Comp Organizers Competing

[Roo-B-Q'N]

Have heard of contest organizers also competing in the contest. Sounds sommewhat crazy to me, but what are your thoughts?

 

[parrothead]

I have never seen it at the ones I have been to. Wouldn't want to either. Even though the KCBS blind judging is a well thought out process, it just would not be right.

 

[lunchlady]

I don't think it's a good idea. Regardless of the intent, there are always going to be those that talk bad about it. We took over a small competition (grillling) when it looked like it was about to fizzle out. We cooked it that first time, and thank goodness we only took a third in burger. I believe if we had won it, there would DEFINITELY be some bad chatter. Reality is still people's perception of reality. From that point on, we have only judged it.
Then last year, I wanted to cook it as the LunchLadies, with my teammate Terri. We decided against it because the plan was to do an Iron Chef category, and then I figured that people would have been thinking that I, as the organizer's wife, would have known the 'secret ingredient', even if I didn't.

You just don't want the bad PR ...regardless.

that's my two cents...

 

[paydabill]

At the Shriners Summer Fling in Columbia, the organizer (Jamey aka lazyacres) competed. I trust him and know him to be honest. At the cooks meeting he told us that he was no longer in charge and handed everything off to the president of the organization.


I can see both sides of this. It does not look right. However, my only problem would be, who inspected his meat? In my case Jamie inspected my meat, but I do not know who did his. I am NOT saying he cheated. I am just pointing out the only problem I would have with it.

 

[Fredbird]

At the Shriners Summer Fling in Columbia, the organizer (Jamey aka lazyacres) competed. I trust him and know him to be honest. At the cooks meeting he told us that he was no longer in charge and handed everything off to the president of the organization.


I can see both sides of this. It does not look right. However, my only problem would be, who inspected his meat? In my case Jamie inspected my meat, but I do not know who did his. I am NOT saying he cheated. I am just pointing out the only problem I would have with it.

I didn't have a problem with Jamey competing at the Shriners contest. But that's because I have known and competed against Jamey for the last seven years and I am confident about Jamey's integrity.

I can see where someone who didn't know Jamey could be a little suspicious. I would be a little wary of a similar situation if I didn't know the organizer.

 

[Westexbbq]

Despite all the best intentions in the world, honesty, integrity and a square shooting reputation notwithstanding, I just don't think it is a good idea either.
There would be some folks who just wouldn't get it and the potential for sour grapes is always a possiblility.
It all boils down to perception.

 

[Smokin Gator]

The negative perception of the other competitors is the problem... whether there are any improprieties or not.

 

[tony76248]

I have heard the blind judging is not so blind. Folks have been turning in boxes and the judges who judge a lot of events pretty much know who they are judging from the spices and the glazes. Any truth to what I had heard?

IMO that is where the certified judge thing has it's drawbacks....

 

[Sledneck]

I have no problem with an organizer cooking.I do believe this past weekend at bluesaque the organizer had a team competing. They have every right to and why should we have all the fun.

 

[chad]

I voted NO but not because of any judging problems.

How the fark are you going to bitch out the organizer when he's in the middle of turn-in.

Organizers need to be taking care of power problems, water, noisy sites at 3 a.m., etc.

 

[Sledneck]

I voted NO but not because of any judging problems.

How the fark are you going to bitch out the organizer when he's in the middle of turn-in.

Organizers need to be taking care of power problems, water, noisy sites at 3 a.m., etc.

I meant that they have a seperate team cooking, not the organizer personally in the tent.

 

[MoKanMeathead]

Should not be done - perception is reality.

Tony - to your point I judged a couple of years ago and I absolutely recognized a teams entry - not because I judged so often but because I know what this teams entry's look like. Felt very uncomfortable doing it and haven't judged since.

 

[KC_Bobby]

Tony - to your point I judged a couple of years ago and I absolutely recognized a teams entry - not because I judged so often but because I know what this teams entry's look like. Felt very uncomfortable doing it and haven't judged since.

I think that's the one down side to sharing our pics. I've seen a few personal websites that show their turn ins. Some cooks turn in trays that look very similar at most if not all contests which could indicate who turned in that tray. I'm not saying I have a problem with this, just stating that it is a possibility.

That said, keep posting your pics on your sites, I enjoy seeing them.
signed, Copy Cat mod :biggrin:

 

[Merl]

The KCBS Board has said NO!
This is not an area of discussion, its just should never happen. When the organizer claims to have stepped down, he is jeopardizing the integrity of his contest. It sounds like a great way to run off competitors or lose your sanctioning.

 

[Plowboy]

What about sponsors? Should sponsors compete? Seen it happen a lot. Most of them don't get called cause its just a big corporate party, however, you have similar perception issues.

 

[HoDeDo]

I have no problem with an organizer cooking.I do believe this past weekend at bluesaque the organizer had a team competing. They have every right to and why should we have all the fun.

I voted NO but not because of any judging problems.

How the fark are you going to bitch out the organizer when he's in the middle of turn-in.

Organizers need to be taking care of power problems, water, noisy sites at 3 a.m., etc.

I have to agree with both of you. Like Lunchlady, I took over running a contest that was going to fall apart. I still had my team in it, but I didn't really have time to do any cooking, since I was trying to keep everything flowing.

I didn't turn in a single entry, but my team was still there. I would not penalize my bro-in-law just cuz I decided to step in and help keep a contest afloat.

Our contest was slightly different however - For the Polar Swine, the judging is not blind. You present your entry to the panel of judges.

I stayed away from the judging area, after instructing the judges, and making sure they had water, etc. available. I also had another 3rd party do all the score entry. (PriceWaterhouse Coopers mod) I didnt know the results until I opened the harmetically sealed laptop

That said, I understand the "perception is reality" arguement.... and I will live with it. My team will be part of the polar swine, if I am running it or not.:tongue:

 

[HoDeDo]

Don Cawby ran the Osage City contest for the first several years, and Swine Mutiny competed... I don't recall any issues with the KCBS or The contestants. It continues to be a great event...

He quit running it and handed it off to Corey Linton when he left the role of City Manager to take the City Mgr. position in Parsons.

 

[lunchlady]

I thought that KCBS had made it a no-no.

 

[HoDeDo]

I thought that KCBS had made it a no-no.

They may have made it a no-no after he had already moved on to another gig... I'm sure they have made that statement.

My only point was, to cite Osage City as an example of a contest that has always been a well run, above-board contest... And no one ever had an issue with that event. Don wasn't cooking, but his team, Swine Mutiny, was.

 

[ModelMaker]

Ya know, I been sittin here chewing on this fer a bit and you know what? I think I could watch each one of you turn in open boxes and could still judge on your meats merit and not give a snot about whose it is....
The only problem is someone trying to cheat and fill their budys pocketbook.
Judges judge
Cheaters cheat
ModelMaker