04/19/24
July 04, 2007
Down Goes Kobayashi! Down Goes Kobayashi!: American Joey Chestnut ate 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes, three more than six-time champ Takeru Kobayashi, to win the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, N.Y., and return the Mustard Belt to the U.S. In an event broadcast live on ESPN, Chestnut's total broke his own competitive eating world record by 6.5 hot dogs.
This wasn't as revolting as last year, except for the splash Kobayashi made at the end with his reversal of fortune. There were 30,000 people there on Coney Island to see it go down.
posted by rcade at 12:54 PM on July 04, 2007
it was a dog day in NY
posted by water1 at 01:02 PM on July 04, 2007
ESPN followed the hot dog contest with coverage of the spelling bee. Neither are sports.
posted by FonGu at 01:07 PM on July 04, 2007
FonGu, what do you think the 'E' in ESPN stands for? As an aside, I thought we were supposed to stay away from sport/not a sport discussions here at SpoFi. That being said, I think the hot dog contest is sporting, if not necessarily a sport. If I can wager on it, it's sporting.
posted by tommybiden at 01:12 PM on July 04, 2007
A spelling bee is a bit of a stretch.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 01:15 PM on July 04, 2007
Buuuuuuurrrrrrrrppppp! (Can you use the word in a sentence please?)
posted by Howard_T at 01:33 PM on July 04, 2007
Can they combine the two and have a bee-eating competition? I'd pay top dollar to see that. Not really.
posted by tahoemoj at 01:43 PM on July 04, 2007
If they're going to show spelling bees, the least they can do is show more blooper reels. "But...the ball! His groin! Ah ha! It works on so many levels!"
posted by igottheblues at 01:44 PM on July 04, 2007
FonGu, what do you think the 'E' in ESPN stands for? Excess. Normally "not a sport" is discouraged here, but competitive eating is asking for it. Whatever it is, the hot dog event has become a July Fourth tradition in my house. We were big Chestnut fans this year.
posted by rcade at 01:49 PM on July 04, 2007
Hey,I got,thats OOOh,ESS,Ah,OOOH,ESS,Ah, because we've regained international cred in sports.
posted by sickleguy at 03:48 PM on July 04, 2007
Ugh. I am no longer hungry... ...for the rest of the week.
posted by grum@work at 04:06 PM on July 04, 2007
it's comeptetitve, it takes hours and hours and hours of training, and it pushes the physical limits of the body...
posted by everett at 06:00 PM on July 04, 2007
it's comeptetitve, it takes hours and hours and hours of training, and it pushes the physical limits of the body... So does sex. Is that a sport?
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:04 PM on July 04, 2007
Fraze- Actually it is a sport, have you ever heard of sportf***ing? Where you go out and do it just for the sport of it? No relationship, no possibilities of one, just plain and simple sportf***ing..... it is what most one night stands are made of.
posted by urall cloolis at 06:30 PM on July 04, 2007
Sex: Competitive? Not really. Hours of training? Not me, I was most efficient my first time.
posted by everett at 07:25 PM on July 04, 2007
Let's get to the bottom of it (figuratively not literally). Sex is a competition. You (or at least I) step up to the plate and try to hit it harder than anyone ever has, trying to outdo the last boyfriend/husband/ or own last performance. If not you are probably not trying hard enough. Hours of training? Not me, I was most efficient my first time I hope that is a joke or you have learned nothing about the sport....if you think you are that good, you probably are not. A true athlete is always trying to beat his last performance regardless of the sport.
posted by urall cloolis at 08:47 PM on July 04, 2007
It's a sad day when we can't discuss hot dogs without it turning sexual.
posted by rcade at 09:40 PM on July 04, 2007
Just one question, were they footlongs?
posted by tommybiden at 10:06 PM on July 04, 2007
Eating is definitely better than sex. Eating I could perform in front of thousands of people. Sex is generally performed... by myself. A meal generally takes me 45 minutes to an hour, while sex... well, eating's better. I've never had anyone tell me my esophagus wasn't long enough. When I'm eating, I'm not imagining a better looking audience with larger breasts. Okay, I am. It gets me through the meal. Hot dogs are the high profile competition and all, but if I really need something eaten fast my call goes to Cookie Jarvis or Sonya Thomas. They're the Antonio Salieris of wolfing.
