World's top eaters compete for a seat in 2007 Nathan's Famous July 4th International Hot Dog Eating Contest
World Readies for Hotly Anticipated Kobayashi - Chestnut Rematch - 2007 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Nathan's Famous, Inc. has announced the list of cities that will host qualifying events as official stops on the road to the annual International July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest, which will occur at the original Nathan’s Famous restaurant in Coney Island, NY. The tour will gather the world’s best Major League Eaters and put them on the biggest stage in the sport of competitive eating.
“Our July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest has become an institution that reaches new heights each year,” said Wayne Norbitz, President and COO of Nathan’s Famous, Inc. “Last year’s event was watched by more people than ever and this year’s anticipated rematch between Kobayashi and Chestnut is generating incredible excitement.”
In 2006, 30,000 fans crowded the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island to witness the match-up between Takeru Kobayashi of Japan and Joey Chestnut of California. An additional 1.5 million households tuned in to the contest’s live broadcast on ESPN. Chestnut ate an astounding 52 Nathan’s Hot Dogs and Buns in the 12-minute contest, nearly dethroning Kobayashi who ate 53.75 hot dogs and buns and secured his sixth straight title.
2006 nathan s hot dog eating contest results
The 2007 Nathan’s Famous worldwide hot dog-eating circuit begins on March 24th in Sunrise, Florida. It will continue in May and June with over a dozen qualifying contests being held in towns that include Charlotte, NC, Philadelphia, PA, Las Vegas, NV, Atlanta, GA, and Tokyo, Japan. The winner of each qualifying round will receive the right to compete in the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest which, according to archives, has occurred each July 4th in Coney Island, NY since 1916. Qualifiers are open to those 18 years of age and older and applications will be taken online at www.nathansfamous.com.
“Rich with zeal and pageantry, the Nathan’s Famous International July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest puts the basis of human endeavor on display for all the world,” said Richard Shea, president of Major League Eating. “One never knows where the most ambitious eaters among us live, but I am confident we will identify incredible eating talent during the 2007 circuit.”
Kobayashi has won the Fourth of July contest for six straight years and the Coveted Nathan’s Famous Mustard Yellow International Belt, the World Cup of competitive eating, has been held by Japanese competitors for nearly a decade. American eating fans feel the belt should return to American soil and are looking to eaters like San Jose’s Chestnut and Chicago’s Patrick Bertoletti to win the belt back for the United States.
For more information, please call Shea Communications (212) 627-5766.
Hot Dog Contest History
The Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest has been held at Nathan's Famous on the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island each year since 1916, according to legend.
At midday each Fourth of July, a group of 20 steely-eyed individuals line up behind a 40-foot table to begin the 12-minute contest. These competitors, known in the sport of competitive eating as gurgitators, may not appear athletic to the untrained eye of John Q. Public. However, they are among the finest athletes in the world.
A very special year for the contest was 1993, which marked the return of the coveted Mustard-Yellow International Belt to American soil. In November of 1993, in a one-on-one contest, Nathan's champ Mike Devito beat Japanese eating phenom Orio Ito to bring back the belt, which had been in Japan for seven years. By winning this contest, Devito reunified the world hot dog eating titles (an accomplishment similar to Mike Tyson's reunification of the world's boxing titles in 1987).
The bejeweled Coveted Mustard Yellow International Belt, worn only by the International Champion, is to hot dog aficionados what Faberge Eggs were to Czar Nicholas. The belt is of unknown age and value, and is unveiled only at the annual contest. The belt is now in Japan, where it stands in a secure display case in Saitama near the Nakazato Danchi campus. - Source: Nathan's Famous, Inc. Press
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
