Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

[biological warrior]

The 4th of July brings again one of America's greatest traditions. That's right today marks the annual rite of passage: The annual Hot Dog eating cntest is once again here. A contest of wills and endurance. Kobayashi is once again the favorite but we Americans have a few young prospects which may give him a run for his money. I'll make a bold prediction: Kobayashi will fall and America will once again return to glory and return what is rightfully ours.

[General Mike]

Nothing beats a good freak show.

[CraigSca]

I'm watching it - in HD. Finally, the HD format is truly tested by an event that is worthy.

Bring the title back to the States, Chestnut!

[Cringer]

HD?

That's excellent.

Chestnut, am American? Go man go!

[Schmidty]

Go Chestnut!!

[CraigSca]

28 hot dogs in 4+ mins?! omg!

[CraigSca]

Chestnut 35
Kobayashi 33

at the half

[CraigSca]

The most exciting 12 minutes in sports. :D

[Cringer]

Chestnut, is a nut compared to Kobayashi, who is just so calm looking all the time.

[hukarez]

Wow! 42 a piece! Wonder what happens if they tie at end of regulation?

[Bearcat729]

Watching this is really disturbing

[CraigSca]

Bah...Chestnut can't keep up :(

[Cringer]

It's over, I don't think Chestnut can catch him now.

[General Mike]

Chestnut's done. :(

[hukarez]

Woo! 40 more seconds!

[Schmidty]

Nice try dude. :(

[General Mike]

New World record.

[Cringer]

"Joey Chestnut is a great American."

Best part of the hole broadcast right there.

[Easy Mac]

once again, the american is overrated and loses to a foreigner

[hukarez]

Wow...

Really thought Chestnut was going to win this, until they tacked on 2 more for Kobayashi. Good grief!

[ISiddiqui]

Kobayashi is freaking beast.

[Cringer]

once again, the american is overrated and loses to a foreigner

Better then Kobayashi winning by 15 dogs though.

[biological warrior]

Were closing in on him. Kobayashi's dominance will end next year, we just need to game plan this better and spend more time on the buffet lines in vegas.

[FrogMan]

Were closing in on him. Kobayashi's dominance will end next year, we just need to game plan this better and spend more time on the buffet lines in vegas.

so you're part of the challenger's training team, interesting...

FM

[FBPro]

Loved it, only saw the last 15 minutes though...the meat of the show. :)

[colt45]

"Joey Chestnut is a great American."

Best part of the hole broadcast right there.


I fully agree.
But I could have done without all the gagging shots. Jeez, made me want to hurl. And then have a hot dog.

[CraigSca]

Chestnut would have won if he were not forced to use 5 minute quarters.

[cthomer5000]

Kobayashi can't be stopped. He's like Mike Tyson in his prime.

[FrogMan]

you mean, he's eating ears too???

FM

[stevew]

Kobayashi can't be stopped. He's like Mike Tyson in his prime.
Yeah, like Sampras on Centre Court.

[Samdari]

Watching this is really disturbing

They had it on tv in the restaurant where I was having lunch.

I won't be eating hot dogs any time soon.

[QuikSand]

So, is this reflective of the general sentiment -- that this particular event is a showcase for American patroitism? We watched, and were put off by all the absurd homerism spewed by the ESPN gang... but it looks like many were lapping it up.

I don't see any reason why not to root for Kobayahi. He's tremendous, I don't really care what language he speaks.

[CraigSca]

In some circles, Kobayashi is bigger than Brock Sheriff.

[ISiddiqui]

So, is this reflective of the general sentiment -- that this particular event is a showcase for American patroitism? We watched, and were put off by all the absurd homerism spewed by the ESPN gang... but it looks like many were lapping it up.

Well, it is on July 4th.

[MizzouRah]

I ate 3 hotdogs yesterday... then I took a nap.

I do not see how those guys can eat all of those.

[Grammaticus]

Did anybody barf?

