A listing of Nathan’s winners obtained from online news archives follows.

Some notes about the contests:

• 1986 title match, Hiroaki Tominaga was the first reported Japanese competitor in a Nathan’s contest. At 6 feet, 6 inches and 264 pounds, he is considerably larger than Nobuyuki “the Giant” Shirota. While in New York City, he competed in the Empire State Building staircase race and finished last.
• 1984 Birgit Felden is the only reported female winner of a July 4 contest. She is now a business professor unless there are multiple Birgit Feldens from Cologne.
• 1981 It was not clear from the contest report if the duration was 5 minutes or the winner stopped eating after that time and had a large enough margin to win.
• 1978 Co-champion Kevin Sinclair was 10 years old
• 1974 Atlantic City – this is the first reported contest outside Coney Island. The runner-up, Carmen Cordero, might be the winner of the first two Wing Bowls.
• 1972 Labor Day – After her victory, Melody Andorfer said “I’m determined not to let those male chauvinist pigs dominate us any longer.” She would model swimsuits in articles about Coney Island in 1973 and 1974.
• 1967 – this contest was held to commemorate the centennial of the hot dog. It is difficult to believe that Walter Paul ate 127 hot dogs in an hour, but that is what is in the news archive.

The following contests are mentioned in the news archives, but no winners were reported for them:

The 1973 labor day weekend contest was changed to a corn on the cob contest due to a lack of meat. The unnamed winner ate 4 ears in less than 3 minutes.

PermalinkComments (1)

Kobayashi’s latest blog entry is about qualification for Nathan’s (automatically translated):

Thus the final closeup, I can play in qualifying and has been limited.

Today is the last chance tournament will be held in Long Island.

I like playing as soon as physically.

Chances are slim.

Eric is likely to play, I want my best! ！ !

The “Eric is likely to play” statement means that he will probably appear at Eric “Badlands” Booker and “Hungry” Charles Hardy’s promo contest this afternoon.

Sponichi has an article

PermalinkComments (7)

• Jill Stoler has a belated birthday tribute to Pat Bertoletti
• Poll about biggest eating baseball players: (1st Babe Ruth 2nd John Kruk 3rd Tommy LaSorda)
• Sonya has a commentary about the Nathan’s finals
• Furious Pete is seeking a dining partner for his attempt at the Zeus Burger at the Clinton Station Diner July 5.
• Kobyashi reports he is now in New York City
• Tomoko Miyake has an autograph signing session for her new book
  

PermalinkComments (1)

San Bruno, CA qualifier results from InsideBayArea.com

1. Kevin Ross 17.75 HDB, awarded year’s worth of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs
2. Roger Schlafly, Santa Cruz, 11 HDB

The only pre-contest media mention I could find was a listing in a San Francisco Chronicle calendar which mainly contains gay pride week activities.

update Runner-up Roger Schlafly has a blog entry

update #2 The San Mateo Daily Journal has a contest report. Joey Chestnut appeared and signed autographs.

PermalinkComments (24)

Camden qualifier results from megamunch comment

Badlands Booker – 27.5
Buffalo Jim Reeves – 22
Steakbellie – 20.25
Yasir Salem – 19
Wing Kong – 18
Sean Gordon – 18
Dave “U. S. Male” Goldstein – 18

update The IFOCE.com report is out now

update #2 CourierPostOnline.com has a report on the contest listing the duration as 12 minutes.

update #3 Megamunch has a blog entry and gallery from the contest

NJ.com has a preview of the contest focusing on Dave “U. S. Male” Goldstein.

PermalinkComments (46)

Joey Chestnut has written an entry for his yardbarker blog about tuning up for the Nathan’s finals by competing in a hot dog eating contest held at Hooterpalooza last Tuesday in Fremont, California. Joey managed to eat 43 hot dogs in 8 minutes, which is greater than the winning total at all 10 minute qualifiers held this year. Joey reveals his feelings about Kobayashi in the second half of the blog entry.

Youtube videos of the contest are available: Part 1, Part 2

There is an interview video embedded in the comments.