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 10:57 PM on July 04, 2007
All I know is that f-ing moron ESPN had sitting alongside Paul Page told us that we were witnessing the greatest moment in American sports history. Seriously. He reminded me of ESPN 8's (The Ocho!) Pepper Brooks in the movie Dodgeball. Actually, that's where the hot dog eating contest belongs.....ESPN 8.
posted by eccsport78 at 08:14 AM on July 05, 2007
Seriously. How could you take that seriously? The announcers spend the entire event with their hype knob turned up to 11.
posted by rcade at 08:41 AM on July 05, 2007
About the only thing I can honestly say I do right throughout the summer is keep the TV off and spend the vast, vast majority of my non-sleeping hours outdoors. The idea anyone not confined to a bed or absolutely forced to be inside, on the Fourth of July no less, would sit in front of the TV watching this event is really sad. But when I see how out-of-shape and incredibly fat many people are (in the U.S., at least), I guess I'm not at all surprised. A lot of couch potato slobs are probably smart enough to know they never were and never would be able to, for example, get a base hit off a major league pitcher. They do probably envision themselves being able to eat incredible amounts of food in short periods of time. ESPN may be on to something big!
posted by dyams at 09:17 AM on July 05, 2007
The idea anyone not confined to a bed or absolutely forced to be inside, on the Fourth of July no less, would sit in front of the TV watching this event is really sad. But when I see how out-of-shape and incredibly fat many people are (in the U.S., at least), I guess I'm not at all surprised. Sad why? Sad that everyone doesn't enjoy the same things that you do? Sad that everyone isn't entertained by the same things that you are? It's entertainment. Many people are entertained by it and it doesn't have to be some larger statement about fat, lazy Americans. Folks in Japan are entertained by eating contests, should we be surprised that they aren't fatter?
posted by bperk at 09:55 AM on July 05, 2007
My remarks had to do with gluttony in general, and I stand by those comments. Overeating as entertainment? Believe me, I'm not trying to trample on your right to entertain yourself. When the "World Chain-Smoking" championships are aired, I'm sure they'll be defended. In the meantime these artery-clogged excessive personalities continue to be a big reason why health care in the U.S. is so astronomically unaffordable. I guess I'm fine if eating contests go on, kind of like the old counrty fair pie-eating events. But when they start getting airtime, along with critical stategy breakdown by broadcasters, it's a bit too much.
posted by dyams at 10:12 AM on July 05, 2007
I have a few friends who, in their 40s, continue to feel knee and shoulder injuries sustained in pick-up football, baseball and basketball games in high school. We were definitely inspired by sports we saw on TV. I think it's a dangerous path to start blaming their hospital visits (and subsequent medical treatments) on the broadcasting of competitive sports. Dyams, I get where you're coming from, but if we are collectively so short on common sense that we can't see eating 60-plus hot dogs in a day (let alone in the length of time it takes to do "12-Minute Abs") as a bad idea, I really don't see how ESPN is to blame. But then, I might be part of the problem. I spent the day yesterday at Yankee Stadium, then on the drive home, in honor of Chestnut's victory (which they posted on the scoreboard during the game -- an event that was greeted with tremendous applause) I ate 66 canolis from a bakery on Arthur Ave. Granted, they were mini-canolis, but I still don't feel that great today.