[st.cronin]

Did anybody barf?

Do you mean the contestants? I'm pretty sure they all did.

[rkmsuf]

Do you mean the contestants? I'm pretty sure they all did.

barfing during the competition is automatic disqualification

if was funny watching the final two guys try and get down the last bites after the gun. they had to for their last couple of dogs to count

[wade moore]

So, is this reflective of the general sentiment -- that this particular event is a showcase for American patroitism? We watched, and were put off by all the absurd homerism spewed by the ESPN gang... but it looks like many were lapping it up.

I don't see any reason why not to root for Kobayahi. He's tremendous, I don't really care what language he speaks.

I know this is not a show that you probably watch, but the show "True Life" on MTV did an episode sometime in the fall on "extreme eaters". They had Kobayashi, some "masked" american guy who was trying to qualify for Nathan's, and some guy who was trying to compete in his first extreme eating event.

The portion of it about Kobayashi was fascinating. It seems odd because of what his profession is, but I gained a ton of respect for him. This is his life, and I don't know that you can say that about any of the Americans. I mean, before the event yesterday it showed Chestnut works in construction, etc, etc. This is not his life, it's a side game.

Anyway. Anyone who is interested, I would recommend searching for the episode of True Life on your TiVO because it showed what a dedicated machine Kobayashi is.

[KWhit]

Not to be a hater, but I have no idea why there is any kind of fascination with this.

The last thing I want to see is clips of some a-hole stuffing 20 pounds of meat down their throat. And yet the damn clips of it are everywhere.

JUST GO AWAY EATING COMPETITIONS!

I feel a little better now.

[JeeberD]

I'm just amazed that Kobayashi is as freakin' skinny as he is...

[Huckleberry]

I don't see any reason why not to root for Kobayahi. He's tremendous, I don't really care what language he speaks.

I root for the underdog in everything. Partially because it's boring to cheer for the dominant favorite and partially because when the reigning champion loses it both shows improvement from competitors and spurs further improvement from all parties. Why would this be any different? You know, if I actually took a rooting interest.

I saw the end and Koboyashi looked like he'd been pushed harder than the other couple of times I've seen him. I had never seen him that close to yakking.

[QuikSand]

Along similar lines (re: underdog theory), I thought it pretty interesting that this Chestnut guy is apparently the first to really even approach Kobayashi in this event. Plenty of clowns there who are apparently only capable of 20-25 on their best efforts, while we *know* Kobayashi will be comfortably into the forties unless there's a lightning strike.




"What, you like the odds on lightning?"

[jbmagic]

I like to see him do that many with Dodgers dogs.

[SunDevil]

I know this is not a show that you probably watch, but the show "True Life" on MTV did an episode sometime in the fall on "extreme eaters". They had Kobayashi, some "masked" american guy who was trying to qualify for Nathan's, and some guy who was trying to compete in his first extreme eating event.

The portion of it about Kobayashi was fascinating. It seems odd because of what his profession is, but I gained a ton of respect for him. This is his life, and I don't know that you can say that about any of the Americans. I mean, before the event yesterday it showed Chestnut works in construction, etc, etc. This is not his life, it's a side game.

Anyway. Anyone who is interested, I would recommend searching for the episode of True Life on your TiVO because it showed what a dedicated machine Kobayashi is.


Yep, saw this show as well. I hope they do another one for this year. The american guy with the face paint was at Nathan's this year as well, it doesn't look like he improved all that much from the show they taped of last year's event, but he did qualify again though.

[stevew]

uh oh....

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2919838

NEW YORK -- It's like Tiger Woods tearing his rotator cuff, or LeBron James blowing out his knee. Takeru Kobayashi, the six-time defending Nathan's hot dog eating champion, received a chilling diagnosis: Jaw pain that limits how far he can open his mouth.

The disclosure set stomachs rumbling throughout the dog-eat-dog world of competitive eating in the days before the annual Independence Day chowdown.


AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Takeru Kobayashi, in the days when he was able to open his mouth to max circumference.

On his blog earlier this week, the 29-year-old said a mouthful with the news that he was visiting a specialist and a chiropractor for relief of the bum jaw. "Already I can't open my jaws more than just a little bit," he wrote.

Word of the champ's woes spread quickly from Kyoto to Coney Island.

Some believe it is a ploy to unnerve his bun-swallowing rival, Joey Chestnut, who recently broke Kobayashi's world record by downing 59½ dogs in 12 minutes. Others suggest it's a dodge to avoid Chestnut.

Or maybe it's true: a half-dozen years of inhaling hot dogs at the rate of one every 14 seconds really has hurt Kobayashi's overworked jaw.

Kobayashi was keeping his mouth shut Thursday, although he issued a statement promising to pursue treatment. "I intend to do everything I can to treat this condition in what little time I have," he said.

"I look forward to facing my fellow competitors on July 4," he said Thursday, although there was no guarantee that would happen.

A weak jaw won't cut the mustard in a competition where the winner will likely need to down more than 50 hot dogs and buns. During his six years as champion, the 165-pound Kobayashi has consumed 301¼ hot dogs -- a string of performances that made him the Michael Jordan of mass consumption.

His personal best was 53¾ last year. Chestnut, who smashed that mark June 2 in Phoenix, was among those perplexed by Kobayashi's reported condition.

"I hate to call anybody a coward, and I wouldn't call him that," said Chestnut, 23, from his San Jose, Calif., home. "But I don't know. He's shown up the six previous years. It's a strange coincidence, now that he's the underdog."

No less an expert than Washington Post columnist Tony Kornheiser, on his ESPN show "Pardon The Interruption," suggested Kobayashi was trying to lull Chestnut into lowering his guard.

"I think he's playing possum," Kornheiser said.

Chestnut, despite his skepticism, acknowledged Kobayashi might have strained his jaw while training for the event. "Your jaw and the muscles in your esophagus are the first to get sore," he explained.

The Japanese have recently dominated the annual event, which started on Brooklyn's beachfront in 1916. The only American winner since 1996 was New Jersey's Steve Keiner in 1999. Two years later, Kobayashi -- whose voracious appetite earned him the nickname "Tsunami" -- began his belly busting reign.

Kobayashi plans to appear in Coney Island for Wednesday's event even if he can't compete, said Rich Shea, one of the founders of the International Federation of Competitive Eating.

At the very least, Shea hoped, Kobayashi would present this year's winner with the mustard yellow belt emblematic of eating excellence.

"I think, like all great champions, Kobayashi doesn't want to shy away from competition," Shea said. "But I don't want to put words in his mouth. And if I did, they'd have to be monosyllabic -- not too much for him to swallow."

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[Passacaglia]

SportsDigs had this story two weeks ago.

[MizzouRah]

... and here we go!

[VPI97]

54-53 Chestnut with 3:00 to go.

[VPI97]

Both are now over 60.

[VPI97]

USA! USA! USA!

Looks like Chestnut wins 63-62

[RedKingGold]

That was actually pretty exciting.

Gross, but exciting.

[RedKingGold]

USA! USA! USA!

Looks like Chestnut wins 63-62

Hey, stop fooling around and run the GEFL file. ;) :D

[Dr. Sak]

Did the one guy actually say if Chestnut wins it would be the greatest Sporting Win in American History?

[cthomer5000]

Im heartbroken... my hero has fallen

[spleen1015]

Did the one guy actually say if Chestnut wins it would be the greatest Sporting Win in American History?

Yeah, he did.

[cthomer5000]

Did the one guy actually say if Chestnut wins it would be the greatest Sporting Win in American History?

yes, he did.

[RedKingGold]

Im heartbroken... my hero has fallen

Communist.

[cthomer5000]

Just wait until next year, Kobyashi will top 75 dogs. Write it down.

[MizzouRah]

66, son of a....

