Snow On The Barb Wire: A True Story Of Triumph, Tragedy And Redemption

After winning Philadelphia’s SportsRadio 94WIP’s Wing in January 1999, competitive eater Bill “El Wingador” Simmons became an overnight celebrity and helped inspire food-obsessed gluttons across the nation.

However, despite winning four more Wing championships, and participating in numerous television commercials and public appearances across the country, there was much more going on behind the scenes in the life of this six-foot-five, larger-than-life character than what appeared on his plate.

Personal setbacks soon forced Simmons down a devastating and destructive road, leading to his subsequent arrest and jail sentence. A series of near-death experiences while in prison inspired Simmons to take control of his life, and his newfound path has helped him regain the love and respect of legions of fans.

With a foreword by two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee and iconic Philadelphia sports radio personality Angelo Cataldi (Angelo Cataldi and the WIP Morning Show- SportsRadio 94WIP), Snow On The Barbwire offers a no-holds-barred look at the life and times of one of the most charismatic, recognizable and colorful personalities to ever conquer the eating world. The book is co-written with close friend and confidant Joe Vallee, co-founder of the website Philly2Philly.com and co-author of A Snowball’s Chance: Philly Fires Back Against the National Media, and ‘No Curveballs: My Greatest Sports Stories Never Told,’ the autobiography of long-time sports journalist Bill Werndl.

'Snow On The Barbwire' is more than just the story of a man eating chicken wings. It is the candid, compelling tale of a man whose random participation in one of the world’s biggest eating competitions led to fame, fortune, and some rather unintended consequences. It inspires all of us to rise up against adversity and never give up on life—no matter how dire the consequences may seem.

• Snow on the Barb Wire.