Despite the Old Glory headband, a fake championship wrestling belt and, naturally, inspiration from Charlie Sheen, 19-year-old hometown favorite Kasey Matusovich just couldn’t couldn’t compete with “Gentleman” Joe Menchetti, who wobbled away from the table with an easy win during the annual Fat Tuesday Paczki Eating Contest at Eddy’s Bakeshop on Main Street.
Matusovich, vowing to avenge last year’s loss, entered Eddy’s while the theme from “Rocky” blared. Sporting an inexplicable black eye and wearing a white T‑shirt reading “Rock on Charlie Sheen” and “WINNING,” Matusovich raised his hands in victory before the contest began.
He then approached Menchetti to deliver a message.
“Your time is up. My time. My time,” he said, leaning over the veteran competitive eater.
Menchetti didn’t say much. He nodded.
But his answer came moments later, when the contest kicked off. Menchetti inhaled two paczkis in under a minute, then cruised to victory with 10 within five minutes.
“I coasted a little bit. I had an eleventh and a twelfth one on my plate that I could have finished,” Menchetti said.
Menchetti was zen-like when asked to share his thoughts on his young competitor.
“Maybe someday he will (beat me). I could have a really bad day and he could have a really one. You never know,” he said.
Second place went to Waterbury’s Steve Rice, who wore his lucky WPLR T‑shirt during Tuesday’s gluttony. Also on hand, unofficially representing Derby, was Markanthony Izzo.
Matusovich, meanwhile, seemed drained after the contest — physically, emotionally and perhaps spiritually.
“I thought I could do better,” he said, then looked away as paczki juice clung to his chin.
“I don’t know if I can do it again next year. Somebody else may have to come and take my place.”
