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Joey Chestnut Wins the 2008 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in OVERTIME! (With Liveblog Coverage)
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 4, 2008
Modified Jul 4, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 4, 2008
Modified Jul 4, 2008
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The air at Coney Island is charged as the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest will be underway in moments. Contributor Billy Parker is on the scene and tells us the Nathan's "Franksters" (hot dog mascots) had a dance "to the death": "The old Frankster had serious moves, while a newer Frank was booed." Tien Mao, hot dog enthusiast, and I will also be chiming in.
This year, the contest will be for 10 minutes, apparently a long forgotten rule. Last year, Joey Chestnut brought the Mustard Belt back to the U.S. by eating a record 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes, defeating six-time champ Takeru Kobayashi of Japan, who also ate a personal best 63 hot dogs. All eyes are on the Chestnut-Kobayashi showdown, but ESPN is suggesting Patrick Bertoletti might be a dark horse. Bookmakers either have Chestnut favored or say Chestnut and Kobayashi are dead even.
11:39 a.m. Billy Parker: Coney Island is apparently the Madison Square Garden of gurgitation.
12:16 p.m. Billy Parker: Right now, George Shea is saying the Jonas Brothers is the greatest rock band in the history of the world. He's stalling for time big time...Crowd is announced at 35,000...Eric "Badlands" Booker is performing his third rap.
Ah, the introductions are now starting for the eaters...
12:30 p.m. Billy Parker: Chant of "Put a shirt on" as Dr. Bigtime enter, showing off his amateur bodybuilding abs.
12:35 p.m. Bertoletti is introduced, wearing a purple jacket. Then Tim "Eater X" Janus, another possible spoiler.
12:37 p.m. Kobayashi is introduced-his hair is red (ketchup?) and orange (special sauce?). Then Chestnut is introduced--the rematch is coming soon!!
12:40 p.m. ESPN interviews Bertoletti, who says he's going to win--he's tired of losing to Chestnut and Kobayashi.
12:42 p.m. The eating begins! Kobayashi and Chestnut are next to each other.
Tien Mao: Did you hear the commentator say they "attack those dogs like lindsay lohan attacks a minibar"
12:43 p.m. Chestnut is in the lead, with Kobayashi close behind. Bob Shoudt and Tim Janus are closely following, with Betroletti rounding out the fifth.
Tien Mao: Kobayashi's new method is to stuff a wet bun in and then shove the hot dogs in." [Versus the Solomon method]
12:45 p.m. ESPN's Jimmy Dykes says Kobayashi is getting crushed by Chestnut, who has eaten 32, while Kobayashi is trailing. But just as he says that, Kobayashi seems to catch up.
12:37 p.m. Chestnut and Kobayashi are tied at 40 dogs a piece.
Tien Mao: The Tsunami is winning, but anything could happen, like a reversal of fortune.
12:48 p.m. Kobayashi has the lead at 46 dogs to Chestnut's 45.
12:49 p.m. ESPN thinks Chestnut is having trouble. Is Kobayashi over his jawthritis?
Billy Parker: There's a much bigger Kobayashi presence among the crowd this year.
Tien Mao: With two minutes to go, it's like mile 20 for a marathoner. When their bodies just hit a well.
12:50 p.m. Kobayashi leads at 51--for a minute, because Chestnut ties him. 90 seconds left!
12:51 p.m. The two leaders are bouncing, in trying to keep their food down. Kobayashi has a one dog lead, with 57 dogs donwn.
12:52 p.m. Holy shar! IT'S A TIE! A PHOTO-FINISH! 58 HOT DOGS EATEN BY CHESTNUT AND KOBAYASHI. But the officials now say it's 59 dogs each!
12:53 p.m. Chestnut looks awful, Kobayashi looks relaxed. George Shea announces a "complete tie!"
Jen Chung: I can't tell if the crowd is upset or thrilled.
Billy Parker: Chants for overtime.
Now it goes to a 5-hot dog eat-off! Sudden death--and even more heartburn!
12:54 p.m.: Joey Chestnut WINS AGAIN! He managed to eat five hot dogs faster.
Tien Mao: I think Kobayashi might have ducked under to spit the rest out. And he had some spewage when he was down to the end. A spray of fluid came out
12:59 p.m. ESPN asks Kobayashi what the difference was in today's condition. He says, "There wasn't a big difference, just one hot dog...I think I lost because I wasn't quick enough in the rematch for the five hot dogs." And when asked if we'll see him again, a definitive, "Of course."
1:00 p.m. Chestnut's reaction when he was told about the five dog eat off? "Oh, darn." He says he loves to eat and loves the competition. Chestnut says the difference between him and Kobayashi is that though Kobayashi wanted the Mustard Belt, "I needed it."
Jen Chung: Joey has the meat sweats!
Tagged
hot dog
hot dog eating contest
joey chestnut
liveblog
nathan's famous
takeru kobayashi
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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