The Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on the Fourth of July

I used to watch the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on TV every Fourth of July. For some people, Independence Day meant fireworks, barbecues, parades. But, for me, it meant sitting in front of ESPN and watching a row of gurgitators consume as many hot dogs as was humanly possible in 12 minutes.

George Shea announces the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

In 2007, I watched the Super Bowl of competitive eating from my couch, at home, when Joey Chestnut ate 66 hot dogs and buns and out-ate the seemingly un-beatable, six-time hot dog eating champion, Takeru Kobayashi. It was unexpected, unprecedented, unheard of. I was at the edge of my couch cushion for the entire twelve minute competition.

And I knew then that I had to experience it live.

I had to see the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in person.

Fans cheer on the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The next year, in 2008, a friend and I flew to New York for the Fourth of July.

I’m not going to lie: I wanted to see Kobayashi eat. And I kind of wanted to watch Kobayashi win. He was a competitive eating icon. And, despite his previous year’s loss, he was still one to watch on Independence Day. It was a rivalry like no other.

Kobayashi didn’t win that year. But, in another unexpected, unprecedented, unheard of, move, he and Joey Chestnut tied.

The tie was settled in a five-hot-dog eat-off that Joey Chestnut won in 50 seconds, and earned him his second consecutive title of world champion hot dog eater.

It was riveting to watch, nerve-wracking to witness, thrilling to be part of that massive crowd. It was disgusting and beautiful and patriotic all at the same time.

I knew then that I couldn’t go back to watching the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest on TV.

The 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Performances at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Hot dogs dancing at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Hot dogs dancing at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Amos Wengler performs the hot dog song and more at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The National Anthem performed at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Bun boys perform at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Badlands Booker perform at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Performances at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The bunettes perform at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Badlands Booker and his 20th anniversary China plate at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Drum circle at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

George Shea announces the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

George Shea performs at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Opera singer performs a selection from Carmen at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

It’s Raining Men performance at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Swearing in of the judges at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

So, the next year, in 2009, I came back. And I came back again in 2010. And I came back again in 2011.

In 2012 and 2013 I was out of the country, so I didn’t get to watch the contest in person, but I did watch via a VPN and borrowed Comcast login.

In 2014, I was in the US again and came back, this time at the table.

In 2015, I came back again.

In 2016, I came back again.

In those years, I watched the contest move from 12 minutes to 10.

In those years, I watched the contest break apart into separate divisions for men and for women.

In those years, I watched Joey Chestnut win 10 times.

In those years, I watched Matt Stonie once defeat Joey Chestnut and win the mustard yellow belt for himself.

In those years, I watched Miki Sudo break into the scene and hold steady to the pink belt for herself.

In those years, I managed to once compete on stage myself, coming in last place, but standing in front of that massive crowd all the same.

In those years, I watched records get broken again and again and again and again and again.

In those years, I watched countless hot dogs being eaten.

Sarah Reinecke shows off her BIG BUNS shorts at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Miki Sudo eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Women’s division at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Women’s division at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Juliet Lee eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Women’s division at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Women’s division at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Kassandra Zapata eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Michelle Lesco eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Juliet Lee eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Women’s division at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Women’s division at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Michelle Lesco eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Women’s division at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Women’s division at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Miki Sudo eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Sonya Thomas eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Rene Rovtar eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Larell Marie Mele eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Miki Sudo eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Sarah Reinecke eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Women’s division at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Miki Sudo eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Miki Sudo eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Michelle Lesco comes in second place at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Miki Sudo wins the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Last year I decided not to go to New York for the Fourth of July. I didn’t go to Brooklyn. I didn’t go to Coney Island. I didn’t go to the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

I just wasn’t in the mood to travel. I wasn’t in the mood to go anywhere. I wasn’t in the mood to do anything.

I kept thinking that I didn’t need to spend the money. I kept thinking that I didn’t need to see the contest live yet again. I kept thinking that it would be OK to stay home, to not go, to not watch, to not be there.

And so, for the first time in ten years, I spent the Fourth of July at home in Chicago.

I didn’t even get to watch the contest on TV because I don’t have ESPN and couldn’t access it. By the time it was available online I already knew what happened, had seen the highlights, and couldn’t be bothered to watch.

So I went out to see some fireworks with a friend. And…that was really all I did for the holiday.

But I kind of wished, throughout the entire day, that I had gone to New York. That I had been there in person.

Pablo Martinez makes an entrance at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Juan Rodriguez makes an entrance at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Ronnie Hartman makes an entrance at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Max Suzuki makes an entrance at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

George Shea announces the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut makes an entrance at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Matt Stonie eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Jim Reeves eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Erik Denmark eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Juan Neave eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Max Suzuki and Badlands Booker eat at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Max Suzuki and Darron Breeden eat at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Pablo Martinez eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Matt Stonie eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Gideon Oji eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Darron Breeden eat at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Adrian Morgan eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Ronnie Hartman eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Rich LeFevre eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Matt Stonie eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Carmen Cincotti eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Pablo Martinez eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Pablo Martinez eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Carmen Cincotti eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Max Suzuki eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Carmen Cincotti eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Juan Rodriguez eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut and Carmen Cincotti eat at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Matt Stonie eats at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Darron Breeden comes in third place at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Carmen Cincotti comes in second place at the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut wins the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

I almost didn’t go this year either.

I still wasn’t in the mood to travel. I still wasn’t in the mood to go anywhere. I still wasn’t in the mood to do anything.

I still kept thinking that I didn’t need to spend the money. I still kept thinking that I didn’t need to see the contest live yet again. I still kept thinking that it would be OK to stay home, to not go, to not watch, to not be there.

But I needed to force myself into a vacation. I needed to start forcing myself out of this rut. I needed to not stay at home. I needed to do something. I needed to be there. I needed to go to Coney Island for the Fourth of July.

So I booked a flight, I booked a hotel room, I hired a cat sitter, and I flew to New York.

And I watched Badlands Booker perform for the crowd. And I watched Amos Wengler sing about hot dogs. And I watched life-sized hot dogs dance. And I watched the bun boys do pushups and the bunnettes twirl.

And I watched Miki Sudo eat 37 hot dogs in ten minutes to win the women’s hot dog eating contest.

And I watched Joey Chestnut eat 74 hot dogs in ten minutes, among much counting-controversy, to win the men’s hot dog eating contest, to break his own record, to break a world record.

And I watched countless hot dogs being eaten.

And I listened to the crowd who chanted, who gasped, who laughed.

And it was still riveting to watch, still nerve-wracking to witness, still thrilling to be part of that massive crowd.

It was disgusting and beautiful and patriotic all at the same time.

And I knew again that I couldn’t go back to watching the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on TV.

Miki Sudo wins the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Miki Sudo wins the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut wins the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Joey Chestnut wins the 2018 Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

The Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Bucket list idea: See the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

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