5 1/2 packs of hot dogs and buns... wow. Watch out Jonny on the spot!

[st.cronin]

Its not quite the Miracle on Ice. But its close.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

In case anyone is interested in finding a record to break.........

http://www.ifoce.com/records.php

[FrogMan]

In case anyone is interested in finding a record to break.........

http://www.ifoce.com/records.php


from that site:

Mayonnaise
4 32-ounce bowls mayonnaise
8 minutes
Oleg Zhornitskiy


Geez, I mean come on. Some of them are rough, but eating mayonnaise???

FM

[Pumpy Tudors]

Jeez, one of the records is 7 quarter-pound sticks of butter in 5 minutes. That's disgusting.

[Ksyrup]

I missed this, but I did catch some of the "controversy" about Kobayashi throwing up (and eating it), which is supposed to be an automatic DQ. Not that it mattered in the end, but...that's fucking HARDCORE.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I missed this, but I did catch some of the "controversy" about Kobayashi throwing up (and eating it), which is supposed to be an automatic DQ. Not that it mattered in the end, but...that's fucking HARDCORE.

It was awesome to watch. Wife turned away from the TV. I think he should get double credit for eating the same hot dog twice rather than being disqualified.

[spleen1015]

I don't think he threw up. It looked like to me that he just spit out what he had in his mouth.

12,540 calories in those 66 hotdogs. How do you get rid of that?

[miami_fan]

Baked Beans
Six Pounds Baked Beans
One Minute, 48 Seconds
Don Lerman

Baked Beans, Long Course
8.4 Pounds Baked Beans/ 84 Lumber
2 minutes 47 seconds/ Aug. 7, 2004
Sonya Thomas



Two questions

1) What is the difference between the long course and the regular course?

2) How does a guy act after your girlfriend/wife eats 8.4 pounds of baked beans?

[Dr. Sak]

12,540 calories in those 66 hotdogs. How do you get rid of that?

Swim from Coney Island back to Japan

[MikeVic]

I'm dying to know what Tony on PTI had to say about this. Was PTI on yesterday, and if so what did he say??

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Two questions

1) What is the difference between the long course and the regular course?

2) How does a guy act after your girlfriend/wife eats 8.4 pounds of baked beans?

I think that the long course is actually pork and beans and the other record is just straight beans. I think I read that in an article yesterday when tracking down this link, but don't hold me to it.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I don't think he threw up. It looked like to me that he just spit out what he had in his mouth.

The great part about that was the color commentary. Evidently there's a technical term for that. The commentator screamed, "Oh! It looks like we may have a 'reversal!' ".

Reversal? Classic.

[JPhillips]

In case anyone is interested in finding a record to break.........

http://www.ifoce.com/records.php

I don't take any of these seriously because they don't include the old negro league records.

[larrymcg421]

How does a guy act after your girlfriend/wife eats 8.4 pounds of baked beans?<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

"Congratulations, but you're cleaning the bathroom tonight."

[bulletsponge]

i just saw the replay on espn today. the commentary was hillarious!

[Dr. Sak]

Joey Chestnut defends his title! He won in a 5 dog eating overtime!

[BYU 14]

God it makes me sick watching it......

I wonder what his Blood pressure will max out at with all that sodium in his body???

[Mike1409]

Seriously, how long does it take to get that out of your system?

[Karlifornia]

What a rivarly...this is like Ali/Frazier

[CraigSca]

Had the entire family sitting with me watching this today. I haven't seen drama like this since the 2001 World Series.

[Schmidty]

I'm sad that I missed it this time. :(

I hope there will be a replay.

[JonInMiddleGA]

How long until we get these two in an unsanctioned cage match?

Joey Chestnut wins fourth straight Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest; Takeru Kobayashi taken into custody - ESPN New York (http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/news/story?id=5354152)

NEW YORK -- Competitive eater Joey Chestnut has held on to his title at the annual July Fourth hot dog eating contest at New York's Coney Island, but one of his biggest rivals tried to crash the celebration and has been taken into custody.

