SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
It took a 2-hour nasty weather delay before Joey Chestnut made sure the annual Nathans Hot Dog Eating contest would go on and him winning for the 16th time on the Fourth of July in Coney Island.
The contest was initially scheduled to begin at noon, but due to severe weather that included a long downpour and lightning, the news broke that the festive event had been completely cancelled, but Chestnut make sure it was only a postponement.
He came there Tuesday with all intent to compete and when the downpour and lightning had subdued, he called out that it was time to produce the hot dogs and buns for both the women and men who competed.
And he, just as George Washington crossing the Delaware River in 1776, would not be denied. He quickly took charge.
“The dog eating contest is going to happen,” he called out to the huge turnout that stood around in the nasty weather, “
