Let The Regurgitation Begin

The traditional food of choice at baseball parks around the nation was the center of attention once again yesterday, at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. In the annual 4th of July Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, Joey Chestnut of San Jose, CA ate 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes, breaking his own world record of 591/2, set only one month ago. Chestnut beat out Takeru Kobayashi, who's won the contest every year for the past six years. Nathan's has held the contest since 1916.

Eeeeeeeewwww! This event never fails to disgust me. How anyone can watch people stuff food into their mouths at an alarming rate with the possibility of barfing it back up just boggles my mind. What also boggles my mind is the fact that competitive eating is an organized "sport." According to the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE), Kobayashi and Chestnut are ranked 1 and 2 respectively. (Or, is it the other way around? Oh, who cares!)

Kobayashi, Chestunut and the rest of the competitive eaters out there can have their fun. I could never be a competitive eater. I love food much too much to eat it that fast.

The Lady

[Photo of Joey Chestnut: AP/Seth Wenig]