G is for Gluttony

What could be a more American spectacle than large, beer drinkin' dudes slammin' back massive quantities of Nathan's hot dogs? Oh, that's right, it's much more American to have the smaller more efficient Japanese version come in a do the twice as well.

When Kobayashi came on and doubled the previous record, it was on. Kobayashi was in and guys nicknamed Badlands Cookie were on their way out. Nathan's had lucked into a cash cow only America and the Fourth of July could produce and out of nowhere, people cared about competitive eating. Suddenly some distant cousin of fame got the the Japanese wonders head. He suddenly became jacked and decided he could stomach just that many more hot dogs if his hair looked like something Bjork would wear to the Grammy's. Suddenly hear comes Joey Chestnut.
On July 4, 2007, America reclaimed the title belt. Chestnut has beaten Kobayashi! The announcers treated it like such a event that it required it's own holiday, seperate from that of America's independence. It was refered to as "the greatest event in sport's history," and Joey Chestnut was described as "a true American hero."

That was when competitive eating really took off. I even found myself watching the World Series of Competitive Eating, broadcast from where else but Las Vegas. Then, even after a more legendary showing that saw the two titans embroiled in an "eat-off," it hit me, wow these guys are just freaks. Maybe it came when I myself entered an eating competition and downed six dogs. One of my friends took the 6th dog to the last bite before a "reversal of fortune" cost him. That was half a dozen dogs. Now imagine that....plus 60. In 10 minutes. Gross right?

Nevermind, that just sounds delicious...