BBQ Brethren,
I first want to thank everyone who responded. Thank you for your opinions! Secondly, I tried to keep it simple, but in as all things, everyone on here is way too smart for that and was able to see that even though the questions were simple, the answer is somewhat complex based on circumstances.
A little history. Each year the Fraternal Club I and my teammates are from have an amateur smoke-off. One of my teammates was one of guys who started the contest and both I and my other teammate both got our BBQ bug on by cooking in previous events. The event does not prohibit Pro cooks, however the event attracts only amateurs. My personal definition of “amateurs” is a team or any member of a team that has not cashed more than $500 over the last 24 months.
Because of this and 18 other reasons, I decided NOT to cook this event this past weekend and Team Que and a Half Men would not participate. However, the teammate that helped start this event decided to cook on his own as Pitt Boss (OK with me!) and enlisted 2 other friends of our to help. He took 1st in 3 categories and 1st overall. Cashed $500 of the $650 in prize money. Total cost to cook the event was north of $500.00.
Now comes the politics! Some of the organizers feel that team Q1/2Men should have participated and that our (mostly directed at me) are “Pompous A$$holes” and feel that we think we are better than them by not competing. They also took offense to my teammate displaying Q1/2Men trophies and selling some T-Shirts and koozies to our local friends and family who don’t get to visit us on the circuit.
Others are pissed that Pro team/team member was allowed to cook and think that it was unfair of my teammate to cook the event. They feel he should know better and are disappointed.
At the end of the day, we are in a lose – lose situation. Even though my teammate was able to get two other involved (one wants to join our team) and he was able to win the event he founded, there is way too much bad for this to ever be good.
My advice to others – If you think you are a Pro, you are. Stay clear of the amateur events.
- Bill