An American Tradition

Happy 4th of July everyone. Being that today is the birth of our great nation, I wanted to take some time and talk about something very American. I though I could talk about freedom of speech. Something that helped pave the way for all of us bloggers. Than I thought maybe I would talk about our troops, and how even if you don't support the war, you should always support our troops. I then leaned towards baseball. Nothing is more American, than the great national pastime.

I then turned on ESPN, and the Nathans Hot Dog Eating Championship. Which is starting as I type this. Nothing is more American than a table full of people stuffing their faces with hot dogs for 10 minutes, only to purge themselves of them shortly after the competition.

First of all we have hot dogs. A food with no real nutritional value, and that is thrown together from the parts of the pig that no one would eat on their own. Ground together and shoved in a tube, it becomes this magical piece of heaven.

Than there is the competition. Turn something into a competition and us Americans will partake. We called the massive building of weapons an "arms race" with the former USSR.

You have the story line of USA vs Japan. With Joey Chestnut vs Kobayashi. Kobayashi was a 6 time champion, it seemed that no one in the US would reclaim the mustard belt. Then a true American Hero, Joey Chestnut comes on the scene, and reclaims the belt. One man today tries to prove he was not a fluke, and the other tries to reclaim glory.

Lastly you have the waste factor. Us Americans do nothing better than waste things. As we have people starving not only around the world but right here in the US, we have a competition where people fill themselves with food as fast as possible, only to purge themselves once the competition is over.

This competition really highlights a lot of the traditions that bring out the worst in Americans.

I can't get enough of it though. I want to chant USA USA, as Chestnut and Kobayashi match dog for dog as they enter the last minute.

It's over, and it is two close to call. Will we have OT? They currently stand on 59dogs a piece.

A TIE!! A TIE!! A five dog eat off. That's right. The man that can eat five dogs fastest wins. Ten minutes of pure gluttony couldn't settle it.

CHESTNUT WINS!!! He keeps the Mustard Yellow Belt!!!

USA USA USA

Happy 4th of July Everyone.