Loving hot dogs as I do, there’s no way I could miss the 92nd Annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. It was held today in Coney Island, and thanks to ESPN, I was able to view it from the comfort of my very own living room.
You may have heard that Japan’s Takeru Kobayashi, who has won the contest for the past six years, recently suffered a sprained jaw. It was unsure if he would be able to compete this year, and if so, how well he would fare. I am happy to say that Kobayashi did compete, and despite his injury, managed to beat the previous world record.
Before today’s competition, the world record was 53.75 hot dogs in 12 minutes, set last year by Kobayashi.
Today’s competition had me on the edge of my seat. Though there were a number of competitors, the contest came down to Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut, a college student from California. Chestnut stayed 3-4 hot dogs ahead of Kobayashi through most of the competition, but the last 3 minutes were really intense. At times, there was only a fraction of a hot dog separating them.
In the end, Chestnut won the competition by eating 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes, setting a new world record. Kobayashi came in second place, eating 63 hot dogs.
Chestnut won $10,000, two cases of Nathan’s famous dogs, and most importantly, reclaimed Nathan’s Mustard Belt for the United States.
July 5th, 2007 at 12:47 am
Happy 4th of July! AMERICA!
Best part of the competition was when Kobayashi (at around his 60th hot dog) vomited in hands and then tried to eat it w/o anyone seeing. As if ESPN wasn’t covering the whole thing in HD. HA HA HA!
July 5th, 2007 at 12:52 am
Bush ~ That totally grossed me out! The funny thing was – no one mentioned anything about it! I wondered if my eyes were playing tricks on me! Ewwww…
July 5th, 2007 at 2:42 am
U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
Funny–I happen to be watching ESPN right now and they’re rebroadcasting the contest. 30,000 people watching?? Insane!
July 5th, 2007 at 3:00 am
Haha…I’m watching the replay of it on ESPN right now
July 5th, 2007 at 6:27 am
We listened to ESPN yesterday evening on the way back from dinner. Bat got SOOOOOO excited because we have a new “WEINER EATER”!!!!!!!!! I have to admit I’m glad he’s American.
July 5th, 2007 at 6:59 am
I bet that was a sight to see!!! At my first Gotcha Day party – we had a hot dog eating contest for us pups. Mum put a hot dog, broken in 10 pieces in the doggie (kiddie) pool and the first dog to eat them all won! I got second place to a big old flat coated retriever! BOL!!!!
July 5th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
I had two with bread and one naked yesterday and was about to pop! How do they do that?
July 5th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Os – It sounds like everyone was watching the replay late last night! haha.
Mike – Awesome! But I can’t believe you fell asleep and missed the gross part! hehe.
Flat Coke – So glad you guys listened!!
Johann – *LOL* That sounds like fun!! Next time you’ll have to beat that retriever!
Mushy – I have no idea!! Sure is fun to watch though! Well, except when Tobayashi is vomiting in his hands! *LOL*
July 5th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I’m pretty glad I fell asleep and missed the gross part
July 6th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
We took the kids out to Coney Island last week to celebrate the last day of school with a Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets’ Single A team) game. Of course, we had to stop at Nathan’s, which is only 2 blocks from the stadium. Having eaten only 2 of the hotdogs (which I love!) I just don’t see how these guys do it!
July 6th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Mike – Lucky you!
Brian – Will you adopt me? hehe. Sounds like a fun day!
July 12th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
I’d be happy to adopt you . . . but I doubt my wife would approve and, the popularity of TV’s “Big Love” aside, I don’t think the law would look favorably on the relationship. But if you ever come to NYC, I’d be happy to escort to Nathan’s for a hotdog binge!
July 14th, 2007 at 12:05 am
Brian – I’ll definitely take you up on the hotdog binge!