An American Tragedy
When you think of America and the 4th of July what comes to mind? The bald eagle, the symbol of America, fierce bird that soars high stalking its prey and then conquering it with one swoop. Fireworks, fireworks are synonymous with the 4th of July. Standing downtown or grabbing a spot in the city to watch bright colorful lights soaring through the night sky with a huge boom and on lookers saying, “oooohhhh and ahhhhhhh!” Cookouts. Cookouts are the staple of the 4th of July. Where you having it and what are we eating are the phrases had amongst friends and what is the main food item brought to these cookouts? Hotdogs.
So when news brought that the 16 time Nathan’s hotdog eating champion, Joey Chesnut, has been banned from the July 4th tradition of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating competition it took my breath away. I read the headline and thought what did this American hero do? Did he cheat? Nope! Did he get arrested for some ungodly and grotesque reason? Nope! Did he make a comment about America in a negative way? Nope! So then what.
Well apparently this hero got a sponsorship with…… a vegan hotdog company. Come again, you’re banning a man who had defeated the Japanese legend, Kobayashi.
Who for 6 years prior to Joey’s reign made a mockery of America by defeating us at our own game. For 6 years Americans tried to take down Kobayashi but couldn’t until the American Hero, Joey Chestnut, defeated the man from Japan and bringing the title home. July 4th Americans with a few pops in them watch the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest and cheer on Joey, and also say out loud at parties, “how many could you eat? I could probably do 20.” Which in fact is a bold face lie.
Joey Chestnut’s ban is a tragedy and for someone who put ass’s in seats down in Coney Island and in front of the TV for 10 minutes to see these athletes down as many hot dogs as they can will now be missing a familiar and house hold name because he got a sponsorship to make some more money. This 4th of July let’s pour one out for an American hero, Joey Chesnut.