Here's Your Hot Dog: Competitive Eating

     As I am a man, I like to eat. I like to eat, and that is manly . Downing hot dogs is as epic as it is manly. For those who are about down hot dogs, I salute you. While it is not as popular as baseball, hot dog eating has been publicized on news channels and even ESPN. Whether it amazes you, or simply appalls you, there is something to be said out of these big league eaters.



Num Num Num...



     The premise of the sport is pretty straightforward, eat more hot dogs than all the rest.  I guess you want to be the best that no one ever was. To eat them is their real test. However, instead of catching little monsters by throwing metal balls at it, you try to eat lots of dogs. Anyways, I digress.

      The sport does not have a single date where it was founded necessarily, because town fairs or gatherings of people like to compete to see who could out-eat the other. I guess they decided it was time to make the sport of eating official. Is it gluttony? Maybe, but it does not stop them.

     While hot dog eating is not the only competitive eating sport, it is one of the most well known. This “big league eating” is actually run by the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFCE) which holds many events with big money prizes each year around the world. Only the best “gurgitators” (eaters) can celebrate the glory of victory though.

 This man is ready to put his mouth where his mouth is.

     The most well known gurgitator in recent years is Takeru Kobayashi, who had won the Nathan’s Hot dog Eating Competition for 6 straight years in the early 2000’s. He would be able to pound down hot dog after hot dog with breaking a sweat or his stomach. Although he was eventually defeated, his legacy live on.

     These brave souls put their stomachs on the line to put on a great, yet somewhat disgusting show. They strive to be the best and bet their stomach will outlast the competitor. Are there risks? Yes. Is it worth the glory? Well, ask them…

     -Brooks Hawkins