At 27, Takeru Kobayashi is at the top of his game. His game happens to be eating hot dogs really fast. Yesterday, Kobayashi ate 49 hot dogs in 12 minutes in Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. This fell short of his personal best of 53 1/2 hot dogs, but beat second place--which set an American record--by 12 hot dogs. In other words, Kobayashi is about 33 percent better than second best. For five straight years, Kobayashi has left Coney Island with the Mustard Yellow Belt, the most prestigious prize in competitive eating. This is a championship feat that Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Babe Ruth, Jerry Rice, and Wayne Gretzky never attained in their respective sports. Kobayashi is king.

I'll tell you who else is at the top of their game, the Texas Rangers (at least for last night).

Down a run to the world-champion Red Soxs in the bottom of the ninth, the Rangers got a triple, a double to tie the game, a walk and hit-by-pitch to load the bases, and a game-winning-single to left.

The win was recorded in front of the second largest crowd ever at the Ballpark in Arlington, many of whom were Boston fans.

I don't believe in the no-win scenario.

Speaking of crowds, just got in from N.C. where last week Curt Shilling pitched a one run game in five re-hab busting innings against the Charlotte Knights. Pertinent to the post about the Arlington crowd, that night, the park was packed. Many of them Boston fans. Heard from the locals that barely anybody goes to those games. But, the Boston Red Sox phenomenon continues.

On topic, was surprised to see this story topping some of the news. Scary that a contest boasting of gross gluttony could end up capturing the imaginations of a majority. Anyway, post contest, if there wasn’t some major purging going on, the results had to be a colon buster.

Arlington does support their team. Normal attendance is over 30,000. When Boston, Yankees, Angels, Houston or Chicago is in town, the attendance does go up, but The BallPark can have 45,000 for the Marlins. Last night was a sellout for several reasons: 4th of July, Boston and, of course, the Rangers - the sluggingest team in baseball.
bholly

There is only one Arlington. What faux arlington are you guys talking about?

Kobayashi is a weenie-eating machine! How many Mustard Belts is this for him?