Takeru Kobayashi almost regained his crown as the hot dog eating champion in the annual Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest held on Coney Island, but it was American Joey Chestnut who won the Mustard Belt in a tie-breaking five-dog eat-off:

Joey Chestnut reclaimed the top spot at the annual hot dog eating contest in Coney Island on Friday after first tying with archrival Takeru Kobayashi in a 10-minute chow-down and then beating him in a five-dog eat-off.

The men tied at 59 frankfurters in 10 minutes, before being made to gobble another five dogs in a last-minute tiebreaker. They consumed 64 hot dogs total and were looking quite peaked after the competition.

Kobayashi had hoped to reclaim the throne after a disappointing three-dog loss last year shattered his six-year winning streak. […]

Thousands gathered at Coney Island on the Fourth of July to watch the glutinous gladiators compete in the annual event. Chestnut emerged victorious for the second year in a row, beating 20 others who had only 10 minutes to scarf down as many hot dogs as possible, two minutes less than in previous years.

I watched a special on Food Network about this contest once.  It was totally amazing, how much food competitive eaters can consume.  I think Kobayashi had said one of his secrets was eating the dogs and buns separately, while dipping the buns in his water glass.

That’s okay…the two friendly competitors will have another chance at each other:

He says he’ll be back for a rematch next year. Before that, the two will face off again at the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship Sept. 28 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

(For those of you not from the South, Krystals are like White Castle hamburgers.  Only White Castle burgers are better.  If you don’t know what a White Castle is, turn emo and sit in the corner and cry, because your life is sad.)

Nothing says Happy Fourth like stuffing your face with hot dogs!  Speaking of which…bye y’all, I’m outta here for the day!

Source: k

Today, on July 4, 1776, the wording of the Declaration of Independence was approved and accepted by Congress, and America was born.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Dawn and I wish everybody a safe and happy Independence Day!

Source: k

Rumours (I had to use the British spelling, since Madonna is so veddy veddy British) are flying fast and furious about this whole Madonna/A-Rod/Guy Ritchie/Cynthia Rodriguez/Lenny Kravitz thing.  I’ll attempt to do a fast update, okay?  Just to try and get up to speed.

Okay.  First, Cynthia has split up with Stray-Rod:

The Daily News reported today that Cynthia dumped the future Hall of Famer after three months of problems in their marriage.

Word of the breakup comes one day after widespread reports that the Bombers’ $275 million cleanup hitter has been rounding the bases with pop icon Madonna - and team owner Hank Steinbrenner blamed recent poor play on “outside distractions.”

Word of the couple’s marital strife comes less than three months after they expressed how “thrilled” they were with the April 21 birth of daughter Ella Alexander.

Rodriguez, 32, didn’t join his wife in Miami until 10 minutes after she gave birth, and spent only a day with her and their newborn before rejoining the Yankees.

And there are denials all around that Cynthia and singer Lenny Kravitz (a reputed former Madonna castoff himself) are rockin’ the shack:

The “Let Love Rule” singer, in a statement released Thursday morning, said he’s letting the Yankee slugger’s estranged wife stay at his place in Paris - but simply as a friend.

“There is absolutely no affair between Cynthia Rodriguez and myself,” Kravitz said. “This is unequivocally 100 percent not true.”

Kravitz said references to him as an adulterer were “extremely hurtful,” adding that Cynthia came to stay at his home “to escape from everything happening in New York City.”

Cynthia brought along her daughter’s godfather and his family for moral support as her 5-year marriage to Alex Rodriguez crumbled.

So while all this is going on, what’s poor cuckold boy Guy Ritchie doing?

Look, they’re holding hands! Couples that are about to get a divorce don’t hold hands in public — um, right?

In an effort to dispel the divorce rumors, Madonna and Guy Ritchie actually went out to dinner — together!!! — last night [Tuesday night] in NYC.

And finally, is Madonna using some sort of freaky batter’s grip on A-Rod?

Madonna is using “mind control” through the power of Kabbalah to mesmerize A-Rod into making him her boytoy, according to friends of his wife.

“I don’t recognize the man he’s become,” Cynthia Rodriguez told a pal, according to the New York Daily News. “I feel like Madonna is using mind control over him. … Today he’s very cold and calculating.” Still, say pals, Cynthia is still in love with the slugger.

Um, okay.  I don’t think it’s her mind that she’s using to control him.

So basically, what it is coming down to, is this…nobody is claiming to be having sex with anyone else.  Everybody’s publicist, official spokesperson, mother-in-law, next-door-neighbor, and dog-walker is saying that none of this is true.  Except the parts that are.  Allegedly.

Source: k

The ‘Samantha Who?’ and ‘Married With Children’ actress dated the younger man on and off for two years.

Source: k

What’s-his-name says: “Mandy is one of those genuinely sweet angelic people you wish to meet your whole life. I am grateful for our friendship and how it allowed us both to grow and learn more.”

Source: k