"It is possible to die from eating. But I think to be professional means you don't die." (Takeru Kobayashi)

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

WHO'S NUMBER THREE?

While Koby and Joey battle it out for the top two spots in the soon to be released MLE eater rankings, the next position up for grabs is, according to my math, number three. That spot currently belongs to Pat Bertoletti and, when the rankings are announced later this month, it will continue to belong to the mohawked man they call Deep Dish.

Hear that? That's the sound of no one arguing because out of all 50 names on the MLE eater rankings list, Bertoletti's position as the third best eater in the world is the easiest to call. But here's something worth chewing on: I wouldn't be surprised if Bertoletti is ranked #2 come judgment day. Here's why:

Most people think Joey Chestnut will be ranked number one. He wins 8 out of 10 contests he enters, demolishes records at every table he steps up to and, oh yeah, he beat the once invinceable Takeru Kobayashi in a little contest called Nathan's. But guess who Joey Chestnut's last two losses came from? That's right, Pat Bertoletti. Including a 98 to 75 beat down in the final jalepeno pepper round of the Saint Patrick's Day Showdown. (And don't say Joey isn't a "jalepeno guy" because he narrowly beat Bertoletti earlier in 2006 in the GoldenPalace.net Jalepeno Popper Contest.)

So if Joey is number one because of his nagging habit of winning so often, shouldn't the man who beat the man who beat "the man" have a shot at #2? I'm not saying it'll happen. But if it does, you can say I told you so.

12 Comments:

Blogger Carey said...

if it is the popularity contest that I think it will be, then you will not see any change in the top three spots. They don't follow rules at the table, why follow them on the boards?

10:28 PM

 
Blogger Liz said...

Interesting! Pat deserves everything that comes his way. That guy works hard. I do wonder if frequency should have something to do with the rankings. Like how long will Seaver be in the top 10? He can eat, but what if he never competes again?

10:49 AM

 
Blogger Carey said...

Exactly. You can't convince the old timers of that, though. They want to see their own names on the rankings long after they retire.

11:02 AM

 
Blogger Dave S. said...

I noticed that Seaver has been out of the action for a while. His last contest was in January. He sat out the entire Nathan's season! Has anyone heard from him? Is this what happens when a good eater just isn't hungry anymore?

11:40 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not a chance Bertoletti gets #2. There's no transitive property at work here.

1:02 PM

 
Blogger Carey said...

Dave, do you think he is still burning off the calories from the fries?

1:03 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

good luck..how long were some retired people in the rankings??????

1:57 PM

 
Blogger Carey said...

I see your concern, anon. 1:57.
ok, retire was the wrong word, perhaps a better one would be decline. The oldtimers, who, granted will still be able to eat me under the table long after their prime, have it in their best interest to get as much history in the rankings as possible.
I agree with anon. 1:02 also, but I believe Dave is just pointing out indicators of things to come in the near future.

4:09 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

37 is a great number.

7:27 PM

 
Blogger Carey said...

whew hew Pete!!!!!!!! He is ON THE BOARD!!!!!
Now let's celebrate by eating 37 hotdogs.
Hey, that party you are going to on saturday, lotta young college girls gonna be there? Need a wing man?

7:38 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm staying in Philly, because I gotta study now. If you want to join me you can, but your age might scare the youth of our nation.

8:28 PM

 
Blogger Dave S. said...

Ouch. That hurts.

6:08 PM

 

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