Top ArmWrestling talent from around the world gathered this afternoon in NYC's Port Authority Bus Terminal to duke it out and determine who is the Empire State Golden Arm Tournament of Arms Champion. The matches - one at a time - took place under the flag of White Castle, the event's sponsor. But there were no burgers at the tournament and there weren't even any burgers for the competitors.
Not that they mind. Every ArmWrestler SG spoke to admitted that they either did not eat burgers or they did not eat White Castle. Some even laughed at the thought of eating White Castle. One answered in a way that can only be relayed as TMI.
Let's take a moment to discuss the event itself. Two ArmWrestlers are called to the, um, table. The ref lines up their elbows and hands while the competitors wriggle their way into their preferred starting position (leaning back, leaning forward, etc). After a quick "Ready Go" the match begins, Most matches are pretty quick - that's when it's easy to understand to won. Some matches are longer and those are generally more confusing,
Don't believe me? "I don't know what happened there" and "who won" were comments I heard after every match. Sure much of the crowd reeked of Eau de Urine but that doesn't mean they were blind.
More importantly, the competitors themselves were real gentleman - maybe I missed it but there were no female ArmWrestlers. These guys hugged each other after matches, were smiling and laughing and supporting each other. It was fun to watch big, muscular men of varying ethnicities act so, well, peaceful and normal.
"It's a big family," said amateur ArmWrestler David Milburn of Queens. "To me, it's the closest thing to heaven: no arguments and no slurs." Milburn, who took 3rd place in his class for right-hand and 2nd place for left, said the guys are all about protein before a tournament. He himself goes for fish and/or steak, and maybe a little ginsing, and definitely no White Castle.
For more about the New York Armwresting Association click here.
*if I can figure out how to upload them I will add the pictures I took with my camera phone, which is useless if I cannot figure it out
as I mentioned, I guess I missed the female competitors. thanks for letting me know. did the MVP Arm Wrestle other women or did she compete against men?
Posted by: SG | December 02, 2007 at 04:40 PM
a female won MVP you nit wit. Journalism at its best. maybe you should try getting the facts right rather then commenting on the crowds scent in arrogant fashion.
Posted by: the natch | November 28, 2007 at 11:59 AM