Pittmasters - JohnnyTrigg's Parkay, Brown Sugar and Honey

[SoEzzy]

I hear you SierraScott, but do you listen to the fans attacking the contestants, or would it matter more if the contestants were doing the attacking... if it's within the rules and everyone can make their choice who is to say that my opinion about selling out is right and yours is wrong.

Unless you've competed and never ever changed anything, what weight does your opinion carry.

I've judge a dozen contests, and competed in only three, but in those three, we've change the flavor profile, on a couple of our meats, we're ready to come out and compete again this year, we'll see how we go, but without the changes that we made last year, we wouldn't have finished as well as we did, nothing earth shattering, but we started to get reasonable scores in all category's, if it continues we will be happy, if it doesn't work I wouldn't be surprised if we don't change it some more!

Does that make us bad or not worthy of winning... I don't think so but everyone else's opinions may slaughter us, I really don't care all that much.

Come stand in my shoes and walk a mile or a thousand miles in them, then give me your opinion, that's all I'll say on the whole thing.
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Here's a change Robert.

I still work here!

[caliel]

What is the thing with "sell out" ... we all sell out every day. I love what I do for a living, but I compromise my ideal way of doing things with my client's needs all the time. Then they pay me money.

If you have a job you are a sell out.
If you have a business you are a sell out.
If you have a spouse you are damn sure a sell out.

I cannot think of one avenue in life where virtually everyone doesn't exchange their preferred way of doing things or schedule for doing things or some other aspect if their own "way" to accommodate others or gain approval/accolades/money or something.

If anyone here lives in a nirvana where they always get to do exactly what they want, when they want and how they want with complete disregard for others I would be interested in signing up for classes. On your schedule naturally.

[SierraScott]

Well hat's off to ya for getting in the ring and duking it out in the comps. My railing here is not about "Comps SUCK and so do all the people that do them". That's not my attitude. It's about the lengths people go to to win. It seems to me to be so far away from the foundations of what I learned about BBQ, at least thru the prism of the TV show. One other thing we don't see here are the techniques of the other competitors that win when the showcased PitMasters lose. Maybe they are winning based on a more traditional and simplistic approach.
BBQ doesn't have to be so complicated.

As far as changing recipes and adjusting seasons goes that seems to just come with the territory in every cooking endevor. We have come a long way since salt was the only spice known to man.
It's all a huge gamble in the comps. It's odds like playing roulette to win. You could go simple salt and pepper in a comp and have your six ribs put on a table of judges and get all 9's and in the same comp they could end up on a table that will only score you 4's. I understand this. I know that covering the middle ground with the seasoning and presentation is key to winning cuz you just can't take that huge a risk every weekend at a comp. If I drop a couple grand to win 3 back, and not cover my arse in the middle ground, I'm just stupid. BUT at what point do I push that to far to win for my own taste? If I get to the point where I disagree with what it takes to win but do it any... What does that say about me? I must conclude that I can't do that to myself and think I still have pride. Go back and look at Triggs face in that episode where he say's he doesn't like the ribs he's sending out. He likes salt and pepper and heavy smoke. He's getting that little tug of pride, but winning means more.

It's been said that every man has a price. And it's almost certainly true. How much is it? Only you know for sure when it's your turn. But once you know what that price is and you cross that line, then "Sell Out" is the tag you wear. And that is my whole point here.
Before people start chasing their own tails to figure out all the next bigoverthetop comp tricks from this show, let's ask ourselves if what's happening is a bit excessive or even necessary. This was the crux of the first post that I "HiJacked" (Sorry Cal-B-Que) was about.

Hat's off to the guys that compete. It's huge task and challenge, I'm sure. Hope you don't miss interpret what I'm getting at here. I knew I was gonna take some darts and maybe not make new friends. But I stand my ground on certain things and I hope you understand where I'm coming from.

Best of luck to ya all!
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Scott

Custom Built Upright Smoker
Weber One Touch Silver 22.5"
CharBroil Silver Smoker

[SierraScott]

[txluke]

[caliel]

[SierraScott]