I spent the weekend hanging with my friend Steve Meinke in Chicago.  Steve is a storyteller.  To the Nth degree.  If you are friends with him, it is simply mandatory you let him talk.  Endlessly.  And with wild abandon.

Steve’s stories range from the surreal to the unbelievable.  And with the exception of slight dramatic embellishments, they are 98% true.  The problem is Steve has no filter and no way to shorten said stories.  My kingdom for a Cliff Notes version – or, perhaps, a 25-word or less version. 

Steve’s claim to fame is that he was on MTV.  He can thank me for that.  I made his stupid audition tape.  He has parlayed that fifteen minutes of reality TV fame in to his real life.  Steve, fortunately, does not live in the past … he always has new adventures to share.

For example, ever heard of the Tour de Donut?  No?  How is that possible?  I thought Steve had told every single person on the face of the earth about this event.

Across the pond, there’s the Tour de France – the world’s most premiere biking event.  Here in America, there’s the Tour de Donut … sort of like France, but with big fried balls of dough covered in glaze.  Whoever eats the most donuts and has the fastest race time wins.  (That’s the short version … thank me later.)

Steve currently holds the #1 Tour de Donut ranking in the world … for several years running.  Yes, he’s the Lance Armstrong of competitive eating combined with competitive biking.  (How proud his mother must be.)

This Tour de Donut thing has become such a big deal that Steve has sponsors.  Yes, sponsors  — who pay him to promote their products.  (Like the water Steve uses to dip the donuts in to before wolfing them down.)

I could not even make up a story this good, people.   So you know it’s got to be true.

Not only is Steve a good biker, he’s also a complete pig.  That’s probably why he’s honed his craft and has won several of these events.  There are now THREE Tour de Donuts currently being held in the US – and Steve holds the title in all three races.

Unbelievable!  Or as they say in France – incroyable! 

Don’t believe me?  Just ask Steve … he’ll tell you.  Over and over and over and … wait for it … over and over and over.