El Wingador will not be part of Wing Bowl 21, Cataldi confirms
Five-time Wing Bowl champ Bill "El Wingador" Simmons will not be part of WIng Bowl 21 on Feb. 1, says 94 WIP morning host, Angelo Cataldi. Simmons is awaiting trial on a charge of cocaine distribution following his arrest last June in Gloucester County. "We all owe a debt to Bill for what he has done for our event," Cataldi said Tuesday. "But I think for his benefit that his role be downplayed while he's working things out with the courts."
El Wingador will not be part of Wing Bowl 21, Cataldi confirms
Dan Gross
Five-time Wing Bowl champ Bill "El Wingador" Simmons will not be part of this year's 21st annual celebration of gluttony and strippers Feb. 1, says 94 WIP morning host, Angelo Cataldi.
"We all owe a debt to Bill for what he has done for our event," Cataldi said Tuesday.
"But I think for his benefit that his role be downplayed while he's working things out with the courts," continued Cataldi, who wrote a letter on behalf of Simmons for his bail hearing.
"To bring him up on stage could invite negativity that we don't want. You know how our crowds are. He might not be met as the hero, which he is at Wing Bowl," Cataldi said, adding, "There will never be a time when I don't acknowledge his benefit."
Simmons said that he will not attend Wing Bowl 21, at the Wells Fargo Center, the first time in 15 years that he will miss the event. Simmons said that he's not mad at Cataldi or anyone else at the station but that since he hasn't been convicted of anything, it isn't right to discriminate against him.
"I tortured myself trying to be the best at what I do, but it's their game, it's their rules," Wingador said.
Simmons has already retired from competing in Wing Bowl, which WIP sponsors, but insists, "If I really wanted to, I could train my butt off and still place in the top 3 in America."
As for his drug charge, Simmons said, "I got caught up in some stupid s---," but added that his attorneys advised he not comment.
What could Cataldi write that would help Simmons? "Dear Judge, this is a fine man because he eats a lot of wings. I see him once a year and he helped me grow a stupid eating event into a nationally known event. Thanks."— Phillies2008WSChamps- That's really a dumb comment. Go watch your parade tape again.— Joe Scarpati
