Misc

Greatest American Hero

Believe it or not, Joey Chestnut is walking on air. It’s surprising he’s even walking at all.

The 22-year-old college student has shattered his sport’s equivalent of the four-minute mile. Last night in Vegas, he became the first American to consume 50 hot dogs (including buns) in 12 minutes. Chestnut now advances to the annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island.

According to ESPN, Chestnut says he once consumed 48 franks at home, but never breached 50. (Does he have a spotter? Or does he sit alone in his kitchen pounding down dog after dog? The mind boggles.)

He left the old US record of 42 held by Sonya Thomas in a wake of grease and crumbs. But he is still about two feet of meat and bread short of the record held by Japan’s Takeru Kobayashi, the undisputed king of gluttony who once packed 53 ½ tube steaks into his gullet and is the five-time reigning champion of the Nathan’s event

Like basketball, sno-bo-cross, and torpor, competitive eating is one thing at which America should be the best in the word. It’s a birthright.

Thanks to his great sacrifice, Chestnut will go head-to-head against Kobayashi at the Nathan’s contest held, fittingly, on the 4th of July. Make America proud, Joey!

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