speed eating

[nestrobber]

Is speed eating a legitimate sport ?

I'd say no for obvious reasons ...but this seems to be gaining ground. See article below:

Japan speed-eater gobbles title

Mr Kobayashi broke hot dogs in half before wolfing them down

Takeru Kobayashi is not nicknamed "Tsunami" or "Big Wave" for nothing.

The Japanese world speed-eating champion has swallowed a total of 53 and a half hot dogs, and their accompanying buns, in just 12 minutes.

He broke last year's record during a hot dog eating event at New York's Coney Island on Sunday.

Mr Kobayashi used his trademark "Solomon technique" - splitting the sausage in two before wolfing it down and moving on to the next one.

Records smashed

"I think he has proven, once again, that he is one of the finest athletes of any sport in the world," said spokesman for the contest Richard Shea.

The competition was first held in Coney Island in 1916

A Japanese citizen Noboyuki Shirota came in second after wolfing down some 38 hot dogs.

An American of South Korean descent Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas, came in third with 32 dogs, breaking the women's world record.

"She's just beginning with this, so the sky's the limit," Mr Shea said of Ms Thomas.

"She may be the only one who can challenge the Japanese's dominance in the future."

The hot dog competition has been running at Coney island since 1916.

Some 3,000 people turned out on Sunday to watch the dogs go down.

[ZeroBS]

I think it is a dumb activity? not to be a downer, but there are starving people in the world and to watch these people gorge them selves for no reason other then to win a trophy makes me sick! :angry:y::cry:y:

[illicit]

I wouldn't consider speed eating to be a legitimate sport.

[soppychunk]

who cares. let people call it a sport. what does it matter to you?

[bigbluepride35]

I think it matters because it flies in the face of every sentiment we have about sports. THe majority of these guys are NOT athletic. And last I checked gluttony was definitely NOT a sport. It also encourages a VERY unhealthy lifestyle. There is nothing about this that says sport to me.

[nestrobber]

who cares. let people call it a sport. what does it matter to you?

586374721[/snapback]

It matters because aren't sports supposed to be healthy ? and where's the honour/sportmanship angle in speed eating ?

Actually, bigbluepride puts it down better than I could ever hope to...

[GNRambo]

no way in hell is it a sport. Or else speed-crapping can be a sport too :rofl:

[emo]

no?

[DanManIt]

Ughh. 53 and a half hot dogs.

I couldn't even imagin how sick I would be after eating all of that. :wacko: