Saturday, July 19, 2008

Finally!




I finally have found someone with pictures from the Nathan's Qualifier at Hard Rock Park!

Courtesy of Fred

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Dairy Queen Days

Summer is in full swing which (unfortunately) means that in just about a month, I'll have to go back to the real world and teach 10th and 11th graders grammar and literature once again. It's an ok job, but after having such an awesome summer, it is going to be hard to go back.

My new part-time job at Dairy Queen pretty much rules. I haven't gotten to do much with the ice cream cakes yet, but I've kept busy making lots of Blizzards, waffle bowl treats, milk shakes, and other delightful dairy treats. The people I work with are really fun and honestly, I freakin' love spending a few days a week making stuff with ice cream.

As of right now, we are planning on going to the BBQ Sandwich eating contest at Myrtle Beach over Labor Day Weekend. Our Aunt Susan's new house at the beach is just too convienient of a place to pass up to stay at for free to enjoy a weekend of food and beach fun!! Jamie hasn't mentioned to me anything about trying to compete again, so we'll see what happens.

I'm also VERY excited that Krystal season is pretty much among us. The end of September is going to be here before we know it. I do have a feeling that Jamie will probably compete in a qualifier because she lives right on the outskirts of Krystal Kountry in Asheville, NC. Sadly, though, the last time I was in Asheville a few months back, I noticed that the Krystal in Asheville was closed! That means that there are no more Krystals left in North Carolina. That is down right depressing. We will have to get our fill of those delicious little burgers on our way down to Chattanooga the last weekend in September!

Well, that's about it for now.
Sadie

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Thoughts on Nathan's

Joey Chestnut: 59
Takeru Kobayashi: 59
Tim Janus: 42
Pat Bertoletti: 38
Sonya Thomas: 34
Hall Hunt: 30
Bob Shoudt: 30
Juliet Lee: 29
Erik Denmark: 28
Juris Shibayama: 28
Tim Brown: 27
Eric Booker: 25.5
Patrick Vandam: 25
Rich LeFevre: 25
Crazy Legs Conti: 24
Allan Goldstein: 21
Pat Philbin: 19
Nathan Biller: 18.5
Pete Davekos: 18
Arturo Rios: 16
Kevin Ross: 14



It was a pretty exciting 4th of July, as always I was glued to my TV from noon to one, anxiously awaiting the countdown. Sadie, in her Mooresville apartment, called me a few times before and after to discuss the events. I was happy to hear "Sweet Escape" an IFOCE favorite song playing in the background during an interview. There just can't be competitive eating with out Gwen Stefani's musical talent, (and that one Eminem song?) serving as the soundtrack to the excitement ahead.

The introductions on ESPN were kind of odd. I wish they would have just shown the actual introductions so I could have seen the little things all of the eaters did. I thought Kevin Ross' (I believe?) James bond outfit was pretty sweet.

Also, I thought it was pretty lame that they didn't have the table lined up by their position in qualifiers. Why was Sonya Thomas and Juliet lee beside Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut? I know it made the table more symmetrical, AND Juliet looked really hot on stage, but it probably did not help push Eater X and Pat Bertoletti to eat as much.

My other complaint about the set-up is that there were only 3 bunnettes! there should be a bunnette for each eater in my opinion.

The contest itself, well you all saw it. It was intense. Yes, I have read complaints about Kobayashi pulling away a part of his hot dog after the buzzer and putting it back. From what I saw, they both had a LOT of hot dogs not in their mouths, but their hands. Anyway, I thought the announcement of a tie was appropriate. It was too close to ever call (at least from what I saw on TV...) however, a 2 minute eat-off would have been a better alternative to the "see who can eat 5 hot dogs the fastest".

All in all, I am glad kobayashi is back and in what seems to be full force. Joey Chestnut did a great job as always, and I didn't get to see hardly any of the others on ESPN, so I sadly have little to say except that I noticed that the last place ate only 14 HDB, and with my 9 at the qualifier, I just may make it to table-ender status someday. A girl can dream can't she? :]

--Jamie