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Wednesday, June 27, 2007

The Dangers of Hot Dogs

posted by on June 27 at 12:22 PM

This week, the world of professional eating was stunned when hot dog eating champ Takeru “Tsunami” Kobayashi announced he might not be able to compete in the annual Nathan’s Famous 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. Kobayashi, who ate 53.75 dogs in 12 minutes last year, has been suffering from arthritis in his jaw.

kobayashi.jpg

I believe in Kobayashi. Even if he doesn’t compete this year, he’ll always be my champion. Any man who would even attempt to out-eat a bear has my respect.

RSS icon Comments

1

Everyone in my office is watching this video right now.

Posted by Carollani | June 27, 2007 12:39 PM
2

I'm sorry but eating contests, especially hot dogs, weird me out completely. I don't see how abusing your body in such a disturbingly disgusting way could in any way generate respect.
But then again, I'm above the plebian mindset that enjoys these types of things.

Posted by raindrop | June 27, 2007 12:44 PM
3

It is so extremely depressing how seriously the announcers are taking this.
it's a fucking BEAR. what did they expect to happen?

Posted by citrus | June 27, 2007 12:45 PM
4

MTV actually did a decent bit on Kobayashi for their "True Life" series that definitely gave me a lot of respect for him and his crazed dedication to training and his sport of choice.

Posted by christopher hong | June 27, 2007 12:46 PM
5

I don't think I am overstating anything when I say this...but that is the greatest video of all time.

Posted by man in da mirror | June 27, 2007 12:54 PM
6

Only in America could such a video ever be produced.

I hail you.

Posted by Gloria | June 27, 2007 12:59 PM
7

Kobayashi's not the champ anymore. An American guy, Joey Chestnut, surpassed his record earlier this month: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/06/02/BAGFUQ6T8F4.DTL.

Posted by Fnarf | June 27, 2007 1:05 PM
8

That is SO awesome!

Posted by Mr. Poe | June 27, 2007 1:08 PM
9

Ummm ... that picture of Kobayashi is kinda hot. All man pretty and hot dog hungry. Damn.

Posted by BillyCorazon | June 27, 2007 1:45 PM
10

Fnarf-

Kobayashi is still the reigning Nathan's Famous champion. That's what I was referring to. Joey Chestnut did take a pretty good bite out of his record (ha!) but I have a feeling it won't last long.

Posted by jonah s | June 27, 2007 1:49 PM
11

Kobayashi is the Pelé of competitive eating, no?

Posted by Matthew | June 27, 2007 1:55 PM
12

Should've taken his glucosamine with condroitin.

Posted by Gomez | June 27, 2007 1:59 PM
13

OK, fine -- Chestnut hasn't won at Coney Island. But he blew away Kobayashi's record in a legitimate (well, as much so as any of these can be) using the same Nathan's Famous dogs. 59 1/2 to 53 3/4 -- that's more than 10 percent better.

For those who think this is stupid, consider this: much, much stupider than winning this competition is losing it -- how would you feel if you ate nearly 60 hot dogs but finished second?

Posted by Fnarf | June 27, 2007 2:22 PM
14

Fnarf, I love you.

Posted by Jonah S | June 27, 2007 2:56 PM
15

Oh, Jonah, I'm not right for you. I can barely get down three of the damn things. Maybe if they allowed you to wash them down with wine.

Posted by Fnarf | June 27, 2007 3:19 PM
16

Isn't Kobayashi the name of that dude in The Usual Suspects?

Posted by stiletto | June 27, 2007 11:10 PM
17

Yes! Kobayashi is the name of the guy in The Usual Suspects! I'm not sure if it was planned or not? Have you received other responses?

Posted by rexx | July 3, 2007 1:15 PM

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