Chestnut chomped down on 54 hot dogs in 10 minutes on Sunday to win the annual Nathan's International Hot Dog Eating Contest for the fourth year in a row.

Watching from the crowd was six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi who has not signed a contract with Major League Eating to be free to compete in contests sanctioned by other groups.

But Kobayashi went on stage after the competition. Police officers grabbed him, and he tried to hold onto police barricades as they took him into custody.

[Tigercat]

I'm not sure that the MLE is taking this feud seriously. A skinny little Japanese guy as the insane heel? Please. If at Chestnut's next event they show a video montage of Kobayashi stalking Chestnut's wife, I'm bailing.

[path12]

There is seriously a Major League Eating association now? Holy crap.

[JonInMiddleGA]

There is seriously a Major League Eating association now? Holy crap.

Yeah, apparently they basically add their logo & administer nearly a hundred different competitions a year, including both Nathan's, Krystal's and Pizza Hut's.

What I'm more shocked to discover is that they have a branded video game on Wii.
Major League Eating: The Game - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Eating:_The_Game)

[tucking fypo]

Oh, my.

[jbergey22]

I cant believe more people dont have a shitfit about this competition. Basically wasting pounds of food while people are starving.

Its always seemed like a big waste of food to me and I cant figure out why people give a shit about who can eat 70 dogs in 10 minutes.

[Greyroofoo]

I cant believe more people dont have a shitfit about this competition. Basically wasting pounds of food while people in other countries are starving.

Its always seemed like a big waste of food to me and I cant figure out why people give a shit about who can eat 70 dogs in 10 minutes.

Why give a shit about any professional sport? They provide no benefit except entertainment.

[jbergey22]

Why give a shit about any professional sport? They provide no benefit except entertainment.

Is being entertained bad? Apparently people do get entertained by people doing purposely unhealthy things to themselves. Its just not a form of entertainment that I care about.

Countries are taking measures to promote healthier eating while showing this event which has to be one of the most unhealthy events one could ever dream of.

Its all perspective I guess. People throw a fit when Michael Vick is killing animals for no reason while killing pigs for no reason is a great form of entertainment in some peoples eyes.

In my opinion it is a huge waste and I have no reason to further continue talking about it as its all about perspective and opinion.

[Greyroofoo]

My point was that the eating contests are entertainment, just like any other professional sport.

[DanGarion]

Trust me guys, there are many more pounds of food being wasted everyday at homes and restaurants across the nation than are used at any of these eating events.

[Grammaticus]

I just threw away a half pack of cajun hot dogs because they were past the expiration date.

[BYU 14]

I'm not sure that the MLE is taking this feud seriously. A skinny little Japanese guy as the insane heel? Please. If at Chestnut's next event they show a video montage of Kobayashi stalking Chestnut's wife, I'm bailing.

This calls for a four Horsemen style attack, complete with baseball bat to the jaw, which will eventuall lead to an all you can eat Oysters match in a steel cage.

I need to start booking these contests!

[NobodyHere]

The man is a legend

Joey Chestnut (75), Miki Sudo (48.5) retain Nathan's Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest titles (https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/29409589/joey-chestnut-75-miki-sudo-485-retain-nathan-famous-hot-dog-eating-contest-titles)

[AlexB]

The man is a legend

Joey Chestnut (75), Miki Sudo (48.5) retain Nathan's Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest titles (https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/29409589/joey-chestnut-75-miki-sudo-485-retain-nathan-famous-hot-dog-eating-contest-titles)

That video is grim

[MizzouRah]

I once at 75 hot dogs... in the span of 5 years.

[Lathum]

I can't watch this, makes me want to puke

[cuervo72]

Agreed. They had a clip of it on the local news and the anchors talked about how the one just couldn't stand it every year when they have to run the same story; she just finds it completely gross. The male anchor more or less concurred. As did I.