competitive hot dog eating

I didn't know these guys did a tour circuit, competing with each on who can down hot dogs, ribs, pies and other gross products of Foodie Americana. Apparently it's big business. Though I predict the New York Times is researching, at this very moment, the story with a headline along these lines:

Anyway, if you're on the coast this weekend, maybe it's worth a gander. Here's the press release:

The world’s best competitive eaters will gather at Chinook Winds Casino Resort on Sunday, July 13, at 3:00 p.m. for the Chinook Winds World Rib-Eating Championship.

The #1-ranked competitive eater on planet Earth, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, is favored to maintain his title for the fourth consecutive year. Chestnut recently downed 64 hot dogs and buns (HDBs) in eleven minutes, to defeat the Japanese eating legend Takeru Kobayashi (pictured above), after an overtime eat-off at the Nathan’s Famous contest on the 4th of July. Attempting to unseat Chestnut from his rib-eating title will be Rich “The Locust” LeFevre, the 7th-ranked SPAM-eating champ, 14th-ranked Erik “The Red” Denmark of Seattle, and the up-and-coming sibling duo known as the McKirdy brothers.