Scenes from the Hot Dog Eating Contest

Jul 5, 2011 4:51 pm

What you didn't see on ESPN

By Jess Kapadia

Watching the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on TV is a July Fourth tradition for countless highly patriotic closet masochists. I have been no exception. This year, I hauled over to Coney Island (which, if you were wondering, immediately made me stop complaining about living "far away" in Brooklyn) to watch the festivities live. Plus, I was eager to meet Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti and fellow New Yorker Tim "Eater X" Janus (ranked #2 and #3 in the world, respectively), two guys I had the pleasure of interviewing in the days leading up to the contest. Sadly, my media pass didn't come with the rain poncho I wished I'd had to shield me from the gobs of partially masticated sausage-bun amalgamation flying willy-nilly from the competitors' table, but I did snap some decent shots on my phone and get Bertoletti-hug residue on my arm, which I'm never washing again.

At the end of the show, slippery fragments littering the stage, the judges' shirts and part of Stillwell Avenue, I couldn't help feeling worst of all for the two dudes in poorly ventilated "Frankster" costumes who'd been dancing around in the heat for four hours and probably wanted a hot dog least of all.

Scenes from the Hot Dog Eating Contest

01. Competitive Eating Rap

Eric “Badlands” Booker didn’t qualify for this year’s competition (although he can eat 49 glazed doughnuts in 8 minutes), but that didn’t stop him from entertaining the crowd.

02. Let's Hear It For the Little Guy

Little Jimmy, flanked by “Franksters” is a living testament to the notion that when it comes to hot dog eating competitions, size doesn’t matter.

03. The Bunettes

The cheerleading “Bunettes” clearly haven’t indulged in a few pre-bounce 'n kick franks. Probably with good reason.

04. And Now, George Shea!

MC and event coordinator George Shea rouses spectators who were good sports about the three “big intros” he had to do for ESPN. Overheard: "Play that Jay-Z song, I'm feeling a little gangsta!"

05. Whip it Good

Wake up and smell the hot dogs! This terrifying chick, armed with a slinky costume and lightning-fast strike, whips the petals off a rose held between this guy's legs to none other than, you guessed correctly, "Whip It." Filed under: Ways to maintain the audience’s attention.

06. The Lineup

All lined up and ready to eat, the incumbent Joey Chestnut, crowd favorites Pat Bertoletti and Eater X (who, according to MC George Shea, "has no recollection of his past") as well as impressive rookies Matt Stonie, Aaron Osthoff and Adrian Morgan, prepare to go all in. Not pictured: The Chestnut/Bertoletti "Ketchup Cam," a tiny video camera inconspicuously affixed to a bottle of Heinz ketchup set up between the #1 and #2 competitors.

07. The Crowning

George Shea awards Joey Chestnut, the "undisputed greatest eater in the history of the world," the mustard yellow belt once again for his outstanding performance of 62 hot dogs and buns.

08. The Black Widow Strikes Again

Women’s champ Sonya “Black Widow” Thomas energetically greets a media mob scene following her unparalleled victory of 40 hot dogs and buns. Her post-contest statement: "Whoah!"

09. We Are the Champions

Pink and yellow belts displayed, Nathan’s Hot Dog champions Sonya Thomas and Joey Chestnut celebrate with a swig or two of hard-earned Pepto-Bismol.

Hands stained red with the blood of fruit punch (and the 56 dogs in his belly), second place-winner Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti chats with press post-show.