National Hot Dog Day!

It's no secret I'm a fan of wieners. Big fan. Big wieners. To me they say, 'summer' and 'americana'. Remember the old slogan, baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet (even though that sounds french) The Hot dog industry has named July as National Hot Dog month and July 23nd as National Hot Dog Day. I also adore obscure holidays; International Talk like a Pirate Day, Melonball Thursday and am so happy to have found my new fave. The Dog Days of Summer, indeed.

The month begins with the Annual Coney Island Hot Dog Eating contest brought to you by Nathans Famous. My dear friend Joey Chestnut pulled another victory out of his solo cup by eating an astounding 54 HDB's in ten minutes. (hot dog and buns eaten) I know this because, I was there. Well, not physically, but spiritually. I was at friends holiday (July 4th) BBQ in Panorama City getting ready to have my third dog of the day. I was chatting up a very nice lady with tons of BoSox paraphernalia adorning her. I assumed my new besty was gay as she was checking her iPhone for sports feed. Straight, not narrow. She stumbled onto the results of this years competition and I implored her to give me more. When hearing of Kobayashi being arrested at the event I swooned. Kobabyashi is Chestnuts #1 competitor. Long and the short of it (pun intended) is K wasn't registered with the Federation that governs the sport and rushed the stage. High Drama among buns and lemonade. Arrested, hanging on to a rail like a child. Swoon.

See, I have an affinity for this event rising. I look forward to the Fourth Of July just for this very contest. Independence is nice, but wieners don't care who you marry. I remember my first seeing the televised event on ESPN when I was at work one night. My colleagues amazed I could actually be silenced by something on ESPN for that long a time. I was mesmerized by the depravity of my favortie activity and bastardizing it as a competition. I love to eat. I live to eat. I workout like a demon so I can eat more. Sometimes I awaken in the night to eat if I know that there's something special calling to me. Like a mermaid the sushi sings, Pavaroti draws me to the container of pasta leaving past roommates sighing knowing their leftovers when put into the fridge, "will never see the light of day." It's a sport governed by it's own Federation with by laws and dues. I cringe/cheer every time I get to hear one of the competitors resume. You don't know someone until you know how many crab cakes someone can put down. Or pounds of pasta. Or oysters. Would I want to have them for dinner? Probably not. Would I watch them on TV with the earnest love of a six-year old? Abso-freaking-lutely. Competitive Eating? Get out of here....

So get out there and grab yourselves a sausage with relish and succour. In La La Land, there are plenty of choices from Dodger Dogs to my personal fave Pinks. I encourage you to get out there and try it, it's a wonderful holiday and I think you'll enjoy it. National Hot Dog Day, not for the weak of heart, and a sport in some towns. If you are what you eat.....I am a hot dog.

Joey Chestnut Does It Again!!!

That's right true believers, Joey Chestnut has defeated his arch rival Kobayashi in the famous Nathan's Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Championship. Last year the heated race came down to a dread five dog eat off, but this year Joey smashed his 59 dog victory with a world record breaking 68 dogs!!! How's that for Independence? I think the picture says it all.

Joey Chestnutt does it again.

What would the Fourth be without Nathan's Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest? I love this sport, it doesn't get enough of a tourney season. I think ESPN would behoove itself to show more episodes of Gluttony. I want to see the championship chili eaters, oyster shooters and pie snarfers. So when Independence Day comes, I salute the flag, turn on the TV and get ready to test my gag reflex.

Participating in this competition and viewing it takes a strong constitution. Watching the discomfort of the athletes (yeah, I'll call them that) in their struggle to maintain and to compete requires the fans to have an obscene tolerance to hideous. These are the people rubbernecking up and down the freeways and lingering at the open coffin wakes. These are the people who receive emails from Ripley's and Mdme. Tussuad's museums. I'm one.

In the first ever OT tie breaker in the competition's history, the finalists had ten minutes to consume five hot dogs. It was sudden death. The air was fetid, the pressure (on all levels) huge. The chance of 'Reversal Of Fortune' becoming clearer by the bite. Joey Chestnutt does it again! The winner in sudden death, was jubilant and pretty bloated. Rival Takeru Kobayashi took the defeat amiably but seems to have had is day in the sun.

Happy Fourth, from this spataglutton, to yours. Go eat something.

Happy Fourth!!!! Joey Chestnutt Does it!!!

Nothing says Americana like the annual Nathan's International July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest. You can keep the Stanley Cup, the World Cup, even the America's Cup I just want to watch the freaks in New York dip hotdogs into the Mountain Dew cups, moisture melts the matter allowing faster passage. This year is the 92nd annual event. I first caught this classic on ESPN a few years ago @ work. Truly, most jobs shouldn't allow tv watching but this event defies convention and taste. Funny on two levels.

I was spellbound by the athletes' feat (also funny on two fee/at) and their athletic supporters. There were accomplished gorgers from eggsucking tourneys, sushi rollers, pasta benders, et al. Champions of Devour or the hour make their way in their best elastic waist pants to celebrate the holiday with the weiner. How can these be bad people I asked myself. And every year I go back for more, with them.

Takeru Kobayahsi is the reigning champion tipping the scales at a healthy 154 lbs and a record 53.5 HDBS (hotdogs and buns). Kobayashi has won the classic for the last six years running. The man's technique and love for the sport is amazing to watch. He is so focused on what he is doing you can't help but admire him. Every year I wonder if anyone will be able to stop this machine, until this year. Kobayashi went public last month with his jawthritis and the international gorgers community felt a shiver in the force.

Enter Joey Chestnutt. For the name alone, he is my idol. As a child I loved chestnuts and as a man I loved a Joey. Actually I still love both, toasted. (w/ Veuve) Joey Chestnut is an accomplished pretzel eater and wing eater. Mr Chestnut tips the scales at a robust 215 lbs and holds a HDB of 59.5. This Fourth of July maybe more memorable and the elders have fortold. I look forward to seeing the technique of the seventeen competitors and the rivalry in reruns as I already know.................................................................The winner for the Nathan's International July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest, with a win of 66 dogs is Joey Chestnut. Give him applause, give him room.

photo credit AP/louis lanzano