Get your (hot) dog game face on!

Takeru Kobayashi, center, won the title with 50 1/2 hot dogs, while Eric Booker, right, finished second with 26.

Summer is officially on and across the country, competition is gearing up for the rights to restore pride to America and bring home the coveted Mustard Yellow International Belt - competitive eating's greatest prize, akin to the Master's green jacket of golf or the Vince Lombardi trophy to football. [the World Cup of competitive eating, has been held by Japanese competitors six of the past seven years, and many patriotic eating fans feel the belt should be on American soil.]

Press Release

The winner will receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City and the right to represent the United States in the 90th Annual Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4th in Coney Island, NY. All those 18 years of age or older are eligible to compete. Interested parties must pre-register by visiting http://www.nathansfamous.com/ or calling Shea Communications at (212) 627-5766.

The 2005 Nathan's Famous hot dog eating circuit is making stops in Phoenix, Tokyo, London, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Hartford, Norfolk, Manhattan and other cities.

OBESITY epidemic, shmepidemic. "The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Circuit is coming to the Bay Area and that means only one thing: It's time to get your grub on. Competitive eating is considered by some to be the fastest growing sport in America (although maybe they're referring to the participants' waistlines), and the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is the flagship of the genre." More: Inside Bay Area - Bay Area Living


pass the mustard please

"Japanese professional speed-eater Takeru 'The Tsunami' Kobayashi destroyed the competition for the second consecutive year at the [2004] Nathan's Famous Fourth of July international hot dog eating contest, scarfing down 50 1/2 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes.
The 24-year-old Kobayashi, who weighed 113 pounds before the contest and almost 120 pounds after, bettered his 2001 world-record performance by half a hot dog despite having to fight off the 100-degree heat. He also covered the spread of Internet gamblers, who favored him to win by 20 hot dogs." ESPN.com - Page2 - Accusations hurled at hot dog contest