Something to Look Forward to...Finally!

I am coming back to the table with a vengeance and a new look. The occurrences in the last few weeks in competitive eating have quite possibly changed the course of the sport permanently. Joey Chestnut went ballistic in Las Vegas and ate 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes to light a flame on Kobayashi's ass. Since Chestnut's performance in Vegas it seems that everyone else on the circuit has been given a shot of adrenaline and 20 hot dogs is no longer the measuring stick by which to qualify with. There have already been 5 people to break the 20 hot dog barrier (and 1 to break the 30 hot dog barrier) and not qualify for Coney.

It's good to see the Americans taking things rather personal this year and I am excited to get back out there and improve on my weak Florida performance of 13.5 hot dogs. I am capable of many more hot dogs, I have proven it in practice, and I will be ready for this weekend at the Nathan's qualifier in Tempe, Arizona.

The following weekend, June 10, I will be in Las Vegas for an impromptu Grilled Cheese Competition and most likely I will be in Milwaukee on June 17th for a Bratwurst Qualifier. So, let's get it on!

International Nathan's Qualifiers Revealed

This is a picture of the 2006 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Contest schedule on the back of the Nathan's shirt I received and wore at the Sunrise qualifier on April 15:


Some interesting things of note here on the schedule. There will be four international qualifiers, starting with London, England on June 3, followed by a contest in Thailand on June 20, Hanover, Germany on June 21, and finally what should be a very competitive qualifier in Tokyo, Japan on June 25.

I have not seen the international contest schedule revealed anywhere but on the back of this t-shirt. Maybe they fear that American eaters will go over seas to try and qualify. Probably a good thing because I would take a trip to Thailand, if I could attempt to qualify there. Regardless, what this means is that Nathan's Famous contest on the 4th of July, the Super Bowl of competitive eating, is expanding to all parts of the globe to find contestants which will make this year's contest even more intriguing.

Also, one more important thing to note about the schedule on the t-shirt; the Arizona qualifier was announced to be held on June 4th on the Nathan's website and on the T-shirt it is scheduled for June 3rd. Hopefully, the real date will be announced soon since some of us may be trying to book travel plans.