T-E-A-M Teeeeeeeam Drink!

(Tim's the devil)

You have stumbled across the Home Page of Surfin' Chili, arguably one of the greatest teams ever to compete in the NASA/JSC chili cookoffs in the 1990's. Coming soon: more pictures of drunks in action.

DISCLAIMER: Contrary to what you might have read elsewhere, Surfin' Chili is not THE "official NASA chili cookoff team" (Yahoo! screwed up our listing ages ago). We are, however, one of the teams that competes in one of the NASA-sponsored cookoffs in Houston. Just wanted to make that clear.

Surfin' Chili came into existence one drunken night in the Spring of 1990. According to Tim Griffiths, one of the team's founding members, "I think it was just one of those things where we were drinking for team name inspiration, and somebody said, 'What the hell, let's call ourselves Surfin' Chili.'" Like most stupid names, it stuck. We took as a mascot a chili pepper surfing backwards on a wave. (Well, no one really noticed it until it was too late, anyway.) And a legend was born.

Tim also supplied us with the team cheers (see top of page). "I brought the cheer 'T-E-A-M TEEEEEEEAM DRINK' with me from PA. We began doing it at college during games of Pass Out. Anytime someone landed on All Drink, the cheer would ring out. I employed it often (especially at softball games). Hence that's why all of our softball teams were named Team Drink. It may have been there, or a party somewhere, but after a Team Drink cheer, someone said 'Tim's the Devil' and it stuck. So no matter when or where the cheer took place, someone always had to state 'Tim's the devil' after a cheer."

The Surfin' Chili FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Who is SURFIN' CHILI?
   
   SURFIN' CHILI is a conglomeration of many JSC organizations and our friends from outside JSC. Many different directorates are represented: Mission Operations (DT, DM, DX), International Space Station Program Office (OM, OC), Engineering (EC, ES), Flight Crew Operations (CB), Space and Life Sciences (SA), Shuttle Program Office (MV) and Financial (LI) all have SURFIN' CHILI team representation. As for companies represented we have NASA, United Space Alliance (USA), Boeing, Tech Trans International (TTI), and others outside the JSC community. We truly represent cooperation and coordination of all areas of JSC and support the community outreach!
   
   
2. Who makes those fine SURFIN' CHILI shirts?
   
   One of the primary events each year is the SURFIN' CHILI tie-dye party, where we make our own shirts. We are not only smart (shown by working at NASA), but creative too.
   
   
3. Who sponsors SURFIN' CHILI?
   
   WE DO! Unlike many newer teams, SURFIN' CHILI has been around since 1990. We have no corporate sponsorship, no department slush fund, and we fund all events by contribution. We are doing this for the love of the cookoff and it keeps our voice free and untainted!
   
   
4. That's a cool booth, how did you get it like that?
   
   Thank you. SURFIN' CHILI has the only approved 2-story booth in the cookoff. Any future 2-story booths require prior approval. We like to call that the SURFIN' CHILI RULE. (Another example of excellent NASA engineering talent.)
   
   
5. Have any other rules been passed at a chili cookoff based on what Surfin' Chili did?
   
   Yes, back in 1991 we had our "Scud Missile" water balloon launcher at the Rockwell chili cookoff. For the 1992 cookoff, they included a rule which stated: "No object may be propelled through the air or on the ground that could cause a hazard to the team cooking areas, participants, or the public. This includes, but is not limited to, activities such as "Scud" water balloon strikes that occurred at last year's cookoff."
   
   
6. How does SURFIN' CHILI do in the games?
   
   SURFIN' CHILI won Space Trivia 4 years in a row, unprecedented in the history of the cookoff! We always participate in every game and often place in all of them: 23 game ribbons since 1990; 9 timeShowmanship trophy winners. SURFIN' CHILI skits are always entertaining and cover the range of recent NASA and world events.
   
   
7. What's your special propaganda?
   
   SURFIN' CHILI is a team of trendsetters - we were the first team to have tie-dye shirts (1991), first with a web page (1996), first Jell-O Shot Twister games (1997), first "Burma-shave" signs (1998), first to make a 2-story booth with Mardi gras beads from the balcony (2000), first to give out tattoos (2001), first Jell-O Delivery System (JDS), to aid in the distribution of Jell-O shots. Look for our tattoo parlor, clever flyers, eye catching shirts (you can always find the tie-dyes), and of course our energetic team members.
   
   
8. So why does SURFIN' CHILI deserve showmanship trophy?
   
   SURFIN' CHILI is a true representation of what the cook-off is all about. Teamwork, Fair play, Enthusiasm, Community Involvement, Multi-division interaction, Good clean fun, and of course chili. And we Lei'd the judges!
   
   
9. What's the deal with a surfing chili pepper, where did that come from?
   
   Surfin' Chili came into existence one drunken night in the Spring of 1990. It was just one of those things where we were drinking for team name inspiration, and somebody said, "What the hell, let's call ourselves Surfin' Chili." Like most stupid names, it stuck. We took as a mascot a chili pepper surfing backwards on a wave - it wasn't supposed to be backwards, but no one noticed it until it was too late.
   
   
10. What's the team cheer? And who's Tim?
    
    Co-founder Tim Griffiths brought the cheer with him from Pennsylvania. It began at college during games of "Pass Out". Anytime someone landed on "All Drink", the cheer would ring out. Tim employed it often, especially at JSC softball games - their softball teams were usually named Team Drink. It may have been there, or a party somewhere, but after a Team Drink cheer, someone said "Tim's the Devil" and it stuck. So no matter when or where the cheer took place, someone always had to state "Tim's the devil" after a cheer.
    
    T-E-A-M TEEEEAAAM DRINK! (tim's the devil)
    

Surfin' Chili Awards

For the two or three of you out there who care, here's a summary list of the trophies, ribbons, and awards won by the Surfin' Chili team over the years:

Event	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
Showmanship (FOD)		2	1		2		2	2			3	2	1	2
People's Choice Chili (FOD)
Judge's Choice Chili (FOD)
Best New Team	1
Grapefruit Pass	1	2	2					2	3			3	1	1
Pyramid Build	1	1	1	3		2	1		3	3
Space Trivia	3		3		3	3				1	1	1	1	2
Beer Chug						2
Jalapeno Eating
Spoon Pass							2	1	2	1	2		3
Storefront (RSOC)					1
Judge's Choice Chili (RSOC)					3
People's Choice Chili (RSOC)

RSOC Chili Cookoff ran 1990-1995 and only offered awards for chili and storefront, no games.

1990: FOD Best New Team was a special award, never given before or since.

1996: Judge's Choice travelling trophy renamed in honor of Gene Ross.

2002: People's Choice trophy renamed in honor of Bill Preston.

2002: From 2002-present, small trophies awarded for games (through 2001, ribbons were awarded).

2004: Team did not participate. Due to rain, there were no awards for grapefruit pass, spoon drop, or pyramid build.

2005: Cookoff was held offsite. There were no games and no People's Choice.