My foray into competitive eating began somewhere along Route 219 last spring break. It wasn’t until around hour three of our five-hour journey that I began to realize what I was getting myself into. When I left Buffalo at 9 a.m. that morning, I knew I was setting sail on a pilgrimage of epic proportions. Little did I know that the only thing that would outshine the magnitude of my trip was a ten-pound slab of cow scraps.
By early afternoon, my buddy Fred and I had descended upon Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub in the hills of Clearfield, PA. Unless you are into quantum binging, you probably have never heard of the scenic rural Pennsylvania ville, but to others, it is a mecca. In recent years, Denny’s has gradually super-sized their menu due to competition, but is proud to boast the biggest burgers in the world, including a six-pounder for $35, and most recently a 15-pound patty adorned with, among other things, twenty-five slices of American cheese.
While I settled for a meal of grossly smaller proportions that day, I was intrigued by what kind of man can chow down on such a behemoth of a burger. Eric “Badlands” Booker, known worldwide for his dominance in the sport of competitive eating, (he still holds the record for peas: over nine pounds in twelve minutes) couldn’t even finish Denny’s Ol’ ‘96er (the six-pound burger, dubbed this moniker for its weight in ounces) in the required time limit. Last year’s Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Contest in Coney Island, NY drew more viewers on ESPN than a World Series playoff game. I quickly realized that this “sport” of competitive eating was actually becoming a sport, without the quotation marks. The following year I decided Nathan’s was a must.
50,000 people went this Independence Day, including myself. From the early hours of the morning, folks from across the world lined up to catch a glimpse of Japanese legend Takeru Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut, the San Jose hopeful, battle it out in front of Nathan’s Hot Dogs, the venerable seaside weiner shack that has served patrons for practically a century now. Kobayashi, the reigning champ for an astonishing six years, was facing perhaps his toughest rival yet in Chestnut, a college student who had just recently begun making his way up the competitive eating ladder. While I waited hours for the main event to start, I was treated to all sorts of food-related entertainment, from men in hot dog suits dancing, to cowboys playing songs about hot dogs, and everything in-between. Do you remember that scene in the movie version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas where Gonzo and Duke go to the casino? It was something like that. Nothing short of Salvador Dali deep-throating footlongs from center stage would have made this more surreal.
And so here I was at Dunn Tire Park this past weekend. From my initial trip to Denny’s to Coney Island and now the National Buffalo Wing Festival, all in just over a year, I have found myself actually interested in a sport for once. While others spent this past week lining up picks for their fantasy football drafts, I hung out with Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas and discussed her strategy for the big game this past Sunday, the Buffet Bowl. Hundreds of perhaps-not-so-able-minded men and women from across the world compete internationally, day by day, eating everything from raw oysters and cheesecakes to cow brains and grilled cheese. While it is by no means a career to most, the prize money is substantial and in some cases, a primary source of income. Kobayashi makes a living off of endorsements and sponsorships, as well as the compensations he earns for winning contests around the globe. Thomas, who competes on the weekends, has a full time job as a Burger King manager in Maryland. Though Kobayashi is one of just a handful of exceptions, it is humbling to know that these competitors, hailed as world-class athletes by their peers and admirers, are still keeping it real.
Students looking to enter the field of competitive eating are encouraged to check out IFOCE.com, the official website for the International Federation of Competitive Eating. It will not only let you in on all the exciting records, but also keep you up to date with competitions across the world. If you want to start a little smaller, head over to Cheeburger Cheeburger on Niagara Falls Boulevard. If you can eat their 20-ounce burger, you get your photo on the wall. I downed mine in four minutes with a milkshake. Any challengers?
Andrew Blake
Photo Editor
