Category Archives: Alternative Sport
Happy 4th of July: Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Winners All-Time
Joey Chestnut and Sonya Thomas, 2012 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Winners
We’re living in the Joey Chestnut era.
Chestnut has won his sixth Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest crown, in a row.
You may not know that this grand old 4th of July tradition has been going on long before the event’s two most popular and dominant contestants, Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi, took it to its greatest renown.
Kobayashi put the event on the map in the early 2000′s. Now it is an annual nationally-followed televised holiday sporting contest. Kobayashi has six titles too – all in a row, but now competes in a rival hot dog event.
Those two eaters have won the most, but there are many more winners you surely haven’t heard of from back in the 1970′s and 1980′s, years for which I can find records. Some of these guys won more than once, too. And looking at the list, you can see these multiple winners, for the most part, won back-to-back. Apparently one dominates the sport for a period and then it’s over, someone else takes over.
We’ll see if Joey Chestnut has what it takes to win his seventh title next year. Or will an upstart dethrone “Jaws?”
Here’s a list of those eaters with the most wins, including all the single winners, too.
The first contest was back in 1916 and it has run, informally and formally, since then (97 years).
Sonya Thomas, “The Black Widow,” has won the two women’s contests (2011, 2012), a new official tradition that began last year.
Follow me on Twitter @VinGetz.
| 1. | Joey Chestnut | 6 | 2007-2012 |
| 1. | Takeru Kobayashi | 6 | 2001-2006 |
| 3. | Mike Devito | 3 | 1990, 1993, 1994 |
| 4. | Hirofumi Nakajima | 2 | 1997, 1998 |
| 4. | Ed Krachie | 2 | 1995, 1996 |
| 4. | Sonya Thomas (Women’s) | 2 | 2011, 2012 |
| 4. | Frank Dellarosa | 2 | 1991, 1992 |
| 4. | Jay Green | 2 | 1988, 1989 |
| 9. | Kazutoyo Arai | 1 | 2000 |
| 9. | Steve Keiner | 1 | 1999 |
| 9. | Don Wolfman | 1 | 1987 |
| 9. | Mark Heller | 1 | 1986 |
| 9. | Oscar Rodriguez | 1 | 1985 |
| 9. | Birgit Felden | 1 | 1984 |
| 9. | Emil Gomez | 1 | 1983 |
| 9. | Steven Abrams | 1 | 1982 |
| 9. | Thomas DeBerry | 1 | 1981 |
| 9. | Paul Siederman | 1 | 1980 (tie) |
| 9. | Joe Baldini | 1 | 1980 (tie) |
| 9. | Thomas Stash | 1 | 1979 |
| 9. | Walter Paul | 1 | 1978 |
| 9. | Roberto Muriel | 1 | 1974 |
| 9. | Jason Schechter | 1 | 1972 |
| 9. | James Mullen | 1 | 1916 |
Photo: whtc.com / nydailynews.com
Kate Upton and Every Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Cover Girl (1964-2013)
Sultry Kate Upton is the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Cover Girl (kateupton.com)
Here’s a Valentine’s Day post for ya…
Sports Illustrated has been publishing its world-famous Swimsuit Issue since 1964.
Here’s a look at all the cover girls. Click on the model to see the cover.
Elle Macpherson has graced the most covers – 5. Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley, Kathy Ireland and Daniela Pestova are next with three cover appearances apiece. Eight others have appeared twice.
Follow @VinGetzCHART UPDATED: Feb. 13, 2013, to include Kate Upton’s 2013 cover. Upton is now the ninth model to appear two times on the cover and the first to appear twice in a row by herself since Elle Macpherson in 1987 and 1988. (Original post above from Feb. 14, 2012).
