Nearly three days after the ESPN Zone "Ultimate Couch Potato" contest kicked off New Year's Day morning at 11:00 a.m., Baltimore tabbed its co-champions: former St. Mary's College of Maryland men's soccer standout, 23-year old Alex Pyzik '07, and 26-year old Jessica Mosley of Arlington, Va.

The duo set an unofficial world record for most continuous hours of televised sports watching at 70 hours, 45 seconds, besting Suresh Joachim's 2005 mark of 69 hours, 48 minutes.  The contest at Baltimore ended at 9:00 am on January 4.  Both Pyzik and Mosley will have the opportunity to defend the their title next year.

However, on the official ESPN Zone press release, Mosley is listed as the official winner because contest officials needed one winner in order to award the main prize which was the two round-trip tickets on AirTran Airways to anywhere in the continental U.S. and a 42-inch 1080p LCD HDTV and premium wall mount installation by certified home theater professionals care of Zip Installation.

The Bel Air, Md. native explained, "You could technically say that I conceded the title.  I wanted the world record out of the competition and she wanted the plane tickets so she needed to be the official winner." 

Pyzik left with the rest of the loot which was the "Ultimate Couch Potato" champion jersey, a DreamSeat recliner, a year's subscription to ESPN The Magazine, a year's supply of ESPN Zone game cards and $200 in ESPN Zone gift certificates as well as ESPN Zone's Ultimate Couch Potato trophy featuring a real live spud.  All participants also received V-MODA headphones and ESPN Zone gift packs.

ESPN Zone's annual "Ultimate Couch Potato" contest took place in New York, Chicago, and Baltimore, where four competitors at each location squared off to see who could watch the most continuous hours of televised sports.  The contest originated in Chicago seven years ago.

Contestants were required to remain in one of ESPN Zone's DreamSeats at all times, a set of recliner chairs located in the front row of the sports mecca's "Screening Room."  A wall of HDTVs aired non-stop sports programming until the last contestant threw in the towel.  Participants were able to order unlimited food and beverages, but were not allowed to sleep or leave their chair; restroom breaks were permitted every eight hours.

Pyzik was selected as one of the 12 finalists after his essay describing why he has what it takes to become ESPN Zone's Ultimate Couch Potato was picked.  The essays were judged on passion for sports, competitive spirit and overall creativity.

25-year old Jeff Miller captured Chicago's seventh annual event by watching 39 hours, 2 minutes and 25 seconds of sports.  New York's second annual event went to 47-year old Stan Friedman, who won his second straight title after just 19 hours, 48 minutes, and 18 seconds worth of continuous sports.