Some competition really stinks

It's sad when a child's stinky feet can win cash.

Noah Nielsen, 10, recently beat out six other contestants from around the country in the 30th annual National Odor-Eaters Rotten Sneaker Contest in Vermont.

For his odorous effort, Nielsen won a $500 savings bond, a $100 check for new sneakers and a supply of Odor-Eaters products.

The boy says the secret to his success is never wearing socks.

"The stank was from rubbing my toes back and forth and making them sweaty," Nielsen told the Associated Press while holding the trophy in his hand.

The boy said he also played soccer and baseball in the three-year-old Adidas patched together with duct tape.

Now I'm a true fan of duct tape. But I draw the line at patching shoes with it.

"Human feet shouldn't smell that bad," judge Bill Fraser said of the winning entry.

It's a good point.

Personally, I'm glad my 9-year-old daughter, Bailey, doesn't know about this contest.

She'd probably want to sign up.

Bailey loves to wear her sneakers without socks.

Of course, I can't imagine any parent agreeing to let his or her child compete in a stinky contest.

Most responsible parents want their children to grow up and get good enough grades for a college scholarship. But we don't want our children to be labeled for bad body odor even if it does mean a cash prize.

In the week leading up to this year's stinky shoes contest, Nielsen first refused to take a bath. When his parents insisted he bathe, he dangled his feet out of the tub so they would remain thoroughly smelly.

I used to read a children's book to my girls about bad smells. It was a fun book, but I never imagined that anyone would aspire to smell bad.

I think the people in Vermont need to rethink this contest.

In a state that's famous for its tree-covered mountains, the image of stinky shoes just doesn't seem to be a good way to attract tourists unless, of course, you are seeking to attract only certain elementary school children.

At any rate, I have no plans to let Bailey enter the contest.

As a dad who would rather walk around in my socks than go barefoot, I can't imagine sticking my bare toes in any kind of shoe except sandals and then only reluctantly.

At least Bailey's shoes aren't covered in duct tape and she does wear socks on occasion.

Of course, it will soon be summer and Bailey will want to wear sandals all the time. But at least those shoes won't trap any stinky smells.

As for this boy, Nielsen, I wonder what he does with all those Odor-Easter products? I assume he doesn't use them because he was runner-up in the competition last year.

If we're not careful, this competition will one day become standard fare on ESPN. If poker is a sport, then certainly a stinky feet competition can be considered entertainment too.

People like Nielsen will one day want to compete professionally. Why, there could be a whole league of competitors who would sport stinky sneakers in an effort to win prize money at bad-odor events around the world.

This could prompt more people to hold onto their old tennis shoes until they are falling apart. But then a whole lot more people will be investing in air fresheners even outdoors in Vermont.

Mark Bliss is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.