U of Wisconsin columnist claims C E is best sport ever
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?
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Critic said
January 31, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
Because he has big guns that’s considered an athlete? He was blessed with a good metabolism and looks cut because he has very little fat on his abs.This makes it alot easier for him to achieve his goals in the gym. How do you equate being a good athlete with someone that looks cut up in the gymnasium? A rather poor analogy if you ask me. Can he run track and field? Can he throw a fastball 100 MPH? Can he run with some of the great college basketball players? Because he has gained the distinction of being a great competitive eater , he realized he had to fit the part so the next step was weight training so he can appear cosmetically fit . I really hate when these columnnists or news reporters twist around the truth .
KevinRoss said
January 31, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
Weight training can be a sport, in and of itself. . .ever hear of powerlifting? Olympic lifting? Highland games? Strongman competitions? Someone who is proficient in the gym IS an athlete. Even bodybuilders are athletes, though I think less so than the above examples I mentioned. Take someone who is muscular and ripped and someone who has no muscle mass and a high body fat percentage. . .who is most likely to be able to do better in the examples you mentioned: track/field, baseball, and basketball? Who is most likely to have the endurance, dedication, and mental drive to excel in traditional sports? I think Kobayashi performs so well in the gym for the same reasons he performs well in CE. . .he has an insane ability to push himself to extreme limits and apparently totally ignore pain/discomfort in his quest for excellence. As such, I think he would excel in many other athletic pursuits if he put his mind to them. I believe in Fagone’s book it was mentioned that he pitched very well at a baseball game actually. . .
Critic said
January 31, 2007 @ 11:10 pm
I disagree with you . I think he does it for vanity only. He seems to gloat in showing off his abs more than anything . Almost like a posing contest. . If he was weight training when he first came on the scene it would be a different story. He was doing fine eating wise even before he started lifting. He looks at it like , american look good when they work out. I want to look like that too!
Philly Guy said
January 31, 2007 @ 11:46 pm
Kobe also runs 6k 2 times a day.
Me said
February 1, 2007 @ 12:04 am
How do you know ? Do you live with him? Dont believe everything you read
KevinRoss said
February 1, 2007 @ 12:21 am
I don’t understand where you’re coming from. . .once someone gets involved and successful in one sport means they can’t get interested in any other sports, hobbies, or activities besides the one they’re best known for? And you sound ignorant implying weight training is a specifically American pastime. Besides, athletic looking eaters only help CE and get more fans interested. I think it legitimizes it more, whereas otherwise it would seem more gluttonous and unhealthy to the uninitiated. So yeah, I don’t really know what your beef is. The only conclusion I can draw is that you’re somehow jealous that he can be a CE and still stay that lean.
KevinRoss said
February 1, 2007 @ 12:24 am
BTW, even if he did it purely for vanity, what is so wrong with that? If you tell me you’ve never done anything vain before, I’d have to call you a liar!
Now, back to my 2 hour nightly routine of “manscaping”. . .
Philly Guy said
February 1, 2007 @ 8:38 am
If you want to use another example how about Justin Mih, Hall Hunt, and Crazy Legs. They run marathons or does that not count. Rios is an ex boxer. There are a lot of athletes in the sport.
the boy king said
February 1, 2007 @ 8:45 am
I’m starting to dig this Kevin Ross kid.
Who’s got him on thier fantasy eating team?
Rhonda Evans said
February 1, 2007 @ 9:48 am
Critic you have simply chosen to focus on a side issue — Koby’s guns, when that’s not really the issue, but simply a side observation by the writer.
Your logic is similar to criticizing an article about the Ms America pageant, whereby the author states that that particular pageant is the greatest beauty contestof them all. Then, if, for example, the author states that last year’s winner had beautiful legs, you would deduct that the author is claiming that the MS America pageant is the best BECAUSE of last year’s winner’s beautiful legs.
Thank God you’re not in the press.