Special prize for DAL... insult or incentive?

Matt_A · 09-20-2011, 12:37 PM

How would you as a competition team view a special prize for coming in last? Say, perhaps paying the tuition for a Competition BBQ cooking class, or some such? I realize that not all teams that come in DAL are rookie teams, but a lot of them seem to be struggling and I was wondering if something that could help them get a handle on things would be appreciated.

JayAre · 09-20-2011, 01:00 PM

Interesting concept...except. Im not sure how I would feel If i was in the top 10 of a comp and only receive a couple hundred bucks and the DAL gets $500-750 worth of comp classes.. ok maybe I do know how I would feel, pretty ticked! Maybe a small DAL ribbon but not anything of value.. just my o2

Crash · 09-20-2011, 01:18 PM

What would stop a team from turning in 1 piece of chicken, 1 rib, 1 slice of pork and 1 slice of brisket at a (let's say) $300 contest? They'd then ride off into the sunset with a (let's say) $500 class. That's a pretty good ROI in the BBQ world.

Or another scenario. Team A turns in chicken, then turns in ribs. Team A then gets to meet the contest rep for the first time for turning in an uncut slab of ribs. Knowing they have an almost guaranteed DAL rib score, they turn their attention to tanking the other two meats in order to "win" the class.

I see where you are going, but assigning a prize with significant cash value to a last place team will most likely not go over well.....IMHO.

I agree with a small ribbon or something similar.

PimpSmoke · 09-20-2011, 01:23 PM

As a rookie/hobby cook I strive to finish above the DAL. Bringing attention to a DAL if I am involved, and don't know about the "award" before paying and cooking? That will earn a kick to the war bag.

And not figuratively either.

Podge · 09-20-2011, 01:28 PM

I wish contests wouldn't do this. I feel embarassed for the team.

DawgPhan · 09-20-2011, 01:46 PM

Just pick a place and give a unique trophy or something to that place in the overall. Anything else is going to annoy someone. Though I really can't imagine me dragging all my stuff out to a contest and tanking on purpose to get a class entry. I could stay and home, buy the class entry, and probably come out ahead. $500 doesnt get me to a contest anymore.

Lake Dogs · 09-20-2011, 01:57 PM

thumbs down

Sawdustguy · 09-20-2011, 01:59 PM

I think rewarding a team for coming in last is infantile and insulting. It is not the job of the contest to try to teach the teams how to cook especially when there are teams who spent a lot of time and money teaching themselves how to cook.

Podge · 09-20-2011, 02:05 PM

Let's face it, any one of us could end up DAL for whatever reason. I'd hate to see one of us get a cookbook or something because we happened to trip and spill our box (or whatever reason) and end up being the butt of the organizer's joke that one of us can't cook BBQ !

Dan - 3eyzbbq · 09-20-2011, 02:12 PM

If you give it discretely I don't see an issue with it. I agree, announcing it may not be the best way to go about that.

Smokedelic · 09-20-2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Podge

Let's face it, any one of us could end up DAL for whatever reason. I'd hate to see one of us get a cookbook or something because we happened to trip and spill our box (or whatever reason) and end up being the butt of the organizer's joke that one of us can't cook BBQ !

True dat, got DAL in Columbia 2 weeks ago by missing rib turn in by 2 seconds.

I was already pissed at myself and would have felt pretty bad for the organizer that poured a little gasoline on my fire by giving me a DAL award.

Rub · 09-20-2011, 02:20 PM

I've seen it done several times and it has always made me feel uncomfortable.

Brewmaster · 09-20-2011, 02:27 PM

I have seen it done at a contest for last place in chicken. They called it "Choke You Chicken" award.

I was embarrassed for the guy till I found out he won more than I did and I got first in brisket and 3rd overall.

He won a free entry into next years contest.

