These people are ruining my apetite

Read this article on Eats.com----

I like food like the rest of them but this is where I take offense to these fools dipping their dogs in water. I know here in NYC we have dirty water digs but this is taking it to another level. READ THE ARTICLE
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http://eats.com/eats-editorials/foodie-news/finding-glory-in-gluttony-20090702865/

There exists a sport that defies the most primitive of expectations. A physical challenge in which a 98-pound woman can not only beat a muscular man twice her size, but can annihilate him to embarrassing degrees. A sport for which 40,000 fans abandon their friends, their families and their barbecues every Independence Day to cheer on their favorites in a time-honored face-off at Coney Island. This sport is competitive eating, and it’s intense.



What? Competitive eating is strictly defined as “an activity in which participants compete against each other to consume large amounts of food in a short amount of time.” (No, the last time you were drunk at Taco Bell’s fourth meal doesn’t count.) Though records of gluttonous competitive behavior date back to the 13th century, organized competitive eating began at the first annual Nathan’s Hot Dogs competition. It was held on July 4, 1913 between four immigrants who ate hot dogs to determine who had the most patriotic spirit (the winning number was a paltry 13). The sport has grown considerably since then and although there are many local competitions held each year, such as at iconic neighborhood restaurants or fairs, the official sport of competitive eating is regulated by Major League Eating, formerly the IFOCE (International Federation of Competitive Eating). This body officiates over their “Major League Eating” events, holding about 100 every year, and tries “to maintain a safe environment for all events, while also seeking to create a dynamic and enjoyable fan experience.” It was founded in 1997 by brothers Richard and George Shea. The Sheas were previously in charge of publicity for Nathan’s Hot Dogs and having successfully established massive attendance and media presence for the annual Coney Island competition, they turned their attentions towards building a comprehensive network of competitive eating events. Since the MLE’s inception, competitive eating has become a televised event on ESPN, Nintendo has released a Wii game devoted to the sport and public acclaim has skyrocketed. For more information, please visit the official MLE website or read Ryan Nerz’s memoir, “Eat This Book: A Year of Gorging and Glory on the Competitive Eating Circuit.”


Who? In competitive eating, it’s not nearly as important how much you can eat as it is how quickly you can eat it. Thus, thinner participants are actually at an advantage. Because they have less fat surrounding their stomachs, it becomes easier for it to stretch and accommodate massive quantities of food in a short period of time. However, there is no demonstrated physical ideal for competitive eating. Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas, ranked fifth in the nation, consumed more than 10% of her body weight, when she ate 11 pounds of cheesecake in nine minutes, despite only weighing 105 pounds. Likewise, 63-year-old Richard LeFevre, ranked eighth, ate one and a half gallons of Stagg Chili in ten minutes, but weighs in at only 132 pounds. On the other extreme are eating greats like Ed “Cookie” Jarvis who weighs 380 lbs, and ate an entire pizza pie in three minutes. It’s impossible to determine how many competitive eating champions there are, because innumerable events are held independently from the MLE. However, for the top 20 current competitors and their achievements, please consult these rankings.


When/Where? Well, if you want to participate in competitive eating, there are a range of foods that may suit your fancy. (Although I doubt many competitive eaters are doing it for the taste.) As mentioned, about 80 to 100 events are held by the MLE each year, ranging from deep fried asparagus to hamburgers to chicken feet to hard-boiled eggs. The competitions are spread throughout the country and each has its own stipulations regarding qualifying and entrance for the meet. A simple online search will reveal many options or you can check out the archives of the official ICOCE website. Some of our personal favorites include the Krystal Square Off III World Hamburger Eating Championships in Chattanooga, TN, the Jalapeno Eating Championship in Dallas, TX and (for a strangely healthy spin) the b. good Garlicky Green Eating Competition in Cambridge, MA.


Why? Well, why compete in any sport? Glory and D-list celebrity status; for the competition and the thrill of winning. (And most competitors will also tell you that they simply love to eat.) Though most events do award a monetary prize to the biggest glutton, one is likely unable to sustain themselves on their winnings alone and most have side jobs. As Sonya Thomas, who is a manager at Burger King when she isn’t competing, explained to the San Francisco Chronicle, “I love doing it because I can win. That’s my hobby. Makes me happy.” And of course, there is always the Holy Grail of competitive eating to achieve, the Mustard Yellow Money Belt. Currently held by Joey Chestnut, it is awarded annually to the winner of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, the Superbowl of the Major League Eating world.


How? Just like Derek Jeter or Tiger Woods, competitive eaters must train their bodies to successfully engage in their challenges. The stomach must be able to expand to considerable degrees and therefore, athletes practice by consuming massive quantities of water and voluminous but low calorie foods like lettuce over short periods of time. (Most competitors focus on maintaining a relatively lean body weight.) They may also engage in short time trials to increase their speed in cramming and swallowing and to learn how to exercise muscle control to accommodate their intake. Meanwhile, cardio regimens of running or biking facilitate respiratory control, as breathing plays a huge role in competitive eating. A multitude of strategies are favored by the competitors during the events such as dunking starches (e.g. hot dog buns) in water to make them easier to swallow, or bobbing up and down to facilitate the passage of food down the esophagus. The biggest strategy debate considers the days leading up to the competition- some competitors swear by fasting to whet the appetite and empty the belly, while others claim it is necessary to eat a huge meal to stretch out the stomach.


Think you’ve got what it takes? As long as you’re over 18, you are eligible to join the network of Major League Eaters. An application is accessible here, and you will be informed about upcoming events. But, heed our warning. You may think you can eat; you’re probably wrong. For many, their first competition is also their last. We will not hold your hair back as you hunch over the toilet. With that, good luck.