NEVER COUNT THE
OLD MAN OUT
OLD MAN OUT
When i first caught wind that Don Lerman was back as Prince of Yiddish delicacies, it truly warmed
my heart. Don Lerman never realized that i was one of his biggest fans since he made his debut on
the competitive eating circuit. If it wasn't for the fact that his niece called me out in several email's
which included some hurtful choice words that i wont bother repeating , i would have gladly cheered
him on in his attempt to become the Curry Rice champion of the world several months ago. It was
nearly 10 years to the day that Don Lerman basked in the limelight distinguishing himself as one of
the great American Jews in capturing the Bens Matzah ball eating contest in Jan 2000. He was being
coveted as the next Michael Jordan or Tigers Woods of CE. Like today, he certainly did not beat the
greatest eaters that ever graced the table on that monumental evening on W. 38th st, but he proved
that a 60 year old alta kaka can still mix it up and beat eaters half his age . For personal reasons i
will not promote the contest nor the competitors at Zahns Deli. I will say that Don Moses Lerman ate
31 Latkas and captured his first major title in 10 yrs. This was a well deserved payback victory after
getting railroaded in a Latka exhibition several years ago competing with Badlands Booker & Charles
Hardy. This was a well deserved payback victory after he busted his butt with sweat and
determination attempting to wrestle back the Matzah ball title from Charles Hardy in Jan 2002 only to
be sandbagged by a Ukrainian defector known as Oleg Zhornitsky. I was at Bens Deli on that eventful
day in Jan 2002. It was a record 74 degrees for a winter afternoon and Lerman was sweating profusely
before and after the contest. I heard the emcee Curtis Sliwa "This is a new dawn for matzah ball
champions as Don Lerman and Charles Hardy are mere shadows of yesteryear because the Russians
are coming the Russians are coming" . What the hell was he talking about? Both eaters had only
been competing for a few years and all of sudden they are washed up "? Take it from a self
proclaimed loudmouth that showed up late and tried to make up as much bullshit as he could muster
depending on some last minute bib sheets to get him through the contest . Don Lerman was never
the same after that. Yes he continued to win Nathans hot dog qualifiers. Yes he did beat Joe Larue
and Ray the Bison to capture a Winchells qualifier . Yes he did capture two Jalapeno titles but
without that Matzah ball title, Moses would never be the same. Many will argue that a matzah ball or
Latka title rightfully belongs to a person of Jewish faith. . Even the late Andy Kaufman would second
that emotion. . Some of his competitive eating compadres such as Ed Cookie Jarvis tried to talk him
out of competing on Dec 13th but Don Lerman would lose sleep if he knew he didn't give it his best
shot. Many including myself thought he would once gain fall flat on his face the way Ali failed against
Larry Holmes in 1980 . I mean everyone including myself got sick and tired of his predictions that
never came true. How many Grant went through Richmond speeches are we supposed to endure?
On this day he proved everyone wrong pulling off a miracle a la Ali vs Foreman 1974 & Holeyfield
Tyson 1996. I had personally called the deli late in the afternoon and some old guy answers the
phone "Yeah some guy won." My response "Did you get a name" ? "Oh i have no idea hey listen
i gotta run" . I told him "You know you sounded exactly like Ralph Branca after he gave up the
homerun to Bobby Thompson in the 1951 Giants win the pennant game" . It was almost like leave me
alone i dont want to be bothered. He laughed then slammed the phone. The way this guy sounded
was as though he bet a bundle of dough on another eater to win the contest. Will Don Lerman
continue to compete.? After his victory today i would bet the ranch on it. With the exception of Rocky
Marciano they never quit while they are ahead especially if they are on a roll. In closing i have this to
add. As Allen Shredder Goldstein was about to take the stage prior to the Slammin Salmon contest in
NYC last week, IFOCE founder George Shea was quoted as saying "Allen Goldstein's Bologna title
was given to an aging eater to maintain his self respect" . I wonder how Lerman would have reacted
if he showed up unexpected at that particular moment ? Really doesn't matter anymore. He's climbed
back to the mountain top and after todays victory he is no longer considered a tuneup for younger
eaters to make a name for themselves at his expense. Even the Shredder might have to head back to
the training room, for that reclaim of his Bologna title might not be so easy after all.
