Quotes from Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Nothing says celebrating the birthday of the greatest country in the world than seeing a bunch of grown men partake in gluttony.  The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest has emerged as the premier "sporting" event of the 4th of July and is as synonymous with the holiday as college football is to New Year's Day, the NFL is to Thanksgiving, or the NBA is to Christmas Day.  Personally, I enjoy the hot dog contest not because of the great "athleticism" or "competition," but for the drastically over-the-top presentation by ESPN.  I hope everyone involved is in on the joke because it has become the most ridiculous competition of the year.  In spite of the hype and popularity, please stop trying to convince us that this is a sport...


Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon might as well be calling this thing, but in reality, former Indy 500 play by play man Paul Page and MLE President Rich Shea provide the farcical commentary.  Shea in particular is so laughably overdramatic that I'm convinced he's a master promoter well aware of what he's doing.  Here are the best and most insane quotes from the day.  

Pre-Contest

Champ Joey Chestnut before the event - "I feel great, I'm hungry, I'm happy, it's the 4th of July and I'm gonna do whatever it takes to win."

Runner up Pat Bertoletti - "I started eating competitively because I was talentless in all other realms of competition."


Contest

Page - "Ladies and gentlemen, start your enzymes."

Shea on Chestnut - "He can pick up his 5th straight and be the Bjorn Borg of the smorgasbord."

Shea on Chestnut again - "At this moment in the contest when I see Joey eating with this ferocity and this determination I get filled with emotion.  We're not even at the end yet and I'm more emotional than the last episode of Oprah because this kid brings every single thing he's got, every bit of his fiber."

 

— Matt Yoder

Awfulannouncing.com