'Spamman' back for second race

By BOBBY COMMAND/ West Hawaii Today

Nike has Tiger Woods. Wheaties has Michael Jordan. Coors has John Elway. Spam has Bob H. Brubaker.

Known in the world of triathlon as "Spamman," Brubaker is visiting Kona for the second time under the flag of the much-maligned local favorite luncheon meat.

Brubaker, 47, a pastor from Ohio who now lives in Oviedo, Fla., said his close relationship with Spam began while training for the 1999 Ironman Triathlon.

"I was feeling kind of down after a working out and training," he said. "I saw some Spam and fixed some Spam and eggs and it picked me right up. So I decided to add it to my training regimen."

The self-effacing Brubaker, who played linebacker at Bowling Green University, said people began teasing him when they saw the canned meat on his training table. But instead of getting angry, he played along. And it has led to a sponsorship from the company.

"I wrote to Hormel and explained what I was doing and got a shirt and a cap," Brubaker said. "This year, when I finally got my slot, I wrote a 30-page proposal to Spam, and they said yes."

Brubaker said he has been received warmly in Hawaii, and the state's love for Spam - Hawaii is the largest per capita consumer of spam in the nation - probably has a lot to do with it.

"I've received so much love here," Brubaker said. "Every time someone sees me, I see the hang loose (shaka) sign and hear, 'Hey, Spamman!'"

He is also loved in Austin, Minn., where he was named the Grand Marshal of the Spam Jam Festival, a yearly celebration of Spam in the birthplace of sausage, pork and ham stuffed into a can.

"People come from all over the world and it's a great celebration," Brubaker said. "The Hormel people treated us like royalty, and they even provided pictures of me to autograph and pass out."

Brubaker admits Spam is not as well regarded on the mainland, but because he is an ambassador of Spam, he said his friends and acquaintances have taken a second look at the luncheon meat.

"People say 'I used to eat Spam as a kid,' or oldtimers tell me, 'I ate that during the war,'" Brubaker said. "But people who know me they tell me they've tried it again, and they say, 'hey, this is pretty good.'"

So does Brubaker eat Spam?

"I love it," he said. "My wife Jan is known as the 'Spamma'am,' and when you come to our house you usually get Spam."

Spamma'am's specialties include Mexican Spam rollup, Italian Spam spread, a Spam flavored cheesy dip and - what else? - Spam casserole.

Oh, yes: Brubaker has fallen in love with Spam musubi, and said while it's a delicacy all but exclusively Hawaiian, he knows a man in Ohio who special orders nori (seaweed) and manufactures in the heartland the noble riceball wrapped with a slice of Spam.

Brubaker said he has fun being Spamman, and tries to bring a little wit to an activity that gets a little hard-boiled at times.

"Sometimes people take themselves too seriously in this sport," Brubaker said. "But if you're the Spamman, you can't take things too seriously."

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Entrants in the Ironman Triathlon come from every walk of life.

There are police, including Anthony Pedeferri, 29, of Camarillo, Calif.; firemen, such as Nobuhiko Murata, 31, Mie Suzuka City, Japan; and mailmen, like Hans-Georg Lobbert, 51, Koblenz, Germany.

Professionals are well represented, including Craig D. Maskiell, 31, Coolum Beach, Australia, a doctor; Wayne Richey, 58, of Monterrey, Calif., a dentist; Lies Laidi, 48, of Algeria, an architect; and Takashi Onozuka, 48, of Uen, Japan, an engineer.

In fact, Ironman triathletes could probably run an entire town: Matthew Pallo, 35, of Springfield, Va., is a banker; T.J. Murphy, 37, of Brooklyn, N.Y., is a writer; Kevin Moats, 45, Atlanta, is a real estate agent, Jean Malo, 45, of Thieux, Belgium, is a mechanic.

Pierre Schmidt, 28, of Gislaved, Sweden, is one of many teachers entered in the race. He could serve as a mentor to the many older students entered, including Mattias Schneider, 29, of Germany and Tom Rickards, 30, of Melbourne, Australia.

If it's the military you're looking for, try Chris Larkin, 35, of the Air Force, Scott A. Mathews, 41, Tampa, Fla., a member of the Coast Guard, and Megan Mason, 28, Parris Island, S.C., who is, of course, a Marine.

And then there's the other end of the spectrum, including Martin Smolik, from Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, who lists his occupation as unemployed.

For a balanced look at the Ironman, ask Even Evensen, 52, of Philomath, Ore. But don't get Sherri Tongue, 39, Coquitam, Canada, talking. And you may not know where John J. Sidebottom, 31, of Victoria, Australia, is coming from. Certainly you may ask Edgar Loser, 30, of Konstanz, Germany, what it's like to go through life as one.

There aren't a whole bunch of celebrities in the Ironman Triathlon, but two are named after biggies: John Lennon, 40 of Paradise Valley, Ariz., is a business executive, not a songwriter; and Andrew Jackson, 47, of Sydney, Australia, is a mechanic who could never become President of the United States because he was born in a foreign land.

Speaking of presidents, entered in this year's race are Roosevelt (Elliot), 37 of Dallas; Nixon (Jason), 37 of Lahaina; Eisenhaur (Terry), 37, of Salina, Ks., and Kennedy (Kevin), 26, of Mountain View, Calif.

To top it off, the Whitehouse (Paula), 39, of Sydney, Australia, is entered. Look also for Adams, Grant, Hayes, Cleveland and Buchanan, to name a few others.

For a little race color, seek out Cameron T. Brown, 28, of Auckland, New Zealand; Kirstin Black, 25, of Arlington, Va.; Craig H. Blue, 36, of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; Scott Green, 29, of Balhannah, Australia; and Justine M. White, 28, of Calgary, Canada.

There's also royalty in William G. King, 58, of Phoenix; Michael J. Prince, 22, of Sydney, Australia; and Dennis Kaiser, 53, of Dillon, Colo. To protect them is David A. Knight, 36, of Mid Levels, Hong Kong.

And for those seeking spiritual guidance, your answer may be found with Carmen R. Monks, 35, of Belmont, Mass.; Thomas Pastor, 39, of Duelman, Germany; or Michael Pilgrim, 34, of Kirawee, Australia.