the fateful contest, Friedson casually reminisced of his former glory days when he was victorious in 18 out of 20 Hooters wing-eating competitions and even triumphed in a hot dog-eating contest back in his freshman year.
Even Friedson's friends - a swarm of more than 15 rowdy college kids that came to support him - were confident in his above-average ingestion skills.
"He once ate 33 French toasts back in high school at one of our football team's Saturday morning breakfasts," said senior economics major Jeremy Feld. "I've seen him eat; I've seen what he's capable of."
"But I was a better eater back then, I will admit that," Friedson said before the contest. "When I was working out, I could eat a lot more."
And although Friedson consoled himself with the assurance that he is "definitely heftier than the mayor," Brayman said he wasn't intimidated in the least. After competing in this contest since it began five years ago and winning every single time, Brayman has faced plenty of competition that - he claims - didn't really have the right technique.
"One man talked a lot of trash, but when I got to 26, he was still on 17," Brayman said nonchalantly.
When asked if he was excited for a chance to challenge the student body through Friedson, Brayman replied, "I thought I already had asserted my dominance."
On Friday night, the two finally met face-to-face as Brayman and Friedson gathered in the Hampton Inn on Route 1, sitting down next to each other, flattening their napkins and preparing themselves for an all-out battle that would make even Betty Crocker cringe.
The two began the contest with their own unique rituals. Friedson picked up his fork with disdain, sarcastically asked, "Pshaw, what's this fork for?" and then tossed it aside without hesitation, while Brayman studied his syrup, took a sniff and then requested some blueberry-flavored topping, saying he wanted to spice this contest up a little.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Zachary Price
posted 4/07/08 @ 11:43 AM EST
As one-sided as the reporter tried to make some of the comments sound, all readers should be aware of the great cause that this event was for. As some of the "rowdy college kids" who were in attendance, we happen to be Andrew's good friends who came to support him AND a great cause. (Continued…)
Zachary Price
Zachary Price
posted 4/07/08 @ 11:45 AM EST
As one-sided as the reporter tried to make some of the comments sound, all readers should be aware of the great cause that this event was for. As some of the "rowdy college kids" who were in attendance, we happen to be Andrew's good friends who came to support him AND a great cause. (Continued…)
Student
posted 4/07/08 @ 3:07 PM EST
I'm pretty sure the angle on this piece was the fact the the college and the city were going at it through pancakes. If the reporter had just wrote a peice on people eating pancakes to raise money, it might've been one of the most boring diamondback stories of the year- and as we all know, that's a feat. (Continued…)
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