The End of an Era, Hot Dog Edition

Looks like Joey Chestnut won't be defending his mustard belt this year due to a sponsorship conflict.  The field is now wiiiiiide open. 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/joey-chestnut-competing-nathans-hot-dog-eating-contest/story?id=111030108

Once at a picnic I ate three jumbo hot dogs across the span of a 4th of July afternoon and had serious digestive issues that night.  I then took a serious look at my diet and made improvements.  How do these guys survive this?

Naw, this is a big publicity stunt to garner viewership.

I feel somewhat ill just looking at the picture.

In reply to Noddaz :

That standing rib roast makes me hungry. We cooked one a few weeks ago. They are crazy expensive but oh so tasty. 

To add to this.

I'm a big guy. 6'2" and 359 as of this morning. I have no clue how someone could eat 60+ hot dogs. I would think it would just shut down the digestive system due to overload. They almost have to eat them and then puke them back up. 

Even more important. Why would anyone want to eat 60 hot dogs? I like a decent hot dog as much as the next guy but to eat 60 dry dogs with nothing on them? That's just nasty. 

The thing I found interesting is he's sponsored by Impossible Foods, who make a meat substitute hot dog.

In reply to stuart in mn :

It's the money, I saw that it was double his current deals.

In reply to Toyman! :

Not only eating 60+ hot dogs, but decide to do it again the next year.  

Competitive eaters are a different kind. 

Joey "Jaws" Chestnut is an honest freak of nature.  Has a huge mouth, strong jaws, and his stomach sits very low in his abdomen that allows him to eat an insane amount of food.  He's also a civil engineer which makes him even more strange. 

camopaint0707 said:

Naw, this is a big publicity stunt to garner viewership.

Interesting thought. So next year Chestnut abandons the fake meat and the king returns? Could be. Or Nathans just thought "F--- that guy. He's playing for the other team now."  

Toyman! said:

In reply to Noddaz :

That standing rib roast makes me hungry. We cooked one a few weeks ago. They are crazy expensive but oh so tasty. 

 

I'm in the queazy camp.  That makes me want to become a vegitarian.

KyAllroad said:

Toyman! said:

In reply to Noddaz :

That standing rib roast makes me hungry. We cooked one a few weeks ago. They are crazy expensive but oh so tasty. 

 

I'm in the queazy camp.  That makes me want to become a vegitarian.

Not sure about the vegetarian part, but too much food laid out is inherently unappetizing for me. I start thinking of the discomfort of bloat rather than the promise of great taste.

Kreb (Forum Supporter) said:

Or Nathans just thought "F--- that guy. He's playing for the other team now."  

It's this, simple brand protectionism. By sponsoring the famous competition, Nathan's wants to be the exclusive profiteers from from the event. So the requirement to enter is that competitors cannot be endorsed by a competing brand. As noted above, he has accepted an endorsement deal from Impossible Foods, who also sells hot dogs.

Considering the protectionist stink from 'real' food companies about 'alternative' food naming conventions, I think Nathan's missed a big opportunity to say "Those aren't hot dogs".

Man, add this, too, and the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest just won't be the same.

Competitive eating legend Takeru Kobayashi retires, says he no longer feels hungry (nypost.com)

Have y'all watched Beard Meets Food on YouTube? 

Not so Ninja edit!

vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) said:

Have y'all watched Beard Versus Food on YouTube? 

Beard *meets* food. Adam is my dude. Always fails on big piles of carbs though. Potatoes, pancakes, always the same. Seems like his caloric balance is he doesn't eat for a solid day before or after an event like that. 

Apparently Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi are going to a Netflix contest??? They probably getting a lot more money for it too!

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/06/12/media/netflix-joey-chestnut-takeru-kobayashi-hot-dog-contest

In reply to Hoppps :

And here we have the simple reason why....I can only imagine the dump truck of money they'll be getting for this.

The top contenders being out of the marketing-based competitions does open up the possibility of a no-rules, outlaw Can-Am style eating contest where dudes just shove entire cows and swordfish down their throats.