Welcome Home Mustard Yellow Belt!

Before leaving to BBQ with friends yesterday, we watched the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Maybe you missed all the hoopla, but it was big news here since local San Jose resident, Joey Chestnut, was contending to bring the mustard belt back to the good ol' US of A.

OK- so maybe it was a slow news day...

So you say that you don't watch competitive eating events? As a matter of fact, you didn't even know that competitive eating was an actual sport? Worst of all, you missed ESPN's coverage of the event? No worries- we watched for you...

Yes, we are using the term "sport" loosely here.

All in all, it was a typical ESPN report- with live coverage of the event. They had stats on all the competitors. There was the obligatory "up close and personal" segments on the defending champion, Kobayashi, from Japan; and Chestnut, the underdog. There was trash talk.

And yes, we watched. After all- what could be more American on the 4th of July than a couple of hot dogs? Or 66. Eaten by one man. In twelve minutes.

And here is what I have to say about the actual event... It was nasty. It was like rubbernecking past a really bad accident on the freeway- you know you shouldn't look, but you can't help yourself. The horror of it all somehow just sucks you in...

Watching people dunking their hot dogs (with buns) in water and shoving them down their throats is not a pretty sight. Frankly, it's nauseating. I ended up having to turn away while listening to the commentary. It was neck and neck with Chestnut ahead by one dog. As the last minute counted down, Kobayashi caught up and as the buzzer rang, it was tied at 66 each. Then it happened- Kobayashi sprayed. After being deducted for the hot dogs that he failed to swallow, the final count for Kobayashi was 63. Chestnut brought it home (and established a new world record) with 66.

Then I turned off the TV and went to sip a diet soda. Slowly. To settle my stomach...