A CENTURY ago, on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues outside Nathan’s Famous hot-dog stall, four immigrants challenged each other to a hot-dog-eating contest to prove who was the most patriotic. Jim Mullen, from Ireland, gulped down 13 dogs and buns in 12 minutes. This legend was undoubtedly made up by some savvy publicist, but Coney Island’s annual eating contest has become legendary. Every July 4th, 40,000 show up in person and more than 1m tune in on ESPN, the sports cable channel, to watch men and women defy digestive limits.
Last year Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, an eight-time champion, was knocked off the top of the food chain by Matt “Megatoad” Stonie. The boisterous crowd, many wearing foam hot-dog hats and waving American flags, chanted “Brooklyn!” and “USA!” as they watched him attempt to take back the coveted mustard belt. George Shea, the event’s loquacious master of ceremonies and head of Major League Eating, explained that this was more than sport. “Competitive eating”, he said, “is the battleground upon which God and Lucifer wage war for men’s souls.”
Competitive eating began when...Continue reading
Source: United States http://ift.tt/29qY80A
EmoticonEmoticon