my heart. Don Lerman never realized that i was one of his biggest fans since he made his debut on
the competitive eating circuit. If it wasn't for the fact that his niece called me out in several email's
which included some hurtful choice words that i wont bother repeating , i would have gladly cheered
him on in his attempt to become the Curry Rice champion of the world several months ago. It was
nearly 10 years to the day that Don Lerman basked in the limelight distinguishing himself as one of
the great American Jews in capturing the Bens Matzah ball eating contest in Jan 2000. He was being
coveted as the next Michael Jordan or Tigers Woods of CE. Like today, he certainly did not beat the
greatest eaters that ever graced the table on that monumental evening on W. 38th st, but he proved
that a 60 year old alta kaka can still mix it up and beat eaters half his age . For personal reasons i
will not promote the contest nor the competitors at Zahns Deli. I will say that Don Moses Lerman ate
31 Latkas and captured his first major title in 10 yrs. This was a well deserved payback victory after
getting railroaded in a Latka exhibition several years ago competing with Badlands Booker & Charles
Hardy. This was a well deserved payback victory after he busted his butt with sweat and
determination attempting to wrestle back the Matzah ball title from Charles Hardy in Jan 2002 only to
be sandbagged by a Ukrainian defector known as Oleg Zhornitsky. I was at Bens Deli on that eventful
day in Jan 2002. It was a record 74 degrees for a winter afternoon and Lerman was sweating profusely
before and after the contest. I heard the emcee Curtis Sliwa "This is a new dawn for matzah ball
champions as Don Lerman and Charles Hardy are mere shadows of yesteryear because the Russians
are coming the Russians are coming" . What the hell was he talking about? Both eaters had only
been competing for a few years and all of sudden they are washed up "? Take it from a self
proclaimed loudmouth that showed up late and tried to make up as much bullshit as he could muster
depending on some last minute bib sheets to get him through the contest . Don Lerman was never
the same after that. Yes he continued to win Nathans hot dog qualifiers. Yes he did beat Joe Larue
and Ray the Bison to capture a Winchells qualifier . Yes he did capture two Jalapeno titles but
without that Matzah ball title, Moses would never be the same. Many will argue that a matzah ball or
Latka title rightfully belongs to a person of Jewish faith. . Even the late Andy Kaufman would second
that emotion. . Some of his competitive eating compadres such as Ed Cookie Jarvis tried to talk him
out of competing on Dec 13th but Don Lerman would lose sleep if he knew he didn't give it his best
shot. Many including myself thought he would once gain fall flat on his face the way Ali failed against
Larry Holmes in 1980 . I mean everyone including myself got sick and tired of his predictions that
never came true. How many Grant went through Richmond speeches are we supposed to endure?
On this day he proved everyone wrong pulling off a miracle a la Ali vs Foreman 1974 & Holeyfield
Tyson 1996. I had personally called the deli late in the afternoon and some old guy answers the
phone "Yeah some guy won." My response "Did you get a name" ? "Oh i have no idea hey listen
i gotta run" . I told him "You know you sounded exactly like Ralph Branca after he gave up the
homerun to Bobby Thompson in the 1951 Giants win the pennant game" . It was almost like leave me
alone i dont want to be bothered. He laughed then slammed the phone. The way this guy sounded
was as though he bet a bundle of dough on another eater to win the contest. Will Don Lerman
continue to compete.? After his victory today i would bet the ranch on it. With the exception of Rocky
Marciano they never quit while they are ahead especially if they are on a roll. In closing i have this to
add. As Allen Shredder Goldstein was about to take the stage prior to the Slammin Salmon contest in
NYC last week, IFOCE founder George Shea was quoted as saying "Allen Goldstein's Bologna title
was given to an aging eater to maintain his self respect" . I wonder how Lerman would have reacted
if he showed up unexpected at that particular moment ? Really doesn't matter anymore. He's climbed
back to the mountain top and after todays victory he is no longer considered a tuneup for younger
eaters to make a name for themselves at his expense. Even the Shredder might have to head back to
the training room, for that reclaim of his Bologna title might not be so easy after all.
