How Big? We’re Talking Bob Beamon Big!*

At least he didn’t cite Barry Bonds:

The upcoming July 4 Nathan’s hot dog-eating contest may be the biggest U.S.-Japan pop-culture face-off since King Kong took on Godzilla.

That’s because California’s Joey Chestnut has dethroned reigning Japanese champion Takeru Kobayashi for the world record for most hot dogs eaten in a sitting, meaning that their Coney Island face-to-face match-up will be served with an extra helping of importance for “big-boned” Americans and Japanese everywhere.

“This is the most monumental achievement in athletics since Bob Beamon broke the long-jump record in the 1960s,” said George Shea, chairman of Major League Eating. “This creates one of the most historic rivalries in all of sports.”

. . .

Now that Chestnut, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound 23-year-old, has finally eclipsed the downright skinny 160-pound Kobayashi on paper, all eyes are on the upcoming Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island, where the two will again come to face to face for the Mustard Yellow Belt.

And there’s already evidence that Kobayashi, who’s won the Nathan’s contest six years in a row, is feeling the heat.

“Last year [at the Krystal Square Off World Championship hamburger-eating contest in Chattanooga, Tenn.], Kobayashi was really stressed and pressed — Joey did 91 in eight minutes and Kobayashi ate 97,” Shea said.

“It became a real rivalry. At the end of the competition, Kobayashi pounded the table in a way he never did — he used to be a really quiet, reserved guy before that. It was a real outburst of emotion because Joey pushed him so hard.”

*And when was the last time you thought about the long jump? Probably just before the last time you thought about competitive eating.