They way I look at it is...It's not a secret, everybody knows who gets last place already. If it's me I'd take the money and run

huminie · 09-20-2011, 02:28 PM

At a backyard event I went to earlier this season as a warm for my rookie year they had a tradition of handing out a DAL award. In theory it was a fun bunch of guys who were all friends and it was supposed to be a good natured gesture. Unfortunately it kind of backfired this year, IMO, as the DAL team was a father/son team where the dad let the kid (about 13) do the lionshare of the work. They had some issues with their cooker and things went wrong. The heartbreak on the kid's face when they got called up for DAL was so sad.

Maybe a better solution would be to have a drawing for all teams that finished in the bottom half of the field. I am sure any of those teams would appreciate it, they wouldn't be called out for DAL and the odds would make it so no one could intentionally go for it.

JayAre · 09-20-2011, 02:30 PM

we just had the Air Force Marathon here at Wright Patterson AFB. For the 5k race, they gave a "tail end charlie" award, DAL. they didnt do it at the awards ceremony, it was done at when they crossed the line. very discretely. might be apples to oranges a little bit as running anything more than a block is an accomplishment in my book. I still think it would be embarassing. its bad enough that its published on the scores sheets

09-20-2011, 12:37 PM	#1
Matt_A is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-19-11 Location: Moore, Oklahoma	Special prize for DAL... insult or incentive? How would you as a competition team view a special prize for coming in last? Say, perhaps paying the tuition for a Competition BBQ cooking class, or some such? I realize that not all teams that come in DAL are rookie teams, but a lot of them seem to be struggling and I was wondering if something that could help them get a handle on things would be appreciated. __________________ [B]Matt Armistead[/B]

09-20-2011, 01:00 PM	#2
JayAre Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 05-29-08 Location: Fairborn, Ohio	Interesting concept...except. Im not sure how I would feel If i was in the top 10 of a comp and only receive a couple hundred bucks and the DAL gets $500-750 worth of comp classes.. ok maybe I do know how I would feel, pretty ticked! Maybe a small DAL ribbon but not anything of value.. just my o2 __________________ [FONT=Comic Sans MS]JayAre-B-Q [/FONT] [FONT=Comic Sans MS]Stumps Original 223 W/Stoker[/FONT]

09-20-2011, 01:18 PM	#3
Crash is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-29-08 Location: Kailua, HI (Oahu)	What would stop a team from turning in 1 piece of chicken, 1 rib, 1 slice of pork and 1 slice of brisket at a (let's say) $300 contest? They'd then ride off into the sunset with a (let's say) $500 class. That's a pretty good ROI in the BBQ world. Or another scenario. Team A turns in chicken, then turns in ribs. Team A then gets to meet the contest rep for the first time for turning in an uncut slab of ribs. Knowing they have an almost guaranteed DAL rib score, they turn their attention to tanking the other two meats in order to "win" the class. I see where you are going, but assigning a prize with significant cash value to a last place team will most likely not go over well.....IMHO. I agree with a small ribbon or something similar. __________________ Crash - HIBarbeque.com

09-20-2011, 01:23 PM	#4
PimpSmoke is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-28-06 Location: Tha' Boo	As a rookie/hobby cook I strive to finish above the DAL. Bringing attention to a DAL if I am involved, and don't know about the "award" before paying and cooking? That will earn a kick to the war bag. And not figuratively either. __________________ So here we are in my paisley crib, what you want to eat? "Ribs"...ah, Latoya, I don't serve ribs. Better be happy that dress is still on, I heard the rip when you sat down.

09-20-2011, 01:57 PM	#7
Lake Dogs Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-14-09 Location: Lake Sinclair, GA Name/Nickname : Hance	thumbs down __________________ Hance - MiM/MBN/GBA CBJ and comp cook Lake Sinclair, GA (strategically about an hour from darn near anywhere) My competition daze are probably behind me now; I pretty much cook for family, friends, and frankly the peace and solitude I get from smokin' on an offset... Was Lang 84DX, now Bubba Grills 250R and many Weber grills

09-20-2011, 01:28 PM	#5
Podge is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-25-06 Location: Elk Creek, Ky.	I wish contests wouldn't do this. I feel embarassed for the team.

