2007 DCI World Championships about to get sticky

While competition heats up next week in Pasadena for the 2007 Drum Corps International World Championships, competitors will meet to eat at Knott's Berry Farm theme park Wednesday, Aug. 8, when Major League Eating meets Marching Music's Major League at the first-ever Drum Corps International Peanut Butter & Jelly Eating Championship. Created to celebrate the start of the 2007 World Championships at the Rose Bowl Stadium, in addition to the displays of competitive eating, Pacific Crest will perform for crowds within the park gates. Tentatively scheduled to compete is an all-star Major League Eating cast of characters including fourth-ranked face painted eater Tim "Eater X" Janus, third-ranked Pat Bertoletti, eighth-ranked Rich "The Locust" LeFevre, and 11th-ranked Erik "The Red" Denmark. Recently pulling out of the event, first-ranked eater Joey Chestnut will not be competing. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a staple for drum corps during the annual Summer Music Games Tour consuming more than 42,500 loaves of bread, 20,000 lbs. of peanut butter, and 25,000 lbs. of jelly to feed the combined 5,000 drum corps performers and their staff members in one summer. Festivities at Knott's Berry Farm (8039 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, CA) begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 8. Drum corps fans: Buy discounted tickets to Knott's Berry Farm to take part in the festivities. Major League Eating (MLE), the world governing body of all stomach-centric sports, conducts more than 70 events annually, including the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, N.Y. The competitive eating community, which numbers more than 8,000 veteran and rookie athletes, travels the nation in search of top titles and the glory that they provide.