My worst contest mistake, now that I think about it (after a few bourbons), was judging... I started as a judge, and the day I sampled Gwatney's ribs (they GC'd that day; 1st place ribs; went on to GC Memphis In May) on-site I was hooked, but hooked BAD because I wanted to learn how to cook like THAT. It's a sickness... On two occasions I've possibly now cooked ribs close. Thankfully (as I look up) one of those was when I cooked for a dieing man who loved ribs. I made 6 racks for him, he ate 3 in that first sitting... The smile on his face is all the trophies I'll ever need. If I were to win MIM or The Royal tomorrow I'd value the achievement, but not value it as much as that one mans smile. My ribs didnt change his fate, but per his closest friends it made him very happy his last few days. I'd like to think those ribs made a little difference, for him.