AFL Memorabilia piece of the day...

Since the footbal season is among us a friend of mine, Todd Tobias, a football historian, started posting the AFL piece of the day to his friends. So with his help I pass this great information on...

At 6'9" and 325 lbs., the Chargers Ernie Ladd was a man of considerable size. He was a perennial AFL All-Star, and a professional wrestler in the off-season. Not surprisingly, Ladd was also known to put away massive amounts of food. So m...uch so, that on April 22, 1963, Ernie Ladd and Nick Cordileone (a San Diego dock worker also known for his enourmous appetite), were featured in an eating contest at the U.S. Grant Hotel. On the menu were Lobster Tails, Salad, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Southern Fired Chicken, Baked Virginia Ham, Beef Ribs, Sirloin Steaks, Vegetables, Mashed Potatoes, Rolls and Butter, and Layer Cake with Ice Cream for dessert. Hamburgers were to be employed in the case of a tie, necessitating a sudden death eat-off.

Local celebrities held various "official" titles such as "Counter for Belches at the Bell," "California State Meat and Potatoes Inspector" and "Consultants to the California State Eating Commission." Regis Phlbin was the Referee of the evening, and though it was apparently close, Ernie Ladd came out victorious.

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