Thanks to the power of the Internet, we've quickly got video of Joey Chestnut chomping his way to his fifth straight mustard belt. Chestnut emerged victorious at the 2011 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest as he took down 62 hot dogs and buns to defeat Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti who finished with 56 HDBs. In related news, Takeru Kobayashi observed the contest from a Manhattan bar where he planned to compete via satellite. Rumors are swirling that Kobayashi ate 69 hot dogs, which surpass Chestnut's previous world record of 68.
The contest saw Bertoletti keep pace with Chestnut early and push the now five-time champion to surpass hius 54 hot dogs from a year ago. While Chestnut fell short of his 68 HDB record, he put together a solid effort in emerging victorious. You can watch video of his championship effort below. The one drawback to this video is that it does not include the masterful introduction by MC George Shea. You can re-watch it at 5:00pm pacific on ESPN. If you don't get a chance to check it out, here is how Shea introduces the event (alternative intro video):
They say that competitive eating is the battleground upon which God and Lucifer wage war for men's souls, my friends, and they are right! For this is a battle of the ages, this is a battle for the titans! The being that is half god and comes to the earth only once in only one location! And that is here at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenue! The Mt. Sinai of Mastication! The Madison Square Garden of Gurgitation! So it is, so it shall always be....Brooklyn, Let the contest BEGIN!