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design219 · Jul 3, 2007, 01:51 PM

Well... Paris Hilton is news. Welcome to the 21st Century.

MacosNerd · Jul 3, 2007, 01:51 PM

I've started seeing stories about this recently even on espn

here's the msnbc link

Sot his begs the question is it a sport or gluttony? While I'll be the first to admit that it takes training but really is this a true sport or a freak show?

design219 · Jul 3, 2007, 01:52 PM

hahahah!

I love this new database set up.

olePigeon · Jul 3, 2007, 01:53 PM

Not in Ethiopia.

design219 · Jul 3, 2007, 01:57 PM

So, do these "athletes" get all the hot babes?

Geez, this was supposed to go below the post below.

irunat2am · Jul 3, 2007, 01:59 PM

There was actually a 30 minute or hour long show on last year about people that do this. The eating that they do a couple months in advance to train their bodies for the contests is fricken insane. A japanese guy was eating like 10 pounds worth of food in one session to expand his stomach.

So nutty..

iREZ · Jul 3, 2007, 02:02 PM

yeah...it was on mtv i think, 'true life: im a competition eater' or something like that. kobayashi is ridiculous and he talks about how his organs are different than normal organs in placement, which basically allows his stomach to expand if he wants to, where normal us's cant.

RAILhead · Jul 3, 2007, 02:08 PM

Chuckit · Jul 3, 2007, 02:20 PM

More so than golf.

Incidentally, I don't know if she was on that show, but if not, Google Gal Sone. She's this tiny, thin Japanese girl who can eat a friggin' bowl of chili bigger than she is. That **** trips me out.

design219 · Jul 3, 2007, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

...Gal Sone. She's this tiny, thin Japanese girl who can eat a friggin' bowl of chili bigger than she is.

Is she hot?

Chuckit · Jul 3, 2007, 02:42 PM

Uh…if you like tiny, thin Japanese girls with bleached hair who can eat scary amounts of food, she's smokin'.

design219 · Jul 3, 2007, 02:49 PM

Yeaaaah!

shabbasuraj · Jul 3, 2007, 02:56 PM

anything is a sport.. or a game

residentEvil · 04:24 PM

i wouldn't say this is all that "new" (espn's coverage i mean; the event has been going on for almost 100 years). espn(2) has been carrying the nathan's famous event live for 4 years now; with "pre-game" and everything. tlc or bravo had a series on about it too...the IFOCE. the series followed around the top US competitors leading up to the 2005 hot dog event at nathan's famous. (might have been 2004). they replay it a lot this time of year too, and with some added footage of recent qualifying events.

coverage starts at noon tomorrow! go joey!!! some place i got a replica mustard belt.

International Federation of Competitive Eating - IFOCE

Sherman Homan · Jul 3, 2007, 04:27 PM

It is not a sport if you can't get hurt.

Rumor · Jul 3, 2007, 04:39 PM

I'm not sure if gorging on hot dogs should be considered a sport. However, vampire pigeon hunting, now that is a real mans sport.

besson3c · Jul 3, 2007, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by MacosNerd

I've started seeing stories about this recently even on espn

here's the msnbc link

Sot his begs the question is it a sport or gluttony? While I'll be the first to admit that it takes training but really is this a true sport or a freak show?

How do you define a true sport? Serious question...

MacosNerd · Jul 3, 2007, 06:16 PM

I'm still saying its a freak show. While there's little doubt that the people who "compete" train very hard, there's really little skill and physical prowess. Basically who can shovel the most hot dogs down their gullet into their freakishly stretched stomach wins.

besson3c · Jul 3, 2007, 06:21 PM

MacOSNerd,

Just out of curiosity, what does it matter how this is labeled? Or, are you just surprised as to how something so seemingly dumb would have enough following to become a competitive event?

Chuckit · Jul 3, 2007, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by MacosNerd

I'm still saying its a freak show. While there's little doubt that the people who "compete" train very hard, there's really little skill and physical prowess. Basically who can shovel the most hot dogs down their gullet into their freakishly stretched stomach wins.

And boxing is basically who can hit the other guy in the face the most. And javelin-throwing is just seeing who can throw a stick the farthest. Simplicity of concept doesn't generally seem to factor into the definition of a sport.

besson3c · Jul 3, 2007, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

And boxing is basically who can hit the other guy in the face the most. And javelin-throwing is just seeing who can throw a stick the farthest. Simplicity of concept doesn't generally seem to factor into the definition of a sport.

What is the definition of sport? Seriously...

