Eating Contests- ultimate slap to hungry people?

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:40 am

I have always had a problem with eating contests. Not only do I think they're stupid in their own right but when I hear about people scarfing 50 weiners to win a prize or a title, it seems like a total insult to all the people in the world who go without food because they have to.

I see it as extreme gluttony. In the US, we have a lot of all you can eat buffets and you'd be sick at the amount of food that goes in the garbage because people get greedy and take too much.

I'd rather see someone get some food to Africa or even to hungry people in our own country and get acknowledgement for that rather than be crowned for cramming a waste of food down their gullet.

What do you think about this?

July 4, 2007

23-Year-Old Eats His Way to Hot Dog Title

By KEN BELSON

The top dog is top dog no longer.

For 12 grueling minutes, Takeru Kobayashi pounded hot dog after hot dog into his mouth, defying the pain in his jaw that might have humbled other men.

It was a script out of a “Rocky movie, with an upstart trying to fell the champion. And just as in those movies, the upstart and the champion embraced in the end, knowing that a sequel was inevitable.

That was how it went after Joey Chestnut, a 23-year-old engineering student from California, ate a world-record 66 hot dogs to unseat the six-time champ, Mr. Kobayashi, at the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island.

Chants of “U.S.A. and “Joey! Joey! rose from the crowd when Mr. Chestnut hoisted the mustard-yellow champion’s belt.

Mr. Kobayashi bowed and was characteristically humble in defeat. But he also pointed straight at Mr. Chestnut and yelled, “I will definitely beat him next year.

Though there were enough patriots in the crowd for an American to win the belt for the first time this decade and be cheerfully welcomed, Mr. Kobayashi clearly has established a following. Fans flooded the stage in search of autographs after Mr. Kobayashi lost the championship this year by three hot dogs.

One fan carried a sign in Japanese that read, “If we get married, I’ll make you hot dogs every day.

The outcome was unclear until the end, the rivals being neck and neck throughout the competition. After both men appeared to finish with 63 hot dogs eaten, the judges spent several minutes in a somewhat bizarre recount. To determine a winner, the judges counted the scraps left on the plates.

The closeness of the contest made it more than live up to expectations. In June, Mr. Chestnut broke Mr. Kobayashi’s world record by six hot dogs, stuffing down 59 and a bite in 12 minutes. Beyond that, Mr. Kobayashi reported on his Web site in late June that he had an unexplained ailment that limited the motion of his jaw, so that he could open his mouth no wider than a fingertip, and even that with pain.

As recently as last week, he appeared to be unable to eat anything more substantial than yogurt and rice porridge, making it unclear whether he could compete at all today. But a few hours before the event, Mr. Kobayashi went to an acupuncturist to relieve his pain.

“I lost, but since I couldn’t do my best, it’s a good thing that there’s a new champion, Mr. Kobayashi said.

SlipStream · Post by **SlipStream** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:45 am

yep , I too think contests such as eating are crazzy.

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:57 am

Revolting. We are inundated with buffet style restaurants here. Many of them are revolting also,

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:20 am

While sitting at the garage, a morning show had him on. He went on to demonstrate how he could eat I think it was 10 donuts in a minute. Yes, it is awful-a waste of good food, when other's could use it more then him!

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:22 pm

Lots of waste in this world. None of those hot dogs would have fed hungry people.

These guys, believe it or not, are well-trained athletes, who take their sport very seriously.

Seriously.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:53 am

almostfamous;654196 wrote: Well, I still think it's as ridiculous as wrestlling (WWE type). They're well-trained athletes as well, some might say:rolleyes:.
That's how I feel about car racing. I wonder if global warming zealots protest them.

Elvira · Post by **Elvira** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:11 am

I agree with you, pointless, trivial nonsense...

What about fasts though or hunger strikes, these too could be deemed as insensitive to those with no choice.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:20 am

Elvira;654319 wrote: I agree with you, pointless, trivial nonsense...

What about fasts though or hunger strikes, these too could be deemed as insensitive to those with no choice.

You know Elvira, that's a really good point. I never would have thought of that. Maybe it depends on the reason they're doing it?

It's good to see you.

You haven't been around for a while.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:46 pm

I just don't see how or why anyone would be proud to win one. It's not a sport. There's nothing athletic about sucking down 60 hot dogs or 15 blueberry pies or whatever. But that's not my actual beef about it. It's not even the "waste" of the food. It's how it looks in the face of grandma eating cat food because she can't afford groceries *and* her heating bill. And I know they're not strictly American domain, but it does remind me of the excess and overconsumption of America.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 11:00 pm

Hey AF, we have a Quizno's out here. A sandwich chain. They take foot long bread loaves and cut off about 4 inches off the end of it. Then they throw these ends into a 32 gallon trash can. It's full before the day is even over. I asked what they did with the bread and they said they toss it. I asked why couldn't they give that bread to homeless people? Or the salvation army/church relief/whatever. I even suggested giving it to the pounds so the dogs would be a little better filled. They looked at me like I had two heads. So after that I'd demand the end they cut off my sandwich just because I figured I paid for it and because I could. I know it's just bread but if you're that hungry, you'd be happy to have it. It seems like such a little thing to bicker over but it's a 32 gallon garbage can overflowing with BREAD!!! The most filling thing you could eat!! GAH! I'm mad all over again now!

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 3:50 am

magenta flame;654893 wrote: I think those eating competitions are disgusting. I could never look anyone in the face that went into one of those events.
Wait until they swallow and use a napkin, then it should be easier.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 3:58 am

magenta flame;654939 wrote: We have a Bakers Delight and they are the only ones I know of who give the days left over bread to the poor (My dad delivers it) I lived in a children's home as a teen. Once a week or so, we'd get a big black garbage bag full of donuts from a local bakery. We knew they'd have been thrown away if we weren't there to take them, which made them garbage ... and the black plastic bag didn't help the image. We complained about the insult the entire time we stuffed our faces.

magenta flame wrote: Wehen I worked in a bakery many moons ago they used to sell day old bread half price to the old folks homes (this is becuase the older you get the harder it is to digest fresh bread) anyway some stupid law came in and they stopped doing it.

they began selling it off to pig farmers. WTF?There was a large pig farm near our house when we lived in Las Vegas (when I first joined FG). The casino restaurants paid the farmer to take their garbage, which he fed to the pigs, then sold for slaughter to serve on the casino buffet tables. Ah, the circle of life. Anyway, when the wind was right the stench would knock you to your knees. They were featured on that show "Dirty Jobs"

Uncle Kram · Post by **Uncle Kram** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 3:59 am

Best not to over egg it

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