Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
In this corner, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, a speed-eating machine who previously devoured 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes to set a world record.
Challenging him in the ultimate gluttony smackdown will be Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas, whose petite frame belies the fact she once inhaled 65 hard-boiled eggs in six minutes, 40 seconds.
Filling the ranks alongside them: a collection of hardcore competitive eaters with nicknames like Crazy Legs, Eater X and Shredder whose idea of a nosh would probably serve two dozen wimpy normal diners.
On July 4, these weapons of mass digestion — as the Major League Eating organization likes to call them — will assemble, Pepto-Bismol at the ready, for the annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest.
This exercise in excess, which involves contestants stuffing down the most Nathan’s hot dogs (in buns) they possibly can in 10 minutes, awards the winner both cash and the coveted Mustard Belt.
Major League Eating president Richard Shea explains that in the world of stomach-centric eating, the Coney Island dog-off is “our Super Bowl. Our Masters.”
“The eyes of the world are watching,” he enthuses. “Putting on the Mustard Belt is like putting on the green jacket at the Masters.”
The competition, expected to draw nearly 30 entrants from around the world, also highlights the sometimes bizarre world of competitive eating — a sport with rankings, superstars, breakout performances, hopefuls trying to reach the major leagues and some of the darndest bulk-food items ever to wash down a gullet.
Fancy deep fried asparagus spears? That title goes to Chestnut, who ate 9 pounds, 5.2 ounces in 10 minutes last April. Pickled jalapenos? 275 in eight minutes last May by Patrick Bertoletti. Grilled cheese sandwiches? That’s Chestnut again — 47 in 10 minutes in 2006.
And the list goes on — from cupcakes (42 in eight minutes) to Philly cheese steaks (23 six-inch sandwiches in 10 minutes), oysters (46 dozen in 10 minutes) and chili cheese fries (8 pounds, 2 ounces in 10 minutes).
Major League Eating, which sanctions the events and keeps the records, also, understandably, has EMTs standing by at all contests.
Strangely, none of the high-ranking eaters appears to have the dimensions one might anticipate. Pictures of the top 50 on the MLE website (Chestnut is No. 1) reveal no physiques that look like they could double as the Goodyear Blimp.
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