Open Season

Yeah, sure, Roger Federer won Wimbledon last Sunday with an epic five set victory over Andy Roddick.

Yeah, sure that win gave Federer 15 Grand Slam titles that equals the record previously held by Pete Sampras.

Yeah, sure, the four-hour 18-minute match with Roddick was itself a record for its length.

Yeah, sure Federer delivered 50 aces to eventually win the match.

But Federer's athletic achievement was somewhat overshadowed last weekend by a guy from California at an event in Brooklyn, New York.

On July 4, the USA's Independence Day, Joey Chestnut ate 68 hot dog franks in 10 minutes to establish a new world record in his chosen 'sport' of competitive eating.



Yes, I will excuse you while you vomit.

Chestnut, known among competitive eating fans as "The Jaw", took home the Mustard Belt for the third year in a row, beating rival Takeru Kobayashi.

The Japanese veteran has not been able to better Chestnut at Coney Island since the 25-year-old San Jose native ate his way into the headlines several years ago and returned America to its rightful place at the forefront of the sport.

"I've been practicing hard," Chestnut said after his win.

"I knew it would be hard to beat me."

Kobayashi came in second with 64 franks, four dogs behind the American, unable to make up for the good start made by Chestnut.

"After the second minute I knew my body was cooperating," Chestnut said.

"It was such a good day. I've never eaten that many before."

The event, sponsored by a well-known New York hot dog chain, is held annually on the July 4 holiday near the Coney Island beach front.

To demonstrate either the popularity of the event or bizarre programming policy, broadcasting behemoth ESPN televises the event across the nation.

It was claimed around 40,000 spectators turned out to watch last Saturday's live event which is more than were crammed around Wimbledon's Centre Court to see Federer and Roddick.

I've seen many competitive eating contests and spent time with the athletes. I can perhaps exclusively reveal that success is based on technique. It's all about the bun – and water.

Victory is assured if you can make sure your bun is dunked thoroughly in water to make it a gooey mush before you put it into your mouth, chased by the frank (yes, you can send the hot dog down the hatch as two separate items).

But it's not just hot dogs that are eaten competitively. According to the International Federation of Competitive Eating, the sport's global governing body, competitors can face off with pork rinds, asparagus, baked beans, beef tongue, cannoli, chicken-fried steak (no, no idea either), chili, chili cheese fries, corn dogs, corned beef hash, cow brains, crab cakes, and crawfish.

I will stop at the letter 'c' but add that 'whole turkey' and 'whole turkey, short form' are filed under the letter 'w' and there's plenty more food in between.

So, sorry Roger Federer. You may have won Wimbledon but compared to Joey
Chestnut, you've lost.

Although that's not necessarily a bad thing.


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