Just when you think you've seen everything this great nation has to offer, along comes a new and unexplored peak in the cultural landscape. Today it was Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.
This competitive eating event is held annually on 4th of July at a Nathan's Famous in Brooklyn. Competitors from around the world, most of whom have qualified through regional heats, arrive on the "Bus of Champions" and are introduced to a 40,000+ crowd of in the style of heavyweight boxers. Then they have to eat as many hotdogs as they can in ten minutes. Simple.
Or not! The variety of body shapes, consumption methods, and contestant specialities (Sean "Flash" Gordon consumed 6 lbs of french fries is 10 minutes) makes this an absorbing and thrilling event. Well, almost. Given the competitive way to eat hotdogs seems to be to dip them in a cup of water first, the whole thing is pretty disgusting to watch. Which is why it's shown live on ESPN to an audience of around two million.
I embed two videos below, and the second one, of the competition itself, is certainly not for the faint hearted. All I'll say is that the winner and defending champion, Joey Chestnut, managed to put away 62 sausages-in-buns, so you have been warned. Personally, I'm off to find some ketchup and mustard.
This one's safe, just the introductions. See how seriously they take it.
Be careful!
