Barbecuing conjures up thoughts of languid, weekend afternoons, surrounded by friends and family, enjoying the day awaiting a meal that’s tasty, tangy and, if done right, downright messy. However, there lurks a more intense world of barbecuers—teams of men and women with names like Natural Born Grillers, Barefoot in the Pork and Grills Gone Wild who have turned backyard barbecuing into a competitive sport. In THE GRILL OF VICTORY , Bill Brohaugh provides a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at the passionate pork enthusiasts that people these events, including the Superbowl of Swine, the Memphis in May barbecue competition. Brohaugh, a BBQ judge for more than fifteen years on the Memphis In May circuit, evokes the whole sensory experience--the smell of meat slow-cooking for hours, the sight of smoke rising from the pit or grill, and, ultimately, the smoky, spicy taste of the "’cue" itself. He also regales readers with tales of the personalities and characters who cook 'cue competitively, with scraps of travelogue, food history, and barbecue tall tales served on the side.