Six Peeps

July 8, 2008

What happens when a wedding photographer gets a media pass to…

NATHAN’S INTERNATIONAL HOT DOG EATING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CONEY ISLAND, BROOKLYN, NY!!!

That’s right.

I somehow got a media pass to the Hot Dog eating Championships on the 4th of July. I found myself standing amongst ESPN (who covered the event live), CNN, FOX, ABC, NBS, CBS, etc… and a cheering crowd of 35,000 spectators.

All I have to say is WOW!
….and “NASTY!” It was NASTY, like good nasty, you know? Like when people used to say, “That’s Bad”, well I am coining the phrase, “That’s NASTY!”.

Anyway, I have a ton of photos, so here goes. This was quite an event. Oh, random note: My dad was born in Coney Island! Coney Island Hospital. I had no idea. I don’t know if I should be proud or… hmmm

OK.

It started out like any great event. An old, OLD guy, singing songs about hot dogs and soda pop.

And then, of course, a little rap by one of the competitors.

Did I mention 35,000 spectators?

Who knew.

There’s my friend from the previous post. I love the sign.

Was that ESPN 8, THE OCHO??? NO. It was the real ESPN.

Of course there were trampoline teams during the pre-show.

The Master of Ceremony was awesome.

Time to meet the competitors. This guy goes by “Crazy Legs”. He is INTENSE. A fine-tuned athlete, I tell ya’s.

Not sure of his name but he is fierce as well.

Joey Chestnut is the returning champion.

One of the competitors was a body builder. So kids, if you want to grow up big and strong, eat plenty of hot dogs.

A female competitor! She is actually kind of pretty, right? Wait until you see another shot I got of her. You might think twice.

Meet Sonya, the BLACK WIDOW!!! Can you believe she can hang in this competition? I have no idea where 50 hot dogs and buns go.

Kobeashi! I know I misspelled that. This guy is like, HUGE in Asia. He won this contest 6 years in a row until last year where he got beat by the American. Thank God! I mean, this is obviously an AMERICAN sport! We own this!

Someone got proposed to. Talk about romantic!

This is my patriotic shot

One of my favorites of the day for no real reason.

She’s still pretty!

Not a competitor. It’s actually Santa! Now you know what he does on his off-season. Is that some sort of hot-dog “product” in your hair? A lot of the competitors coats had that nice, “I eat lots of hot dogs” sheen to them. You know where hot dogs really come from? You might want to ask this guy. He makes hot dogs himself, hand-shaping the meat that goes into each and every hot dog. He’s a dedicated craftsman.

Classy. I love the hot dog in the martini. Extra dirty means “add a little hot dog water”.

Another true American Athlete gets pumped up with music… and a little acne, which compliments his hot dog product in the hair.

A little pre-competition prayer. “Dear God, please let me win this competition founded upon gluttany at its worst”…?

“Dear God, Me too”.

This guy was actually going through the movements. He is focused like Tiger Woods!

THE FIRST BITE! KOBE GOES IN STRONG! Look at those jaws of THUNDER!

DON’T LOOK AT THE SIGN!!!!

Still think she’s pretty?? I’m thinking, “advertisement for Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses”

I am so proud of our American Culture. These are some of our most talented athletes. Very attractive. I wonder what he’s listening to?

Uh ma’am, you have something on your mouth”

Kobe was two hot dogs behind Chestnut. He was getting MAD.

He can’t take it anymore!!! GRAB A HOLD OF YOURSELF!

EASY….!

Gone from focused, to mad, to delirious.

Amazing. They tied. Time for a 5 dog shovedown between Kobe and Chestnut. Chestnut pushes the hot dog mush deeper into his bowels. These athletes subject themselves to pain, but it’s all for the victory!

The American Wins!

So that’s where they all went?

Second place is still not bad.

This represents about 50 hot dogs. These guys ate over 60 I think…. in just 10 minutes.

Since I had a media pass, I was allowed to get one-on-one’s with the competitors.

Crazy Legs:

The MC:

Hmmm, is he having a second wind? “Maybe I’ll have just one more!”

He didn’t win, but he looked like he did. He’s a champion in my eyes.

This guy got third place.

Anyone hungry? I was planning on having a famous Nathan’s Hot Dog after the event, but the line was incredibly long. Somehow, I already felt stuffed.

I went straight back to Manhattan where I then followed around some real crazy NYC bike messengers. Stay tuned for that!

July 8, 2008 |