Tag: Hot dog eating contest

Dynasty Ends in Hot Dog Eating Contest?

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All sports dynasties come to an end.

UCLA dominated college basketball during the John Wooden era, the Steel Curtain was untouchable for five years, and during the 1950s sports fans were hollering “Break up the Yankees”. In time, these dynasties came to an end.

Most recently, Joey Chestnut’s winning streak at the Fourth of July hot dog eating contest at Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island came to a crashing halt when Matt Stonie downed him 62 to 60.

Chestnut had won the event for 8 consecutive years.

Was this upset an anomaly or is it the changing of the guard? Was Chestnut’s breakup from the woman he proposed to at last year’s event the source of his demise? Did the lack of competition keep him from coming out on top? Will Chestnut go into retirement, even though the third place finisher only downed 35 dogs and buns?

God only knows why ESPN broadcasts the competition, but they did. And some view it just the same as a major sporting event. The top two finishers had the following comments about the contest.

• “I trained hard for this. We don’t just go up there and eat hot dogs. We practice for this. We prepare our bodies.” – Stonie.
• “I’ve been looking for competition for a long time and I finally have it. He made me hungry.” – Chestnut.

On the women’s side, Miki Sudo downed 35 dogs and buns to defeat Sonya “Black Widow” Thomas for the second consecutive year. Thomas consumed 31 hot dogs.

Sudo credited her victory to her tactical decision to separate the dogs and the buns. For her, the buns went down easier after being dipped in Crystal Light.

According to Nathan’s website Stonie consumed 17,360 calories, 1,116 grams of fat, and 48,360 milligrams of sodium. This is based on the content of one hotdog. The website also includes the winners of the event for all 42 years.

Can you imagine that – 42 years of hot dog eating contests?  And the winner receives $10,000 and a mustard colored belt.

hot dog eating contest

 

2014 Hot Dog Eating Contest Results

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The 2014 International Hot Dog Eating Contest is a long-standing Fourth of July custom at Coney Island. ESPN was there to cover the event, although it more closely resembled a P.T. Barnum circus than a sporting event.

Two-time winner Sonya Thomas, aka the “Black Widow” wasn’t able to muster up a win this year. She was dethroned by Miki Sudo who downed 34 dogs and buns. Sudo will look great in her pink winner’s belt.

Thomas barely snatched second place with 27.75 dogs and buns, just .75 ahead of Michelle Lesco. Now that’s close!

Prior to the Men’s contest Joey Chestnut stole the show by proposing to his girlfriend. What kind of guy would propose to his girlfriend at a hot dog eating contest? Even worse, what kind of woman would say yes to such a guy?Engagement ring at hot dog eating contest

Chestnut returned home from the contest with his 8th consecutive title, a gaudy mustard colored belt, and a fiancée. Even better, he completed his trifecta without getting any mustard on her ring.

Chestnut won by a landslide with 61 franks and buns followed by Matt Stonie with 56 and Tim Janus with 44.

Both the men’s and women’s event each had one intelligent entrant. Colin Shirlow and Val Bromann finished dead last in their respective events, eating only 3 frankfurters and buns.

Stay tuned for the 2015 July 4th event, same time, same location, same dogs, same buns. Will married life prevent Chestnut from winning 9 in a row? Will Chestnut still be married? Has the Black Widow lost her touch? Will someone eat fewer than 3 hot dogs and buns? Does anyone really care?

 

Hot Dog! Chestnut Sets World Record

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On July 4th, Joey Chestnut celebrated the nation’s birthday by capturing his 7th consecutive hot-dog eating championship in front of a crowd of 40,000. He set the world’s record at the Coney Island event by downing 69 franks in 10 minutes.

The title was never in doubt as his nearest competitors were in the mid-40s. In a post-competition interview Chestnut indicated he was hoping for 70. He attributed his success to good tasting dogs, great weather, and his ability to maintain a consistent pace. He added that his body was working for him and things just happened to come together.  While some of Chestnut’s sound bites were similar to Rafael Nadal’s post match interview, seven hot dog championships is a far cry from Nadal’s eight  French Opens.

Sonya Thomas, aka the Black Widow, successfully defended her title as women’s champion by inhaling 36+ dogs. She was disappointed that her totals weren’t higher and stated that even though she felt great, the hot dogs were cooked in water that was hotter than she was used to which made her slow down.

While the accomplishments of Chestnut and Thomas are mind boggling, the nutritional value of 69 hot dogs is even more astonishing. The following information is derived from the website of Nathan’s Famous Frankfurters, event sponsors, www.nathansfamous.com (site numbers are  multiplied by 69 to determine the nutritional value of the hot dogs consumed by Chestnut):

  • Serving size – 8,211 grams
  • Calories – 24,150 grams
  • Calories from fat – 13,110 grams
  • Total fat – 1,518 grams
  • Saturated fat – 552 grams
  • Trans fat 69 grams
  • Cholesterol 3,105 milligrams
  • Sodium 60,030 milligrams
  • Total carbohydrates 1,656 grams
  • Sugar 276 grams
  • Protein 966 grams

Based on a 2,000 calorie diet, the Percent Daily Value (PDV) of the Total fat was 2,385%, Saturated fat 2,760%, Cholesterol 530%, and Sodium 2,480%.  In other words, the 69 hot dogs consumed by Chestnut in 10 minutes contained the PDV of sodium for 25 days.

Sixpeat for Chestnut

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The 97th International Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island is a Fourth of July competition that has a “sporting event atmosphere”, even though it is not an athletic competition.

Joey Chestnut took home $10,000 and a mustard yellow belt for eating 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes – six better than last year. The nearest rival trailed by 16 franks, or about three packages.

Some interesting trivia about the event includes:
• Chestnut is not a big man. He is 6’0″ tall and a toned 200+ pounds.
• His consumption of 68 franks was equivalent to 20,000+ calories and enough salt to choke a horse.
• The AMA has released a statement opposing competitive eating contests – because they are harmful to the human body. (Hopefully they don’t watch professional football.)
• An animal rights group protested the event, displaying a 10 foot long inflatable puppy inside a hot dog bun. The puppy was topped with ketchup, mustard, cheese, and lettuce. Adjacent to the “hot dog” was a piglet and a sign that said, “Why Love One but Eat the Other?”

This was the second year that a women’s event was held. Sonya Thomas, aka the Black Widow, was the repeat champion. She downed 45 dogs and was rewarded with $10,000 and the pink champion’s belt. She plans to eat 46 franks next year in honor of her 46th birthday.

 

Chestnut Downs 62 Franks; ‘Black Widow’ Consumes 40

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On July 5, 2011 AP writer Verena Dobnik reported, “Joey Chestnut scarfed down 62 hot dogs to win his fifth consecutive Fourth of July hot dog eating contest at Coney Island – the equivalent of about 20,000 calories in 10 minutes.”

“Sonya Thomas, known as the ‘Black Widow’ of competitive eating won with 40 downed dogs, earning her $10,000 and her own pink champion’s belt.”

It is hard to believe that some people consider this activity to be a sporting event – celebrated every year – Just like Wimbledon, the World Series, and the Super Bowl.