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 10:32 AM on July 05, 2007
In the meantime these artery-clogged excessive personalities continue to be a big reason why health care in the U.S. is so astronomically unaffordable. Do you really mean to say that eating contests are the reason behind the rise of obesity in the US? And, btw, wasn't it explained in an earlier thread that they don't exactly, uh...hang onto all those hot dogs? p.s. I ate a chili cheese dog yesterday, and then had an Italian ice. I have no shame.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:51 AM on July 05, 2007
but if we are collectively so short on common sense that we can't see eating 60-plus hot dogs in a day (let alone in the length of time it takes to do "12-Minute Abs") as a bad idea, I really don't see how ESPN is to blame. Have you ever watched "Jackass"? Have you ever watched "Scarred"? These two shows (and the copycat mentality they add to) show common sense, for many, went out the door long ago. Anything that's bad for someone is often great for ratings. Do you really mean to say that eating contests are the reason behind the rise of obesity in the US? No, I don't mean that. I do mean excessive overeating as a form of entertainment doesn't help. wasn't it explained in an earlier thread that they don't exactly, uh...hang onto all those hot dogs? Binge eating then puking ! Young girls do this and it's a disease. ESPN broadcasts it and it's entertainment.
posted by dyams at 11:20 AM on July 05, 2007
dyams, I think you are making a mountain out of a molehill. It's a freakin' hot dog eating contest that has been going on now for how many years? This isn't global warming or terrorism or harp seals, this is hot dog eating. Seriously, hot dog eating. Hot dog eating? Hot dog eating. We're not talkin' bout the game, we're talkin' bout hot dog eating.
posted by THX-1138 at 12:47 PM on July 05, 2007
dyams, I agree with you that there's a lot of unhealthy eating trends out there. I'm just not sure that there's a connection with hot dog eating contests and the like. Some people find these contests amusing, some find them disgusting, but I don't think anyone sees sprint eating as a way to get to wherever they want to go.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 01:58 PM on July 05, 2007
This isn't global warming or terrorism or harp seals, this is hot dog eating. Seriously, hot dog eating. Hot dog eating? Hot dog eating. We're not talkin' bout the game, we're talkin' bout hot dog eating Holy shit. Best damn reference I've ever seen on this sight. Kudos.
posted by tahoemoj at 06:04 PM on July 05, 2007
Next speed eating contests will be to blame for young children starving all over the world. As far as fat , out of shape gluttons go, did you ever notice that the skinner guys always seem to win? Do you remember that comedian that could swallow light bulbs? Wonder where he got that bright idea. Speed eating bad, beer funnels/shotguns, speed drinking gooood.
posted by Bishop at 04:52 AM on July 06, 2007
It's great to see all these people with such newfound sense of perspective with regards to world issues. God knows every other topic brought up on this site is never made out to be too serious. Hopefully they remember where things fall on the importance scale when Bonds hits number 756. That (along with T.O.) probably ranks right behind harp seals and starving children. As for skinny guys winning these things, the Japanese have used their "common sense" to develop training centers for these competitors. It's believed skinnier people can be trained to expand their stomachs for such events, while fat people have long since lost that ability.
posted by dyams at 09:23 AM on July 06, 2007
It's great to see all these people with such newfound sense of perspective with regards to world issues. God knows every other topic brought up on this site is never made out to be too serious. There are FPPs where the central topic is racism or sexism and we still get people whose sole contribution to those discussions is "aw lighten up fer chrissakes!" Did you really expect an eating contest to be treated with more reverence?
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:08 AM on July 06, 2007
Shouldn't you be outside? Seriously, Dyams, you'd think these tests of human capabilities just showed up in the last 10 years. We've been doing it forever. The first guy who ran a marathon died, and we keep trying to prove that we can do it without dying. Marathon running has got to lead to an exorbitant amount of medical bills for treatment to feet and legs, not to mention dehydration and sunstroke. But we are naturally inclined to push the envelope. The nation's/world's weight problem has absolutely nothing to do with eating competitions. It has a lot more to do with the quality of food we're making available, ever-increasing laziness, and I'm sure a few other factors that are pretty much irrelevant here. It's an honorable thing to want to address the problem, but this thread is not really an appropriate forum for it, in my opinion.
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 10:11 AM on July 06, 2007
Shouldn't you be outside? It's currently thunder and lightning outside. When it quits, I will be. Go eat a weiner.
posted by dyams at 11:40 AM on July 06, 2007
Nutty. An awesome display by Chestnut. If this is the decline of American civilization and the new Coleseum, then I think we're doing okay.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:05 PM on July 06, 2007
USA! USA! USA!