Was I cheated out of successful a pickle juice chugging contest? An SB Nation investigation

Chelsea Manning. Edward Snowden. Actuality Winner. American historical past is outlined by brave whistleblowers who refused to remain silent once they witnessed injustice. After I purchased a ticket to observe the Portland Pickles, a collegiate wooden bat summer season league baseball staff in Oregon, I by no means thought my identify would enter into the historical past books.

On Saturday evening, after taking my seat alongside the left area fence, two staff staffers approached and requested if I’d be focused on collaborating in a pleasant contest through the center of the third inning. Feeling uncharacteristically up for it, I signed the paperwork and steeled myself for competitors.

The Pickles, identified for his or her eccentric social media presence and pickle-themed ballpark, are an affordable and in style attract a metropolis that embraces all issues offbeat. Appropriately, the problem I’d signed up for was a pickle juice chugging contest. For the quickest fan to down a full pint of brine was an illustrious award: a free ice cream sandwich.

On the prime of the third I made my solution to the press field/bar/celebration deck, and because the third out landed in an outfielder’s mitt, a staffer arrived with a desk and 4 pints of neon inexperienced pickle juice. I sized up my competitors and tried to let the hours of Badlands Chugs movies I’d watched move via me. The vinegary scent of the pickle juice within the scorching summer season air twirled its solution to my nostrils: by my estimation this juice was sourced from a jar of crinkle-cut dill sandwich slices. Not my choice, however nonetheless quaffable.

The competition was a blur. I used to be unnerved by the temperature of the liquid which I’d estimate to be about 60 levels. Nonetheless, I used to be impressed by my velocity and stamina, and as I dropped the glass to the desk I seen I’d been beat by mere milliseconds by the individual to my proper. Defeated, I shook their hand and bought a comfort ice cream sandwich.

However upon reviewing footage of the occasion, I used to be shaken by a number of discoveries that decision into query the integrity of the complete competitors. I really feel an obligation to defend myself in gentle of those revelations.

Observing an in depth photograph of the desk seconds earlier than the juice was chugged, there’s a clear drawback.

Cup 2, belonging to me, is considerably extra full than the opposite three. Cup 1, belonging to the eventual winner, is by my estimation about 85-90% crammed, the liquid topping out on the midpoint between the lip and the ridge of the highest of the cup. 3 and 4 are comparatively the identical. However the brine in Cup 2 is almost touching the rim of the vessel. In a contest the place fractions of a second matter, it is a clear drawback. Was this merely an trustworthy mistake the place I used to be the unfortunate celebration, or was one thing extra sinister at play?

Upon reviewing video footage, I used to be delivered to my knees by one other beautiful discovery: the winner presumably jumped the gun and commenced chugging early. Assessment the footage your self.

Upon spectral evaluation of the audio waveform alongside video, you possibly can clearly see because the phrase “go” is uttered, the eventual winner has already touched the cup to their lips. Even when they have been in a position to time their sip begin completely, people have a pure response time that should be accounted for. Simply final 12 months hurdler Devon Allen was disqualified on the World Championships for a phantom false begin identical to this. In a good competitors, that is thought of a disqualification. It’s beautiful the judges let this slip by them.

I don’t think about myself a hero. I’m only a common, on a regular basis citizen involved with the integrity of one in every of our most cherished American traditions: chugging competitions. If regular folks such as you and I can’t really feel assured in one thing so simple as this, how can we belief in science, our justice system, or democracy itself?