That Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest tie-breaker on July 4th was something else. Who would have thought Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut would tie with 58 dogs a piece in the new ten minute timeframe then see Chestnut win in a five dog eat-off to become this year's winner. It was the first time it happened in that contest's history. It was exciting and a bit nauseating to say the least but I was lucky enough to see it on television. History was made and millions of us saw it.

Perhaps on a smaller scale but as ever much as exciting, I was luckier yet to see the same thing happen, but this time in person and by accident. I was just driving down Colfax on Sunday when something caught my eye. There were cars and people everywhere, television camera crews and people yelling and cheering. As a typical ambulance chaser, I parked the car and ran over to see what was happening and this colorful building named Steve's Snapping Dogs. I didn't know what to expect. What was going on at this place and why all the cheering, as I got closer it was obvious I stumbled upon a hot dog eating contest. "This is cool," I thought to myself and as I got closer, I heard the crowd count down to end the contest.

There was this guy with a funny looking hot dog hat that I can only assume was Steve, counting up the remaining hot dogs from the table of eight or nine contestants. One of them, I think his name was atomic bomb or something was the clear winner but three others tied for second. I guess this was a qualifier for a bigger contest later on the 27th. It was first time it ever happened and a three-way no doubt. I missed the contest but was there to see an eat-off with the remaining three. The big guy won but it was so exciting to see. People were cheering on as if it was an Olympic event, cameras were flashing and I felt like part of the action - it was electrifying.

I am now hooked on these hot dog eating contests and can't wait to see the finals on the 27th. May be they'll be another tiebreaker like the two I saw this weird week of wieners and losers.