Money Muscle

[Lake Dogs]

I guess the "chatter" in judging tents in Wisconsin is much different from the "chatter" in judging tents in the SouthEast! I judge almost every weekend and I definitely don't hear "it's NOT in the box" or ANYTHING similar! Maybe there is something to the "regionalility" thing in judging after all!!!

I have friends in both crowds (judges and competitors); the judges know me as a fellow judge; the competitors know me as a fellow competitor. I can't tell you how many bizarre things I hear from competitors. One set of friends came away from watching judges getting seated at the table that the judges were picking which tables they were at AFTER seeing the BBQ. I was there; I was a judge; and it didnt happen. I've heard from a very accomplished competitor in one circuit after getting hammered in a different venue that it must be rigged (based upon nothing other than their outing). I was there. It was completely blind. They just didnt know the different rules and expectations (nor the level of competition) in the different sanctioning bodies... I mean, REALLY. C'mon guys!

Doesn't mean I dont hear silly stuff from judges too. Reading some of their comments like "didnt like the injection" when it wasnt injected doesn't make much sense either...

Back to what Tom said above, I've never heard (before, during, nor afterwards) anything like that from judges.

 

[2Fat]

I guess the "chatter" in judging tents in Wisconsin is much different from the "chatter" in judging tents in the SouthEast! I judge almost every weekend and I definitely don't hear "it's NOT in the box" or ANYTHING similar! Maybe there is something to the "regionalility" thing in judging after all!!!

when you hear statements like"I wish there would have been slices(or burnt ends) or whatever in the box" it has to have an effect on the judges mindset when the boxes are presented---thats why when we cook we try to present the product in different forms(as long as the animal cooperates)

think there is regionality in every aspect of our 'sport'--chopped pork is likely to be scored better in the SE part of the country vs the Midwest-- flavors may vary too but to the extent that some believe---