They rule: Whoever finished at the bottom of the league that season had to spend 24 hours in a Waffle House. For every waffle eaten, one hour of the total time would be removed.
While trying to finish off so many waffles on January 3, Carsley also found a way to turn the penalty into a reward.
The challenge that was alive among his friends led to donations being raised for his Waffle House server. In the end, she received more than $ 1,000.
“I will do it again,” Carsley said in an interview with CNN. “The punishment was absolutely awful, but it was worth more than anything.”
The bet
Carsley, a 32-year-old salesman at Parsons Roofing just north of Atlanta, is part of a fiery group of 12 fantasy footballers.
After finishing in last place, Carsley warned his Facebook friends about his impending eating challenge.
He heard from those who want to help with the page, who according to him ‘was very stupid for people to throw my money for a waffle’.
Instead, he felt it would be better donated to servers that struggled with fewer customers during the Covid-19 pandemic. He posted his Venmo account name and offered to friends to sign up.
A few volunteered to sit with him as he went through the challenge, including league member “degenerate” Mike Reich and Brett Hessler, who joined him the entire time.
Carsley said that if he could eat 21 waffles, the adventure would end neatly within three hours. He could have handed out the challenge over a longer period of time, but he did not want to spend the whole day there.
Having never eaten so much food in one meeting, he soon discovered what it would entail.
The kick-off
Mosammat Shumi, an 11-year-old minister at Waffle House, arrived that Sunday morning like no other. She is a constant institution during the early shift, and also cares for new patrons and regular residents.
Waffle House, the chain of 24-hour dinners loved throughout the Southeast and Middle East, is known for its busy weekend breakfast.
That Sunday was no exception, not even during the pandemic. Plexiglas dividers extend to the ceiling to separate each stand from each other and masks are worn when someone leaves their table.
As Shumi Carsley and his friends approach, she quickly becomes aware that their table will be different.
In an interview with CNN, Shumi recalled that he was surprised when he heard about their day ahead.
“He told me, ‘I have to eat 20 waffles.’ “And I said, ‘Are you sure?’
Carsley wanted to assure Shumi that he would not fill the hockey all day, and told her that they would take care of her at the end of the challenge.
“I thought about it, we might be able to raise $ 100, $ 200,” he said.
Carsley started with a set of seven waffles, which he polished in less than 30 minutes. No syrup or spices were added to his waffles, to make room for the rest in his stomach.
His Facebook livestream captured the entire ordeal, seen from a distance among his friends. When he ordered a second set of seven waffles, the viewers climbed into the tens. Warnings from his Venmo account lit up as the pool of money increased.
“It grew exponentially. First it was $ 60, then $ 150, then $ 200, almost $ 300,” he said.
The donations ranged from a few dollars to double-digit amounts, which were piled up in a similar way to the waffle stacks in front of him.
The second half
The task itself of eating the waffles soon struck Carsley. He hits the proverbial wall halfway through his ninth waffle.
“All hope, all hope has faded,” he said. “My confidence was a highlight of all time, and after my first seven I had no hope.”
The livestream video shows the pain on his face with every bite, as everyone online and at the table realizes that his ambitious 21 waffle brand would be nearly impossible.
Carsley’s pace crept to a halt. Finally, he finishes the second set of waffles after almost four hours. Viewers and those in hockey discussed whether it was worth it to create an alternative bet and eliminate the waffling challenge.
And yes, unlike more infamous eating challenges, he may use the toilet.
“I felt bad for him,” Shumi said. When she realized he was not kidding about the amount of food he planned to eat, she wished she could “make him some thin waffles sooner.”
But over time, the sum of the waffles he had to take decreased, and with the finish line in sight, Carsley came together.
“From there it was just, let’s get done,” he said.
The payout
The news of the challenge soon spread around the dining room and Carsley said other customers discovered the donation scheme and left bigger tips themselves.
“A lot of people started paying it out after seeing what we’re doing.”
Sometimes he would dip waffles in water, like professional hot dog eaters, and Carsley would enter the home area.
“It was the most miserable thing I’ve ever put through my body,” he said.
“I like waffles, especially from Waffle House, but I do not know if I will take a waffle again,” he added.
In a muted celebration, the obstacle was finally removed. The final score: 18 waffles consumed. Almost six hours time. A tab of $ 49.
And most importantly, more than 90 donations of $ 1,040, without Shumi knowing it.
In the livestream video, Carsley holds the fee amount for his friends to watch. He drew the slip and handed it to Shumi, who said, “Oh my God! Really? Are you really?”
They thanked each other a lot, while Carsley said to her, “We wanted to do something for me today.”
Overcome with emotion, hands on her face, she says, “I can not believe it! Thank you!”
Carsley told CNN the moment for him was “remarkably moving” and said: “It was invaluable. One of the better feelings I’ve ever had. ‘
Days later, the appreciation and disbelief in Shumi’s voice matched what was heard in the live stream. “I’m still shocked. I talked to my family and everyone.”
She talked about how difficult it was last year, and it gave her relief that things were starting to turn around for her.
Shumi has not yet received the fee, she said as it was processed and verified by Waffle House. However, she has already made plans for her four-digit gratuity.
She spoke heartily about her mother and family in Bangladesh, whom she had not seen for three years. Her plane ticket, like the right way to order hash browns with cheese, is now covered.
“Once in a lifetime,” says Shumi, the smile under her mask still lingering. “I do not know how to explain it. There is so much happiness. ‘
As for the next fantasy football season and to avoid a repetitive action, Carsley laughed when he was reminded of what initially got him in trouble, while being loyal to his hometown team when he selected players.
“If you’re in a fantasy league,” he says, “you have to get away to draft someone from the Hawks.”