PermalinkComments (16)

• Today is the 5th anniversary of Sonya Thomas’ debut in competitive eating
• Beautiful Brian has a video tribute to Allen Goldstein’s 5 years in competitive eating
• Pete Davekos Technique & Commentary video recorded at the Hartford qualifier
• Brian “Eatin” Keaton wins second Jake’s Burger qualifier (from email)
• George Shea favors Coney Island redevelopment plan at hearing
• Five Eating contests at in Hutchinson, Kansas on Saturday.
• Contest announcements: qualifiers for Dickey’s BBQ contest (championship to be held in early 2009), National Black Rock Burger Team Eating Championships (Yaphank, NY)
• UEPa meeting July 12 at Gregory’s Steakhouse in Allentown. Ian Hickman will attempt a 120 ounce steak

PermalinkComments (10)

Unofficial QVC results from Hall Hunt comment:

1. Pat Philbin 22.5
2. Micah “Wing Kong” Collins 22
3. Eric “Steakbellie” Livingston 17
DQ Sean Gordon (21 before reversal)

An Opie & Anthony forum thread started by a QVC worker confirms Philbin’s victory

update The results have been posted on IFOCE.com Sean Gordon was officially disqualified

update #2 NJ.com has an article illustrated with a picture from 2006 of Philbin and Don Lerman.

update #3 Some pictures are now available

update #4 (from Wing Kong) Philly.com has a report about the qualifier. Badlands Booker, Steakbellie and Wing Kong are expected at the Camden qualifier tomorrow. Humble Bob says he hopes to be the oldest eater to eat his age at the Nathan’s finals.

update #5 video of Sean Gordon’s reversal during the post-contest announcements is available

PermalinkComments (30)

The Palm Beach Post (via the Google News archive) reported that some local officials would serve as judges in the 1997 Nathan’s qualifier held in Boca Raton, Florida:

In Boca Raton, a hot dog capital of another ilk, the orgy begins Saturday at noon at Nathan’s in Boca Village Town Square (pick up entry forms there). No weenies among the judges either. The strong-willed group includes Boca Vice Mayor Steve Abrams, Supervisor of Elections Theresa LePore

Theresa LePore would go on to receive greater notoriety as the designer of the “butterfly ballot” used in Palm Beach County in the controversial 2000 election.

PermalinkComments (2)

Beautiful Brian’s Bits & Pieces mentions that Eric “Badlands” Booker and “Hungry” Charles Hardy will compete in a promotional contest early next week. The blog for the contest producer has more information about the event:

Monday, June 30th at 3pm

Nathans Famous
1530 Old Country Rd
Westbury, NY 11590
(516) 832-8900‎

This location is east of Meadowbrook Parkway. It is a big Nathans/Burritoville/Arthur Treachers/Famous Rays (down the block from the main Nathans Headquarters). Come down to watch if you want to be a part of the show.

The segment will be shown on TV10/55 News at Eleven’s sports report at 11pm on June 30th or July 1st.

PermalinkComments (37)

A page about next month’s “Smokin’ at the Ocean” BBQ and Brewfest has been set up on Chinook Winds’ website. The festival will have an IFOCE rib eating contest on July 13 and qualifier for amateurs the day before. Joey Chestnut is the only listed expected entrant.

PermalinkComments (1)

Kobayashi has posted an entry about the upcoming Nathan’s finals on his blog. It is not 100% clear from the automatic translation, but he appears to commit to competing in the July 4 contest. (The comments seem to think he will attempt to win his seventh title) From the automatic translation:

NEISANZU 2008 world championships

Play! ！ !

I said you left the tournament career makeover?

Where to play sports or another kind of feeling.

So I thought at the goal and still HAKKIRI MITSUKARANAKU I have no choice.

First of all, I aimed to win it from the start,

Thank you cheer! ！ !

