http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2002-2006 by the authors Thu, 27 Jul 2006 18:34:22 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/07/03/233411.php#comment-415708 Yes, "losing the lunch" is a disqualification. Otherwise, 98-pound bulimics would be the world champions. We can ask Sal, but I think competitive eating leaves the "athletes" open to all kinds of disorders later in life. (Hypertension and gastric problems, obviously, but I vaguely remember hearing that mental problems are rife amongst older ex-speedeaters.) ]]> 415708@blogcritics.org Thu, 27 Jul 2006 18:34:22 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/07/03/233411.php#comment-403543 There are a remarkable number of ways to cram the food in. Don't make me write it. I saw no throwing up. I suspect it disqualifies them but it would indeed slow one down enough to lose. There were only two "fat" guys. The announcer said one was the last of the "big man" champions. The real top of the competition are small people. Kobayashi was 137 lbs but is now a very muscular 150. From the looks of these guys, it's an athletic event requiring training and mental discipline. I don't quite understand how but watching and listening to them, it was surprising. ]]> 403543@blogcritics.org Thu, 6 Jul 2006 17:47:31 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/07/03/233411.php#comment-403541 'Egads, when a pal of mine from the States said that instead of getting excellent world football/soccer coverage she gets this crap (her word, not mine) instead, I thought she was joking. Okay, I didn't but I wanted to. How do they cram so much into their bodies? Does one get disqualified for throwing up? What on earth could possess a human to want to eat competitively?! Amazing... ]]> 403541@blogcritics.org Thu, 6 Jul 2006 17:42:19 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/07/03/233411.php#comment-402203 No it'd involve ingesting fluid via tubes plus through the mouth. I watched the contest. It was actually pretty close but turned me off on hot dogs. ]]> 402203@blogcritics.org Tue, 4 Jul 2006 15:56:14 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/07/03/233411.php#comment-401932 Would a competitive eating biathlon entail having the food come out the other end? ]]> 401932@blogcritics.org Tue, 4 Jul 2006 00:10:55 EDT