'Tsunami' downs 53 1/2 dogs to keep world pigout crown

[nice gaijin]

Kobayashi was competing injured, in his mother's memory. It's kind of like beating a one-legged Michael Jordan in Basketball, although 66 does sound like an impressive new record. Packing that many dogs away, Joey Chestnut might have defeated Kobayashi even without the handicap...

 

[DoctorP]

Kobayashi was competing injured, in his mother's memory.

Are you serious? Injury? The fact that some people view and talk about this as a sport is a total joke!

It's kind of like beating a one-legged Michael Jordan in Basketball, although 66 does sound like an impressive new record. Packing that many dogs away, Joey Chestnut might have defeated Kobayashi even without the handicap...

It is nothing at all like that! Besides, Kobayashi was fine. He ate 63 hot dogs which was far better than his last contest.

I remember when hot dog eating contests were just something that dad's or overzealous teens would partake in during a holiday celebration. Leave it to the US to grow eating into some type of sad sport.

 

[nice gaijin]

Competition eating is a growing niche market, and there are people who compete professionally. I'm not so sure if I'd call it a sport (as I have not done so), but there's certainly sportsmanship involved. I actually just had a debate with a friend that considers any activity one trains and competes for could be considered a sport. Had Kobayashi still been suffering from his arthritis at the time of the competition, my analogy stands, regardless of what you think of competitive eating.

 

[EmperorHirohito]

And here is the British media's view of this eating contest :-

A man devoured a record 66 hotdogs in 12 minutes to win the annual July 4 Coney Island hotdog eating competition in New York.

Joey Chestnut, 23, from California, beat the six-time champion, Takeru Kobayashi from Japan, in a photo finish.

The 28-year-old defending champion went into the competition with a jaw injury but still managed to down 63 dogs.

Mr Chestnut beat the world record he set in qualifying earlier this year of 59 1/2 dogs.

The two were neck-and-neck in the final minute until Mr Kobayashi appeared to suffer what a TV sports commentator euphemistically called a "reversal".

Judges reviewed the plates of scraps and declared Mr Chestnut the winner with 66. The third place eater trailed way behind with 49.

Mr Chestnut said: "For the past six years Kobayashi has dominated. In year seven he just couldn't cut it.

"It just feels awesome. For a long time the belt has been going away to Japan but this year it's staying here."

Competitive eating is a popular pastime in the US, particularly at holidays.

The country has the highest prevalence of obesity among developed countries, at about one-third of the adult population - that is about 60 million obese adults.

 

[Sarapva]

I think any type of competitive eating or drinking is disgusting. I don't see how or why people do it.

 

[EmperorHirohito]

I think its for the fifteen minutes of fame, or something along those lines.


As for the health risks.................