Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Video: De Blasio Unleashes Dad Puns At Hot Dog Eating Contest Weigh-In
By
Scott Heins
Published Jul 3, 2014
Modified Jul 3, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 4
By
Scott Heins
Published Jul 3, 2014
Modified Jul 3, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Mayor de Blasio waded awkwardly into the seas of pundom today during his speech at the weighing-in ceremony for tomorrow's Nathan's Famous 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. Arguably better than Darth Vader's performance last year, de Blaz and/or his speechwriters let fly with a string of condiment and cased meat entendres while introducing Joey Chesnut, Miko Sudo, and the rest of tomorrow's gluttonous gladiators.
"Now, tomorrow, rain or shine, tens of thousands of people will descend on Coney Island to relish the great hot dog contest. That was my first attempt at a pun—to relish it. Get it, everyone? This is a big deal."
You can watch the full video of the speech below, and remember, a great pun is its own reword. (Skip to 15:45 to watch de Blasio's speech)
Tagged
bill de blasio
coney island
hot dog eating contest
nathan's famous
original
Scott Heins
Scott Heins is a freelance photo and video journalist based in New York City, and a frequent contributor to Gothamist + WNYC. His work often centers around labor rights, housing, and policing. In 2018-2019 he traveled to four states while covering a wave of public school teachers strikes, with work featured in The New York Times, The Intercept, Getty Images, Splinter, and Bloomberg Photos. Scott is a dues-paying member of the National Writers Union's Freelance Solidarity Project.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Why NYC restaurants are playing coy about sustainability
Though it has multiple benefits, the practice remains popular for one basic reason: it saves money.
By
Samantha Dady
Published Oct 26, 2026
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .