Some athletes are known for setting records that eventually helped them make it into the hall-of-fame’s of their respective sports (Cy Young’s 511 career wins). Some athletes are known for doing absurd things on and off the court that set them apart from other athletes (Dennis Rodman’s wedding dress photo shoot). And some “athletes” are known for breaking records in the professional eating contests around the world.
According to its website, Major League Eating is the worldwide company that oversees all professional eating contests. The website said, “MLE promotions generate more than a billion consumer impressions worldwide each year. The ESPN broadcast of the Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest has generated a higher rating than any Major League Baseball telecast on July 4 in the United States.”
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I can’t imagine that the national hot dog eating contest can benefit the body by any means.
An article in the Huffington Post said, “Very little research exists surrounding the effects of competitive eating on the body, mainly because so few people are compelled to stuff their faces for a living.”
The Huffington Post also said that every year, ironically enough, around the time of the Nathan’s Hot Dog eating contest, results of a study conducted in 2007 come about.
The study took competitive eater, Tim Janus and a 35 year old male (used as a control for the experiment) and pitted them against one another. Huffington Post said the control eater consumed 7 hot dogs before tapping out while Janus ate 36 hot dogs.
Researches said, “His abdomen, which had appeared flat before the eating began, now ‘protruded enough to create the distinct impression of a developing intrauterine pregnancy,’ while the average eater’s stomach appeared just as it had before.”
There’s no question that these eating contests are unhealthy but that doesn’t mean they aren’t interesting.
Some of the most bizarre and unique records in the world are held by these “Major League Eaters.” Of course, one of the most popular and publicized eating contests is the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs and Buns competition. According to the Major League Eating website, Joey Chestnut currently holds the world record; eating 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes on July 4, 2009.
But for the record, that is not the only professional eating contest that takes place year in and year out. For example, Don Lerman of Levittown, N.Y., holds the record for eating six pounds of baked beans in one minute and 47 seconds, according to the ESPN Uncyclopedia.
In Lerman’s bio on the Major League Eating website, Lerman is known for having “the fastest hands in competitive eating.” On top of consuming six pounds of baked beans in under two minutes, Lerman also holds the record for eating seven quarter-pound sticks of unsalted butter in five minutes.
Possibly one of the most peculiar and downright disgusting eating records I came across was the mayonnaise eating record.
According to the ESPN Uncyclopedia, Oleg Zhornitskiy is the undisputed mayonnaise eating world champion. The Uncyclopedia said that Zhornitskiy ate four 32-ounce bowls of mayonnaise in eight minutes.
One competitive eater celebrated his birthday a little early, eating five pounds of birthday cake in 11 minutes and 26 seconds on May 10, 2005. This record is held by Richard LeFevre, of Henderson, Nev. According to the Major League Eating website, Leferve, “is known for his strong jaw and for his capacity, which seems to increase, not decrease, as a contest progresses.”
Looking at these records, one would think that all professional eaters are most likely overweight, middle-aged men, looking to make the record books.
But if you think that, you are wrong. In fact, one of the best competitive eaters in the world, Sonya Thomas, is not only a female, but she is also only 105 pounds, according to the Major League Eating website.
The website said that Thomas holds 24 professional eating contest records. These records include: buffalo chicken tenders (6.93 pounds in ten minutes), cheesecake (11 pounds in nine minutes), chili cheese fries (eight pounds in ten minutes) and oysters (46 dozen in 10 minutes.
The Major League Eating website described Thomas as, “’The Black Widow’ quickly ascended to the top of the ranks, both at the table and in the eyes of fans. Standing at a slender 105-pounds, Thomas continues to amaze as her fellow peers appear to be watching, dumfounded, as she sees her hand raised in victory time after time.”
I guess, to each his own when it comes to what you choose to succeed in life. But if you’re trying to obtain the status of a “Major League Eater,” you better start training.
Michelle Berthiaume can be contacted at mberthiaume@keene-equinox.com