If Kobayashi does compete, he will most likely receive a bye since it does not appear a Japan Nathan’s qualifier will be held in 2008 even though the qualifier registration form listed the date of the Tokyo qualifier as June 24. Some commenters have speculated that Kobayashi will compete in the San Francisco qualifier on Saturday. The last time Kobayashi was not the defending champion for an IFOCE event which had qualifiers, the 2004 Krystal Square Off finals, he entered the Jacksonville qualifier the week before.

Kobayashi has a blog entry about dining at Nobuyuki Shirota’s restaurant and doing a noodle eating challenge there. Shirota also has a post about the meal on his blog.

update Sponichi.co.jp has an article about Kobayashi which makes it pretty clear he intends to compete

PermalinkComments (35)

Austinist has a gallery of the vegetarian hot dog eating contest held last Saturday. Contest results can be obtained by combining the gallery captions with this blog entry by the runner-up.

1. Spencer “Tree” Lockwood 21 VHDB, 12 minutes
2. Colin “Tim Duncan of CE” Kalmbacher 20 VHDB
3. Sean “Mongo” Kelly

PermalinkComments (2)

The northern California Nathan’s qualifier will take place this Saturday at The Shops at Tanforan in San Bruno in the JCPenney Lower Court. Previous qualifiers were held in Daly City.

PermalinkComments

(from Baseball Think Factory) The Pittsburgh Pirates blog Mondesi’s House has a report about watching yesterday’s game from the section offering all you can eat food. The blogger actually only saw the last seven innings of the game because the first trip to the refreshment stand required waiting in line 30 minutes.

My final tally: a burger, two hot dogs, an order of nachos, and three Diet Pepsis. It’s not much more than I’d eat at a family cookout, especially spread over three hours.

Actually, I didn’t see much “abuse” from the AYCE customers. It’s not as if there was some enormous guy walking back and forth the entire game with four burgers in his hand at all times. The speed of the line clearly discourages a lot of people. Some employees looked like they were trying to keep up with the crush; others looked like they were moving in suuuuper—slooooow—-motion.

PermalinkComments (5)

• Erik Denmark to compete in the Detlef Schrempf Celebrity Golf Classic today. Kato Kaelin will also be a participant.
• Pat Bertoletti on the Nathan’s finals
• Jamie of Hungry Sisters on her 9 HDB performance at Myrtle Beach
• Jill Stoler has a report with videos of the Brooklyn Stinky Cheese eating contest. Will Millender won the contest.
• “Beautiful” Brian judges the NYC Olive Garden and finds it wanting
• Chicago Pizzafest results
• No MLE video game release this week

PermalinkComments (4)

The Southtown Star has an article about the Chicago competitive eating scene focusing on Pat Bertoletti and the upcoming Bartolini’s meatball eating contest.

PermalinkComments (1)

(From Deadspin) The July 2008 edition of Penthouse will have an article about the Wing Bowl which can be read online (pictures are basically safe for work). The article focuses more on peripheral activities than on the eating competition.

The best composite of Wing Bowl attendees is this: They’re the men who get kicked out of sporting events—the boorish, drunken slobs who curse too loudly, start fights too easily, harass women too aggressively, and make watching a game uncomfortable for 90 percent of the other spectators. Even in Philadelphia, whose fans have a nationally known reputation for classlessness, this crowd is vile. Philly fans earned their rep for, among other offenses, throwing snowballs at Santa Claus in 1968, cheering when Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin lay motionless on the turf with a neck injury in 1999, and behaving so poorly at the old Veterans Stadium that the city was forced to assign a judge to the Vet on Eagles game days.

PermalinkComments

The Salisbury (NC) Post has an article about the “Apple Ugly” eating contest that will be held on July 4. A qualifier will be held on June 30. Dale Boone is an expected entrant. Boone says that he will also compete in the Elizabethton, TN hot dog eating contest on July 4 and that he is a member of a another competitive eating organization:

He allowed his contract to run out with the International Federation of Competitive Eating and now belongs to the World League of Competitive Eating, which he considers a step up because of all the international competition.

