Big Wing Bowl 17 news: Only local amateurs allowed!

Choke on this, Joey Chestnut.

Wing Bowl, Philadelphia's annual gluttonfest, the biggest celebration of heavage and cleavage since Rome's gladiator smackdowns, "the biggest annual promotion in radio in America," will be a local-amateurs-only event once again, WIP (610 AM) sports yakker Angelo Cataldi proclaimed this morning.

"No pros! We kicked them all out!" he bellowed.

That means you, Chestnut, winner the last three years, and other recent champs Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas (2004 winner) and five-time winner Bill "El Wingador" Simmons.

Tickets for the Jan. 30 event will go on sale through ComcastTix.com the morning of Dec. 15, Cataldi said.

The cost has not yet been determined.

Spurred by the 25,000 fans who attended last year, "this year we have decided to do something dramatic about Wing Bowl," Cataldi said to cohost Al Morganti, "This year, Al, we are going back to the roots of Wing Bowl."

"We got rid of all the pros that came in from out of town," said Morganti, who came up with Wing Bowl so frustrated Eagles fans could have some fun during Super Bowl week. "We decided to make it all Philadelphia and go neighborhood."

The contest grew every year, the crowds increasing, the opening processions becoming wilder, the prizes rising in value and new records being set nearly yearly. National TV shows and even the New York Times covered the event.

Last year, Chestnut destroyed his own record of 180 wings by devouring a ridiculous 241.

The top eater will win a new car, a 2009 Mini Cooper Clubman, courtesy of Mini of the Main Line. The car has "a little extra room for friends and cargo" compared to the regular Mini, according to the carmaker's website.

"Cool and fuel-efficient," Cataldi said.

In addition, the contestant with the best entourage will win a vacation "for 12!" from Apple Vacations, Cataldi exclaimed.

"Have you taken your meds this morning?" jabbed Rhea Hughes, another WIP cohost.

One of the Wingettes - those comely lasses who serve saucy chicken parts to the face-stuffing slobs - will earn the title of Miss Wing Bowl, and a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

The top eater and Miss Wing Bowl will also get some bling from Steven Singer Jewelers.

WIP would also select its first contestant today, from among "six men with a dream and a plateful of Pilgrim sandwiches."

(That's usually a combo of Thanksgiving leftovers, like turkey, cranberry sauce and stuffing.)

The usual sports-talk fare was also on the menu - like asking callers to think of "something dumber than Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the leg," Cataldi said, referring to an accident in a nightclub involving the New York Giants wide receiver.