Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is probably the best known of all of the major competitive eating contests held in the United States and draws contestants from around the world to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.
Held annually on the 4th of July it apparently started out as a fabrication between some friends but has developed into a major event, drawing an estimated 40,000 fans and viewers on ESPN, which broadcasts the event live. This year’s event starts will be broadcast at 3 pm ET on ESPN directly after its Wimbledon coverage ends.
The current reigning male champion is Joey Chestnut, who has held the title for the last five years after beating Takeru Kobayashi, the person who brought the sports to broadcast stardom when he surprised everybody in 2001 when he doubled the event record for hot dogs consumed in ten minutes by devouring 50 as a rookie. It should be noted that Kobayashi weighs around 128 pounds.
On the female side the current champion isSonya Thomas of Alexandria, VA who will return to defend her title as Female Champion. She consumed 40 Hot Dogs and Buns in 10 minutes last year. There is $40,000 in cash as well as a belt for both the male and female winner as prizes.
There are a good deal more rules and formality to the event than I had believed. The event is overseen by the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE) and since renamed Major League Eats, and among the rules are that you have to be at least 18 years old to participate, be a winner of a qualifying event, get a wild card invitation or be the champion. You also have to keep down all of the hot dogs you eat for them to count, if not you can be disqualified.
If you have wondered why Kobayashi has not participated in the past few years it is because he has been in a dispute with the IFOCE about participating in non-MLE events and other promotional issues. Major League Eats hosts approximately 80 events annually including ones that are centered around boneless chicken wings, pulled pork sandwiches and one for something called a Slugburger.
I have watched it on occasion, but I think like most people even if I do not watch I somehow know who the winner is either later in the day or the next day as someone always brings the subject up in relation to whatever is being BBQ at that time.