09-20-2011, 01:46 PM	#6
DawgPhan is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-09-07 Location: Atlanta, Ga	Just pick a place and give a unique trophy or something to that place in the overall. Anything else is going to annoy someone. Though I really can't imagine me dragging all my stuff out to a contest and tanking on purpose to get a class entry. I could stay and home, buy the class entry, and probably come out ahead. $500 doesnt get me to a contest anymore.

09-20-2011, 01:59 PM	#8
Sawdustguy Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-14-05 Location: Vernon, Connecticut	I think rewarding a team for coming in last is infantile and insulting. It is not the job of the contest to try to teach the teams how to cook especially when there are teams who spent a lot of time and money teaching themselves how to cook. __________________ Guy (Pitmaster) BBQ Team: Lawn Guyland Smokers Stupidity for Dummies …because sometimes, you just can’t dumb it down enough…

09-20-2011, 02:05 PM	#9
Podge is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-25-06 Location: Elk Creek, Ky.	Let's face it, any one of us could end up DAL for whatever reason. I'd hate to see one of us get a cookbook or something because we happened to trip and spill our box (or whatever reason) and end up being the butt of the organizer's joke that one of us can't cook BBQ !

09-20-2011, 02:12 PM	#10
Dan - 3eyzbbq is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 10-10-07 Location: Owings Mills, MD Name/Nickname : Dan	If you give it discretely I don't see an issue with it. I agree, announcing it may not be the best way to go about that. __________________ Dan Hixon 3 Eyz BBQ Thanks to our sponsors: The BBQ Guru, The Grill Center, Grizzly Coolers, Make it Meaty and Natures Own Charcoal

09-20-2011, 02:20 PM	#12
Rub is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 09-25-06 Location: Winter Haven, FL	I've seen it done several times and it has always made me feel uncomfortable. __________________ -Rub Swamp Boys Sponsored by Smithfield, BBQ Guru, Butcher BBQ, Nature's Own Hardwood Charcoal Gator Nation

09-20-2011, 02:27 PM	#13
Brewmaster is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-05-07 Location: St. Louis	I have seen it done at a contest for last place in chicken. They called it "Choke You Chicken" award. I was embarrassed for the guy till I found out he won more than I did and I got first in brisket and 3rd overall. He won a free entry into next years contest. They way I look at it is...It's not a secret, everybody knows who gets last place already. If it's me I'd take the money and run

09-20-2011, 02:28 PM	#14
huminie is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-11-10 Location: Gilroy, CA	At a backyard event I went to earlier this season as a warm for my rookie year they had a tradition of handing out a DAL award. In theory it was a fun bunch of guys who were all friends and it was supposed to be a good natured gesture. Unfortunately it kind of backfired this year, IMO, as the DAL team was a father/son team where the dad let the kid (about 13) do the lionshare of the work. They had some issues with their cooker and things went wrong. The heartbreak on the kid's face when they got called up for DAL was so sad. Maybe a better solution would be to have a drawing for all teams that finished in the bottom half of the field. I am sure any of those teams would appreciate it, they wouldn't be called out for DAL and the odds would make it so no one could intentionally go for it. __________________ 2011 CBBQA Rookie ToY - 6th Overall, 2012 American Royal Invitational - Huminie's Hogalicious BBQ

09-20-2011, 02:30 PM	#15
JayAre Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 05-29-08 Location: Fairborn, Ohio	we just had the Air Force Marathon here at Wright Patterson AFB. For the 5k race, they gave a "tail end charlie" award, DAL. they didnt do it at the awards ceremony, it was done at when they crossed the line. very discretely. might be apples to oranges a little bit as running anything more than a block is an accomplishment in my book. I still think it would be embarassing. its bad enough that its published on the scores sheets __________________ [FONT=Comic Sans MS]JayAre-B-Q [/FONT] [FONT=Comic Sans MS]Stumps Original 223 W/Stoker[/FONT]

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