The World Awaits Nathan's 2008 Hot Dog Contest: 'Jaws' vs. 'The Tsunami' vs. . . . Bertoletti?

Bookmakers Give Joey and Takeru Even Odds*

We are just days away from the 2008 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, and the excitement is building.

Approximately 20 eaters will be vying for the most famous food title in America. Last year, an estimated 50,000 came to Coney Island to watch Joey "Jaws" Chestnut shovel down 66 Nathan's hot dogs to take the coveted Mustard Yellow Belt from reigning champion Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi.

Chestnut appears to be in fine shape. On March2, he put away 78 matzoh balls during Kenny & Ziggy's World Matzoh Ball Eating Championship in Houston, TX. But don't rule out the Tsunami -- he still possesses the soul of a champion!

Once again, McBrooklyn has consulted Aces Ace Online Sportsbook to get the odds on this contest. As it stands now, Joey and Takeru are exactly neck and neck and both are ranked well above the rest of the field.*

But wait -- the Major League Eating website shows that Chestnut is currently ranked first in the world of eating -- and Kobayashi is only third!

And wait again -- this year's contest is only 10 minutes long, as opposed to 12 minutes as in years past. (The details about this controversy can be found in the Brooklyn Paper and the NY Times.)

The time change may favor quick eating Patrick Bertoletti. According to MLE, "The steadily improving Bertoletti had his breakout season in ’06, when he set an astonishing eleven records."

Once again, McBrooklyn is passing along Nathan's oddly stimulating buy-one-get-one-free coupon. (The original may be found at the Nathan's site.)

*UPDATE: Odds-makers have updated their figures to put Joey Chestnut in the lead.