It's a pretty astounding feat that's hard to digest. Very hard to digest, apparently.

The Yankees may be the kings of baseball and the Broncos are the elite of football, but Jericho resident Russell Machover became the undisputed world champion of matzo balls on Tuesday, February 2 by cramming almost 17 of the Ben's Deli specialty down his throat in a frighteningly frenzied fashion.

Machover, 41, a husband and father of two, stunned a strangely intrigued crowd gathered at the Manhattan location of Ben's Deli as he brazenly devoured the spongy spheres without pause, defeating two other finalists, both of whom were bigger in stature than he. For his gastronomical efforts, he won a $2,500 gift certificate to an electronic store.

More than that, however, he seems to have won himself a legendary status within the Jericho community. "We think he did a great job. Everybody in the street waves at him and says, "Hey! The matzo ball king!" said Nate Topple, local neighbor.

Seeking even more recognition, Machover even phoned matzo ball companies seeking commercial endorsements. His pitch, however, didn't go over particularly well. After speaking to one company representative, "The guy thought I was off the wall," said Machover.

Explained Machover, "I'm not even looking for the money, just notoriety."

It never is.

But he'll always have the memories of his glorious day, of which he is not ashamed to boast. "It's a source of self-esteem, of self-pride. It felt like I was a teenager again," said Machover. "I take it very, very seriously. It was very tough competition."

Indeed it was. Machover, convinced by his son Ike and daughter Alexandria to enter the contest - they had gone to a local Ben's Deli and saw an ad for the contest - and supported by his wife Peggy, first had to make a good showing in Ben's local qualifying round, and an ensuing run-off round.

Then came the call. The call we all fantasize about from time to time - making it to the matzo ball finals. "It was a joke in the beginning, but once I learned I made it to the finals I started to take it seriously. I decided, I don't care if this is ear wax candlemaking I'm going to bring a trophy home for my kids!" said Machover.

On the day of the finals, supported by family and friends, Machover sat beside his opponents hoping while he quickly devoured his matzo balls, the competition would eat his dust.

Instead it was Machover who found himself falling behind. His slice and stuff method - chopping the matzo balls into halves and swallowing them whole - which worked so effectively in the earlier rounds, wasn't cutting it. So the quick-thinking man improvised a new technique. "I just picked up the whole thing and squished it up and swallowed them," taking only little sips of water in between because, he noted, "These things expand in your belly."

"I was like a machine," said Machover, recalling his savage feeding frenzy. He recalled his wife giving him Lamaze-type coaching as he closed his eyes and simply stuffed himself.

After 5:25, Machover had eaten 11 1/8 matzo balls, just enough to force a sudden-death playoff (which in this sport probably can be taken quite literally).

The rules stated that Machover needed to hold himself together for at least five minutes before expelling his meal. Once those five minutes were up, that's when the cameras started flashing.

The final run-off lasted 2:50, during which Machover gorged himself with an additional 5 1/2 matzo balls to win the championship.

One might think, upon learning of Machover's family history, that he came in with an advantage. "I was raised in a kosher home. We're conservative Jewish," he explained. But typically, he added, "I don't eat a lot of matzo balls."

Well, he more than made up for that in one day.