Coney Island chaos

One big pile o' disgustingness.

APPARENTLY THINGS got a wee bit crazy yesterday at the annual Nathan’s International July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island. 

So-called competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut won the championship after stuffing 54 hotdogs and buns down his throat in 10 minutes. Alas, the San Jose man fell short of his goal to eat 70 dogs in 10 minutes to beat his 2009 record of 68. 

Shortly after the victory, in a scene that sounds straight out of pro wrestling, not pro eating, Chestnut’s arch rival and six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi – who hadn’t entered the contest owing to a contract dispute with the organizer, Major League Eating — stormed the stage. 

Despite the crowd’s chanting “Let him eat! Let him eat!” however, the world’s No. 3 professional eater, nicknamed “The Tsunami,” was cuffed by police, dragged off stage and booked on trespassing charges. 

Wow, who knew hot dog eating contests could be so dramatic?

I realize this event is incredibly popular, but I have to say, the thought of eating 54 hot dogs in 10 minutes, let alone five hot dog dogs in 10 minutes, makes me retch. Why not have a boot eating competition instead?

I’ve always wondered what happens with these guys afterward. Do they just shove a finger down their throats and yack those tubesteaks back up? Or do they suffer through horrible stomach aches, and then the next day hold on for dear life as they sit down for their morning constitutional?

Either way, it’s kind of digusting and doesn’t seem worth the prize — yes, even if it is the hallowed Mustard Belt.

ryan@roadtostarrdom.com 

Around the World, Currently, Pop Culture, Sporting Life, Weird and wacky , , , , ,
  • Blame Canada

    “Wow, who knew hot dog eating contests could be so dramatic?”

    As you've alluded to above, I bet the real drama occurs the day after the contest. Way to develop an eating disorder. Great role models for the kids. “Dad I wanna be just like Jaws” I wonder what their training regime is like? Maybe they should clean the sport up and eat a big bucket of Greek salad with a mineral water chaser instead.

    “Let him eat!” sounds like a reasonable request, almost humanitarian. I guess context is everything eh?

  • Ryan Starr

    I can't seem to get that “barf-a-rama” scene from Stand by Me out of my head. You know the one where “Lardass” eats all those pies in the pie eating contest, then barfs all over that guy, causing a vomiting chain reaction in the crowd? Wonder if that has actually ever happened at one of these things…

  • Blame Canada

    Ha yeah, I'd forgotten that one. I was thinking more Witches of Eastwick and the cherry scene. I've never been able to eat cherries since without thinking of that. I'll spare you the youtube video.