Our News is Written in Stone™

Sunday, June 15, 2008

 

Hot dog man’ plans to keep chomping

Published: Sunday, June 15, 2008 at 8:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 11:12 p.m.

HOUMA -- An orthopedic spine surgeon from Tennessee gobbled away a local man’s shot at competing in a world-famous hotdog-eating contest, but James Howell isn’t ready to throw in his napkin.

"It’s one of those things I can’t believe I did it," Howell said. "I would do it again."

Howell gulped down 10 hot dogs in 10 minutes, placing him near the middle of the pack in a regional qualifier for the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, he said.

The regional qualifier, held June 7 at Sam’s Club in Metairie, pitted the Bayou Blue resident against 14 other competitors from across the country.

Juris "Dr. Bigtime" Shibayama gobbled 28 hot dogs in 10 minutes to finish first in the Metairie qualifier, earning the surgeon a trip to Coney Island, N.Y., for the televised contest.

"He was nice. He was like just an ordinary person," Howell said of Shibayama, who is an experienced competitive eater.

Howell, 40, said he is satisfied with his effort, especially since the contestant to his left ate just five hot dogs, and the contestant to his right ate 10 or 11 but got disqualified "because he hurled them."

Howell said his regular hotdog-eating practice sessions helped, but he was surprised to find the hot dogs at the contest were much larger than those he had been using for training.

The truck driver said his favorite part of the contest came in the introduction of the contestants.

"You get to run up on stage and act crazy," he said.

Howell also has garnered some notoriety at Big Eddie’s Café in Bayou Blue, which served as his informal training site. People now recognize Howell as "the hot dog man;" one customer even photographed Howell posing with a tray of 16 hot dogs and gave him a framed copy of the picture.

With one contest under his belt, Howell said he’s looking for more. Next up could be a Krsytal burger-eating contest or a grits-eating contest, he said.


Comments: Post a Comment



<< Home

Archives

March 2006   April 2006   May 2006   June 2006   July 2006   August 2006   September 2006   October 2006   November 2006   December 2006   January 2007   February 2007   March 2007   April 2007   May 2007   June 2007   July 2007   August 2007   September 2007   October 2007   November 2007   December 2007   January 2008   February 2008   March 2008   April 2008   May 2008   June 2008   July 2008   August 2008   September 2008   October 2008   November 2008   December 2008   January 2009   February 2009   March 2009   April 2009   May 2009   June 2009   July 2009   August 2009   September 2009   October 2009   November 2009   December 2009   January 2010   February 2010  

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?