Stuffed

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In recent years, the Eagles chances of landing in the Super Bowl have been on a wing and a prayer. And while it seems fans never know what to expect out of these guys each season, there is at least one Bowl folks can count on annually. The glutton-fest known as Wing Bowl, sponsored by Sportsradio 610 WIP, takes place at the Wachovia Center two days before the highly anticipated football showdown.

This yearly feeding frenzy begins 6 a.m. tomorrow and is an amateurs-only event this time around, leaving pig-out pros and past champions like the Black Widow and El Wingador starving for another chance in the limelight. But they’ll be left waiting in the wings this year as 27 amateurs — including three locals — stuff their faces in front of a sold-out crowd.

The proud overeaters representing South Philadelphia are Daniel "The Big Bambino" Carpino, 27, from the 2500 block of Sartain Street; John "Stormin’ Norman" Tiska, 24, from the 2400 block of South Front Street; and Steven "The Gavone" Mangini, from Sixth and Reed streets.

All won a slot by completing a self-selected eating stunt approved and executed on-air in front of WIP Morning Show host and Wing Bowl co-founder Angelo Cataldi. Carpino inhaled 24 large raviolis in three minutes; Tiska wolfed down a 16-inch cheese pizza in seven minutes; and Mangini devoured a 1-pound box of ravioli in three minutes.

For those too shy to visit the studio, their only shot at an entry was to win one of eight "Wing-Offs" held throughout the city.

A construction worker by trade, Tiska selected his fare based on two Slob Fest eating competitions he won in 2006 and ’07, held by Mummers clubs Satin Slippers and Cara Liom, where both years he ate a total of 17 slices (one slice short of two 16-inch pies) in seven-, five- and three-minute rounds. At the urging of friends impressed with his chops, Tiska decided to enter Wing Bowl out of "curiosity — to see if I can beat these guys eating chicken wings," the first-time entrant said.

Wife Heather, on the other hand, sees it a bit differently.

"She just thinks I’m crazy. I think she has plans to put me on a diet when it’s all over," he said.

Like Tiska, "The Big Bambino" said his cronies made him do it.

"All my friends put me up to it. They kept trying to make me do it for years. Finally I submitted," the Philadelphia Parking Authority security officer by day and UPS worker by night said.

About 12 buddies accompanied him to WIP when he devoured his pasta, which he admitted was slow going down but he never gave up hope for polishing off the plate.

"It was pretty much the most embarrassing moment of my life but I did it for my friends. I felt like a real gavone. It was worth it though to see the smile on their faces when I made it," Carpino recalled.

Confident of their overeating abilities, both Carpino and Tiska are not nervous about tomorrow’s event nor are they worried about hurling like many eaters have done in the past — and an automatic disqualifier.

"I never waste food," Tiska said regarding the latter.

"Nah," Carpino added, saying he’s a seasoned wing-eater. "On Sundays [for Eagles games], we order a bunch of wings, sit, relax and hang out."

Limiting the spectacle to amateurs only was Cataldi and co-founder Al Morganti’s idea, a return to the way things were in the early days of the event.

"We decided to go back to our roots in 2009," Morganti told the Review. "In fact, the whole idea really started when we thought it would be a good idea to go back to the Spectrum for a last Wing Bowl in that building before it was torn down. We figured we were just slightly behind Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel in terms of importance to that venue.

"Still, we liked the idea of going back to the original idea of local guys and local girls getting their chance to have a blast without some out-of-town pro taking all the glory. So no Spectrum, but back to basics at least for this year."

Added Cataldi, "We decided to limit Wing Bowl only to amateurs this year because the people demanded it. They wanted a local winner, and they wanted the feeling of the early Wing Bowls when just a bunch of guys from the Philadelphia neighborhoods got together and pigged out on wings."

Those who want to witness the heaps of gnawed-on chicken bones but don’t have tickets or the stomach to view it live — can still see it unfold as-it-happens via Internet at 610 WIP.com or tune into WIP. Proceeds from the $7.50 tickets will be donated to the Philadelphia Police Department through the Philadelphia Police Foundation. One of the competitors this year is actually a Philly cop.

Whoever manages to inhale the most chicken appendages without bringing them back up will take home a Mini Clubman. The Wingette of the Year will get a 2009 Harley Davidson 883 Sportster Motorcycle; a pair of one-carat diamond earrings and a day of beauty at 800 West Salon and Day Spa.

Tiska, confident he’ll drive off in the BMW-manufactured auto made popular in the Austin Powers flicks, encourages everybody to come to McFadden’s at Citizens Bank Park for the official Wing Bowl after-party.

"That’s where everybody’s going to come to see my trophy when I win," he said.

Contact Staff Writer Lorraine Gennaro at lgennaro@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.