JoshuaZ · Jul 3, 2007, 07:10 PM

If StarCraft and HALO are sports, then anything is.

MacosNerd · Jul 3, 2007, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

are you just surprised as to how something so seemingly dumb would have enough following to become a competitive event?

Yes

besson3c · Jul 3, 2007, 11:24 PM

I think that tomorrow I shall eat some hot dogs, this thread has been making me long for some wiener.

I like hot dogs.

residentEvil · Jul 4, 2007, 11:55 AM

destroyed!

USA! USA! USA!

Nodnarb · Jul 4, 2007, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

I'm not sure if gorging on hot dogs should be considered a sport. However, vampire pigeon hunting, now that is a real mans sport.

Do you mean peacock hunting?

OldManMac · Jul 4, 2007, 01:19 PM

And here are some aspects of the not-so-good part of this absurd activity.

The past and future of competitive eating injuries. - By Jason Fagone - Slate Magazine

TheoCryst · Jul 4, 2007, 05:36 PM

Only in America™

Sherman Homan · Jul 4, 2007, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by TheoCryst

Only in America™

The reigning champion is Japanese.
We need a throw up emoticon. Or, as the contest describes it "Suffering a reversal."
!

Cipher13 · Jul 4, 2007, 09:55 PM

Sport? Hell no.

Neither is bowling, curling, synchronised swimming, lawn bowls, croquet, or golf.

Cipher13 · Jul 4, 2007, 10:04 PM

Dp.

EDIT: What the ****, the forum keeps changing my capitalisation.

ort888 · Jul 4, 2007, 10:07 PM

Is weight-lifting a sport?

This is the same basic idea. Take the human body and push it too extremes.

ort888 · Jul 4, 2007, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by Sherman Homan

The reigning champion is Japanese.
We need a throw up emoticon. Or, as the contest describes it "Suffering a reversal."
!

Not anymore. He got beaten today by an American.

USA! USA! USA!

Watching Kobayashi (sp?) eat his own vomit at the end of the match was quite entertaining.

besson3c · Jul 4, 2007, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by Cipher13

Sport? Hell no.

Neither is bowling, curling, synchronised swimming, lawn bowls, croquet, or golf.

Why aren't these activities sports? What is your definition of a sport?

besson3c · Jul 4, 2007, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Cipher13

My personal definition of a sport, which you may or may not find valid, is a competitive activity requiring peak physical fitness and certain specific skills to excel at, and which does not have an upper limit on achievement per event. The scoring of these sports should also not be subjective.

I take it that means sumo wrestling is out?

Cipher13 · Jul 5, 2007, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Why aren't these activities sports? What is your definition of a sport?

My personal definition of a sport, which you may or may not find valid, is a competitive activity requiring peak physical fitness and certain specific skills to excel at, and which does not have an upper limit on achievement per event. The scoring of these sports should also not be subjective.

steamy · Jul 5, 2007, 01:13 AM

if a person died in the water-drinking-contest half year ago,
I think wieners have even more potential to kill.
Woman dies of 'water intoxication' after radio contest - Joystiq

Obi Wan's Ghost · Jul 5, 2007, 02:09 AM

Sport is competition. That's all it means. He-man and leotards don't have the patent on what can be called a competitive event. Chess, poker, pool, darts and snooker are sports that don't require a six pack (six pints would be better!) for example.

Mrjinglesusa · Jul 5, 2007, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

More so than golf.

Now that's funny.

Chuckit · Jul 5, 2007, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by steamy

if a person died in the water-drinking-contest half year ago,
I think wieners have even more potential to kill.

I think a 300-pound linebacker probably has even more, but nobody's hating on football.

Cipher13 · 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

I take it that means sumo wrestling is out?

Sadly, I think it is...

Originally Posted by Obi Wan's Ghost

Sport is competition. That's all it means. He-man and leotards don't have the patent on what can be called a competitive event. Chess, poker, pool, darts and snooker are sports that don't require a six pack (six pints would be better!) for example.

I think "sport" by definition requires some physical exertion... none of those do, so they're not sports.

That doesn't mean they're not great - I love pool and chess.

Obi Wan's Ghost · Jul 5, 2007, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by Cipher13

I think "sport" by definition requires some physical exertion... none of those do, so they're not sports.

That doesn't mean they're not great - I love pool and chess.

C'mon, all competitive events and hobbies require a degree of physical exertion. Hot dog eating more so than just about any of the popular sports. Not only before and during the event but also after

zro · Jul 5, 2007, 09:42 AM

No doubt. I'm sure it takes all their physicality to keep from shitting themselves on the cab ride back to their hotel.