New Poll: Minimum amount to advance to Coney Island

June 28, 2006 at 12:50 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, New York City, Site News

Jed Donahue says that Nathan’s representatives told him that qualifier winners must eat at least 18 HDB to reach the finals in Coney Island. The new poll question asks what you think the threshold should be, if any.

Comments (8)

8 Comments »

  1. Rhonda Evans said

    June 28, 2006 @ 10:29 am

    That would be ridiculous. A win is a win is a win. On the other side of the coin, if a person eats 30 or more dogs in a qualifier, whether he wins or not, that should automatically qualify him.

  2. SuperPaul said (Registered January 26, 2006)

    June 28, 2006 @ 12:20 pm

    Why don’t we make baseball teams score at least 6 runs to count the game as a win, basketball teams must score 100 pts, and if nobody eats 50 hot dogs July 4th, we have to have a re-do…….DUMB!

  3. Yo Mama said

    June 28, 2006 @ 12:55 pm

    Rhonda, 30 or more shouldn’t automatically qualify a person. Problem would be who decides? What amount? Why?

    Maybe there could be a couple of sponsor seats or something they could give to eaters. So they could have given one to Pat after Minneapolis.

    But then that would maybe not work because most competitive people want to earn their way, not be given something.

    So, I think only qualifier winners and 1 or more wildcards should go.

    Maybe offer better prizes for 2nd and 3rd. Pat’s 32 in Minneapolis and Rich’s 30 in Vegas did deserve more than congratulations.

    IFOCE can make this a legitimate sport but they have to do some things. Better rules. Better announcing in the days before contests who will compete. Announce results of everyone who competed.

  4. Rhonda Evans said

    June 28, 2006 @ 2:34 pm

    YM I think doing the Tre’ IS earning your way. Many winners make the finals that don’t even do that amount — luck of the draw, so to speak, depending on the attendees.

    Why should Pat, for example, be punished by having to pay his hard earned money to go to another venue when he’s already proven his worth. What if Joey and Sonya both went to Philly? If I were Sonya (or any other eater and 36 1/2 wasn’t good enough I’d say the hell with the whole thing. One day that will indeed happen. Eaters will get smart.

    And because of Nathan’s Famous’ being so cheap, by not giving out any prize money, other foods and events will overtake them and Nathan’s Famous 4th of July Finals will feature a bunch of “Also Rans.” Even the “coveted” Mustard Yellow belt is a cheap piece of shit. What a farce! I think the reason Katie Couric was laughing in the pic previously posted on the IFOCE’s HP is because the stupid thing looks so ridiculous.

    Nathan’s prestige factor will start to wear thin very soon I believe, unless they start to fork out some bucks. Okay I’m done.

  5. Mrs. Jones said

    June 28, 2006 @ 6:44 pm

    Audience members must remember that Nathan’s Famous is the Venus of competitive eating’s popularity and growing recognition. The Coney Island spectacle gave birth to what competitive eating is. Eater’s must respect their mother. While Nathan’s might not dish out a ton of money, they do put all of the eaters up in a hotel and provide a small stipend during their stay in New York; not to mention the publicity that the eaters receive building up to the event and during the event. You can witness this spectacle in its current glory on ESPN. That is sufficient payment for most of the eaters, who are all happy and eager to gain the coveted spot at the table on the 4th. The breed of old school eaters eat for the win and a free meal, not for the money. Nathan’s Famous Coney Island event will not die quickly or quietly. I suspect that regardless of the lack of prize money, the best eaters will return to the table as long as their time allows.

  6. Gentleman Joe said (Registered December 8, 2005)

    June 29, 2006 @ 2:40 am

    Some of what mrs jones writes is correct. But considering the amount of publicity Coney dogs gets & how much the Shea’s now espn make off it, its pitiful that even the last place eater doesn’t get a substantial sum. It is sad, but because most of these guys are happy to see there mugs on tv, they will continue to get away with 19teens baseball type ownership.

  7. beautifulbrian said

    June 29, 2006 @ 3:04 am

    This might come as a surprise but i have been to one Nathans finals and that was in 1998 when they drew maybe 50 people in the crowd. I was invited by the IFOCE to participate in a pea eating exhibition just before the Coney contest in 2002 and the temperature was 104 degrees . This was a last minute invite . Would anyone in their right mind (with the exception of the finalists ) leave the house on a day like that? Since that time I have yet to be invited on stage with the other eaters and until then i would just as well spend time with the family on July 4th or watch it at home . You might add where is the loyalty? Well you got to get some before you give some back And this time Rhonda & Rich Lefevre its no act . I speak from the heart

  8. Rufus said

    June 29, 2006 @ 9:14 am

    What some people will do for publicitiy.

  9. SecuX Wallet said (Comment pending approval)

    February 9, 2025 @ 10:42 pm

    https://secuxwallt.lat #comment:m6yic8yt

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