Published Sunday, June 28, 2009

'Buffalo' eats 22 Nathan's hot dogs

By Elizabeth Richardson

The Times-Herald

A local crowd cheered on a number of America's best competitive eaters Saturday at the Junction Lanes Entertainment Center.

Participants in the Southeast Regional Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest were vying for a chance to compete in Nathan's National July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island, New York.

A number of contestants devoured hot dogs and buns for 10 minutes, despite temperatures in the mid-90s.

"Buffalo" Jim Reeves, a chicken wing eating specialist from Buffalo, N.Y., took first place by eating 22 hot dogs and buns. Reeves flew into town with his family Saturday morning. He will now compete in the Fourth of July competition, which will be televised on ESPN.

"I will do my best to make Atlanta proud," Reeves said. "I have more in common with the people of Atlanta than the people of Buffalo."

Reeves admitted that he wasn't used to the heat of the southeast. He also said that his stomach holds a capacity of 20 pounds of food and water. The 22 hot dogs he ate, he estimated, only weighed about 10 pounds. He said his limitations are that his throat and jaw get tired and can't handle the food. Ultimately, Reeves said Saturday's feast was "nothing," and that he planned to go to dinner with his family later in the day.

Reeves' personal best came a little over two weeks ago when he ate 27-and-a-half hot dogs. He's been competitive eating for six years, and he got started when a friend dared him to enter a wings competition. He's continued competing because he gets to interact with nice people, he enjoys the food, and he gets to travel with his family to places they might not see otherwise, he said.

"It's awesome," Reeves said of Saturday's victory. He admitted that he's come in second place so many times that he'd started to get discouraged.

After the Coney Island competition, he plans to participate in a few contests this summer, such as the buffalo wing competition and the Krystal's burger eating world championship.

Allen "the Shredder" Goldstein, a bologna eating champion from Long Island, N.Y., came in second place Saturday, eating 20 hot dogs -- and washing them down with iced tea rather than water. His personal best is 27 hot dogs.

There were also a few Georgia competitors taking part in Saturday's event.

Paul Barlow, of Kennesaw, has been competing for seven years. Saturday, he ate 11 hot dogs.

"I get no better," he joked. But he sticks with it because he's "hungry" and "it's fun."

Two other locals -- Cory Graham and Jason Woody, both Atlanta natives -- also competed Saturday.