Michael Poppy, a columnist for the University of Wisconsin newspaper, debates another columnist about what is the greatest sport:

Furthermore, Takeru Kobayashi has become the sport’s superstar. “The Tsunami” has taken competitive eating by storm, setting the competitive eating record for hot dogs and Krystals (hamburgers). He also is the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest champion for the past six consecutive years. And you can’t tell me Kobayashi isn’t an athlete — have you seen the guns on that guy?

The weekly philly.com Wing Bowl column says that Joey Chestnut has available tickets and is taking applications for his entourage.

Chestnut, 23, who set a record last year with 173 wings, is coming in from San Jose, Calif., for the sold-out circus at Wachovia Center and needs a few people “to be part of Team Chestnut.” E-mail your name, contact info and why you deserve a slot on his entourage to VallejoJoey@aol.com.

The online Wing Bowl video game has been updated at http://pdn.philly.com/2007/wing/nwingbowl.html

The prelimiaries for the Rice & Bean Pot Burrito Eating contest are taking place at the four Boston area “Beanpot” colleges this week:

(from supersizedmeals.com) Big Alex has posted a video of himself drinking a gallon of milk in about two minutes to youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eepRQxfCYp8

Wing Bowl 15 odds have been posted at philly.com. The top 10 favorites are:

Patrick Bertoletti, Chicago, IL, 190 lbs., 2-1 odds
Joey Chestnut, San Jose, CA, 230, 3-1
Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas, Alexandria, VA, 105, 3-1
Dave “Dr. Winglove” Inderbitzin, Conshohocken, 175, 4-1
“Humble” Bob Shoudt, Royersford, 265, 5-1
Rich “The Locust” LeFevre, Henderson, NV, 132, 5-1
Eric “Steakbellie” Livingston, Drexel Hill, 230, 7-1
ChipBurger Simpson, Gainesville, FL, 200, 7-1
“Damaging” Doug Canavin, Philadelphia, 345, 9-1
Micah “Wing Kong” Collins, Drexel Hill, 265, 10-1

It is hard to believe that Dr. Winglove is a bigger favorite than Rich LeFevre (who beat Dr. Winglove handily in Wing Bowl 14) and Bob Shoudt.

cantonrep.com has a brief preview of the AICE chili contest to be held February 17. One of the eaters expected to attend is “Pete Broken.”

The new poll asks who you think will win Wing Bowl 15.

95.1 FM WAYV is sponsoring a wing contest on Saturday for women from southern New Jersey:

The radio station’s website describes how to qualify:

Mike & Diane’s 3rd Annual Super Duper Wing Fling is bigger and better than ever! This year’s live event takes place Saturday February 3rd at 1pm in Trump Marina’s Atrium - right where everyone can see! The local South Jersey woman who eats the most Hooters buffalo wings in 15 minutes wins a brand new big screen HDTV! Wanna be a contestant? Listen to the Mike & Diane morning show for opportunities to qualify every hour 6am-9am! You can also head to Hooters @ Trump Marina for more chances to win!

Dawn wrote a myspace blog entry about her preparation for the contest.

Last year’s winner, Lisa MacNeir, ate 33 wings in 15 minutes.

chron.com has an interview with Joey Chestnut after he won the french fry eating contest at Bikini’s Bar & Grill:

He’s making a lot of money in prize winnings, appearance fees and frequent-flier miles. But he’s not getting rich, he says. He’s in it for the glory and good times.

“I live in San Jose, and it’s expensive. I’m paying for school. Plus, I like to party a lot. So the money goes pretty fast.”

The University Star also has an article about the contest.

A wing eating contest will be held at Merkle’s Bar and Grill. Qualifiers will be held on Thursdays in February and the final will take place on March 1. The $20 entrance fee is due by 8pm today.

(from mosesnews.com) An article about Don “Moses” Lerman appears in the current issue of American Jewish Life.

Liz has set up rules for fantasy competitive eating and teams have been listed at http://www.urbanhonking.com/truefan/archives/2007/01/fantasy_eating.html

A google group devoted to the competition has been set up at http://groups.google.com/group/fantasyeating

from timesherald.com

Chick’s Tavern, Bridgeport, PA

Josh Cifelli, 266 mussels
Megan “Irish Lassie” Moreland, 253 mussels
Mark Zimmer 250
Frank Dillworth 250

ThePittsburghChannel.com reports that Bob “Killer” Kuhns won a pierogie eating contest at Clara’s Pittsburgh Pierogies on Sunday after repeating in the Wing Championship Series on Friday. There will be an AICE pierogie contest at the restaurant on June 23.

updated A video clip can be seen at http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/video/index.html (Thanks Boy King) Click on the Entertainment category.

heartattackgrill.com says a webcast reality show will begin filming at the restaurant in March.

nj.com reports a two minute oyster eating contest will be held on February 4 to benefit breast cancer research. Two women, Kristina Costa and Barbara Devaney broke a record by eating 83 oysters in two minutes. A one minute overtime was held which Costa won with 40 oysters.

Andrew “Skinnyboy” Lane has a blog entry about competing in the french fry contest at Bikini’s Bar & Grill. J’aime has a post about viewing that event.

newsobserver.com has an article about the Krispy Kreme Challenge held yesterday in Raleigh, NC. 722 participants registered to eat a dozen doughnuts at the midpoint of a 4 mile run. NC State senior Auburn Staples won the event in about 24 minutes and required approximately 7 minutes to finish his doughnuts. He did the first two miles in about 8 minutes. KrispyKremeChallenge.com has full results.

Philly.com has an article about the Wing Bowl competitors ranked in the top 10 which says that Bill “El Wingador” Simmons says that there is a 1 in 5 chance that he will compete in Wing Bowl 15.

Thanks to Brian Seiken for starting page on beautifulbrian.com devoted to eatfeats threads which have received 20+ comments.

from IFOCE.com:

update #2 Full results have been posted - Thanks Bill Myers

update Patrick Michels has posted a flickr gallery of the contest Some of the competitors (not necessarily women) wore bikini tops:

VeryStrangeNews.com made up an entry about Kobayashi appearing at a Nathan’s hot dog eating contest at the Kansas State Fair. The first part is plagiarized from this article. The second part is original but lacks any factual basis:

Takeru Kobayashi, who on July 4, 2004, ate 53 1/2 hot dogs and buns in just 12 minutes was the winner and afterward when he went to rid himself of his full stomach he saw Pat Garety blocking his way to the bathroom. Garety held in his hand five one hundred dollar bills and requested Takeru deposit his vomit in a special “clean” bag. Takeru obliged and left $500 richer. It appears Garety is planning on selling his bag of hot dog chunks on Ebay and expects to net a quick two - three thousand dollars for the mess.

I am not sure if this is supposed to be a a parody, (it is tagged as a “Mostly True” story”) but about.com accepted it as an actual article.

From an El Toro email:

Subject: Kevin Ross just called me from Houston

1) JOEY 2) TIM 3) CHIP he wasn’t sure about the rest of the totals.

From AICE News:

1 Bob Killer Kuhns 132
2 Ian ‘the Invader’ Hickman 124
3 Joe Menchetti 117

Austin360.com has a preview of the french fry eating contest to be held at Bikini’s Bar and Grill. Sonya Thomas is listed as a possible competitor.