PermalinkComments (15)

Results from IFOCE.com & “results”

1. “Nasty” Nate Biller 25 HDB (20 at end of regulation, 5 in 2 minute eatoff)
2. Kevin Ross 24 (20 at end of regulation, 4 in 2 minute eatoff)
3. Ken Mansfield 18 (from Florida)
4. Timm Dilling 15
4. Chris Floyd 15

update TexasStumps has a blog entry about the contest with pictures.

DallasNews.com has an article about the qualifier with a video

update #2 The blog for the Dallas Observer has an entry about the qualifier with videos which reports that Kevin Ross had a post contest reversal. (from Daniel Rodrigue)

WFAA has an article about the contest

Youtube also has a video

update #3 D Magazine’s Sidedish blog has an entry about the contest

PermalinkComments (38)

From MosesNews.com

1. Allen “The Shredder” Goldstein 23 HDB
2. Damon Serignet 16 HDB
3. 8 HDB

update SCNow has an article about the contest

PermalinkComments (21)

From IFOCE.com:

1. Pete “Pretty Boy” Davekos: 19.25
2. Loren “Bubba” Yarbrough: 18.5
3. Larry “The Legend” McNeil: 17
4. “Super” Paul Barlow: 16

NewnanNow has an article about Loren “Bubba” Yarbrough which says that Larry McNeil will also compete.

Paul Barlow is another expected entrant, and he did an on radio contest yesterday

update AJC.com has a contest report.

update #2 Star94.com has a gallery of the qualifier and Paul Barlow’s in station promo contest (from Paul Barlow)

PermalinkComments (30)

• Dallas Observer interviews Timm Dilling and veterinarian Jim Clawson
• Next UEPa meeting scheduled for R U Hungry? at State College, PA July 12 or 13
• Captain Lou Albano vs. King Kong Bundy pie eating contest from 1985 WWE Halloween Special
• Sales video for Don Lerman’s dentures
• Pat Bertoletti videos on Yardbarker: post Wing Bowl drinking with Steakbellie, Promo for Spike TV Ham & Eggs contest
• Beautiful Brian on Scozzy Bone
• Brooklyn Stinky Cheese eating contest preview
• Egg McMuffin eating contest for Bank of America interns. Megamunch’s office probably has better eaters:
  

  It took the “winner” FIFTY MINUTES to eat FOUR NON-EGG McMuffins. Pretty much makes you want to vom, doesn’t it? You’re in good company, because according to one of the overseers of the event, the “winner” just asked if he could go throw up. He was told that he loses if he does. Meaning that the other intern who ATE THREE McMUFFINS AND THEN GAVE UP would be declared the winner.

PermalinkComments (1)

The blog for Penn Live has an entry about the movie “Nacho Mountain”. Filming locations are currently being scouted in the Lehigh Valley. The film’s IMDB page lists Joey Chestnut, who will be performing as himself, as one of the stars. The release year is projected as 2009. Producer Dan Maher gives the following description of the plot:

He describes it as a quirky comedy about a fellow named Keefer who starts an underground food-eating competition. “When the town’s health-crazed mayor threatens to shut the tournament down, Keefer and his buddies fight to keep the contests going,” Maher explains.

A PG-13 rated teaser (probably NSFW) is available on youtube and a page for the movie has the following casting call:

NOW ACCEPTING HEADSHOTS AND PICTURES OF ANYBODY IN LEHIGH VALLEY WANTING TO PLAY EXTRAS, OR FILL CHARACTER ROLES! PLUS SIZES ARE GOOD, OBESE IS GREAT. ANy deformities (missing limbs, little people, etc.) are guaranteed screen time.

A craigslist posting has additional job information and says that principal photography will take place from July 21 to 27.

update The star of the movie, Jay Larson, has a page on ComedyCentral.com

A movie poster can be seen on the movie’s myspace page

The lead female role has yet to be cast

PermalinkComments (7)

The Dallas Observer continues its series about entrants in the Plano, TX Nathan’s qualifier with an interview with “Nasty” Nathan Biller, who is getting a master’s degree in sports business at New York University.

update The Fort Worth Star Telegram has a short preview. Walter Duke is one of the expected entrants

PermalinkComments (4)