Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Tomorrow, July 4th, marks the 91st annual Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest from Coney Island NY. The event will be broadcast live on ESPN starting at 12 noon EST. In 2006, over 30,000 spectators attended the event, and an additional 1.5 million households watched it live on ESPN.

The two heavy-weights going into the contest are the 6 time defending Coney Island Champion Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi (53 3/4 hot dogs last year) and the new World Record holder Joey "Jaws" Chestnut (59 1/2 hot dogs earlier this year). It should be quite the battle, assuming Kobayashi is able to compete, as he's been battling a jaw injury.


Last years Champ Takeru Kabayashi who ate 53 3/4 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes


The Rules:
During the event, the field of about 20 contestants stands on a raised platform behind a 30-foot-long table with drinks and Nathan's Famous hot dogs in buns. Most contestants drink water, but other kinds of drinks can and have been used. Condiments are allowed, but are usually not used. The hot dogs themselves are allowed to cool slightly after grilling to prevent possible mouth burns. Whomever consumes (and keeps down) the most hot dogs and buns ("HDBs") in twelve minutes is declared the winner. A designated scorekeeper is paired with each contestant who flips a number board counting the hot dogs consumed. Partially eaten hot dogs count and the granularity of measurement is eighths of a length. Hot dogs still in the mouth at the end of the 12 minutes count only if they are swallowed. There can be deductions in score for excess HDB debris. Both hands may be used. After the winner is declared, a plate with the number of hot dogs eaten by the winner is brought out.

Prizes:
For the first time this year, there is actual cold hard cash for the top 5 eaters:
1st: $10,000
2nd: $5,000
3rd: $2,500
4th: $1,500
5th: $1,000

2006 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
Tuesday July 4, 2006
No. Name Hot Dogs
1 Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi (World Record) 53¾
2 Joey "Jaws" Chestnut (U.S. Record) 52
3 Sonya "Black Widow" Thomas (Women's Record) 37
4 Patrick Bertoletti 34¼
5 Tim "Eater X" Janus 34
6 Chip "The Phenom" Simpson 33
7 "Humble" Bob Shoudt 30
8 Rich "The Locust" LeFevre 28
9 Eric "Badlands" Booker 24
10 Patrick "from Moonachie" Philbin 23
11 Eric Denmark 22
12 Seaver Miller 22
13 Brian Subich 22
14 Crazy Legs Conti 21⅓
15 Allen Davis 20½
16 Robert Andersson 20
17 Hall Hunt 19
18 Kamil "The Camel" Hamersky 18
19 Kenji Oguni 16
20 Jed Donahue 1




A short highlight of Joey "Jaws" Chestnut breaking the World Record earlier this year

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this Dano--these guys are true role models for sport. I don't get espn-do you know where I can find today's coverage reply. I just got a new bbq and I am going to start training for this.
Loaring

Daniel Wells said...

I'll have a report on the hot dog contest...but here are some preliminary results James...

66 Hot Dogs for Joey Chestnut
63 Hot Dogs for Kobayashi

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2925803

Gregwh said...

I caught the event this year on cable. I never thought of eating as a sport, but after seeing this, it is! Kobayashi thinks like a champion. Media to Koby immediately after win..."when will you eat another hot dog" Koby: "RIGHT NOW!"