Food Fight II

Despite the desire of the onlookers — and the sponsor — the home favorite for the Mustard Yellow International Belt was again bested by a Japanese contestant. The belt, the prize for the 82nd annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, goes to whoever can eat the most hot dogs, with buns, in 12 minutes. Hirofumi Nakajima, 135 pounds, ate 24 1/2 dogs. Ed “The Animal” Krachie, 330 pounds, the U.S.’s Great Wide Hope, pounded down a mere 20 weiners. In fact, he came in third, behind another Japanese man, 100-pound Kazutoyo “The Rabbit” Arai. “I don’t know where they put it,” Krachie said after the contest. “Both of those guys put together weigh less than me.” Nakajima’s secret: he alternated eating the dogs and the buns, rather than cramming both down together. (AP) ...Perhaps next year, Krachie won't lose time by slathering on onions, mustard, kraut, chili, cheese, relish...