Hughes doesn’t win at wiener-eating contest

Written By:  Mark A. Stevens

July 14, 2003

 Erwin native Carson “Collard Green” Hughes ate his heart out, downing 15 hot dogs in 12 minutes — but it wasn’t enough to beat World Champion Takeru “Tsunami” Kobayashi of Japan.  

Hughes, who lives in Newport News, Va., journeyed to New York last week to compete for the title and the coveted Yellow Mustard Belt.  

“Takeru downed his first dog in five seconds and 13 in the first two minutes,” Hughes said in an interview with The Erwin Record.  “I wasn’t polished enough to beat that this year.  However, next year, watch out Kobayashi.”

 “Takeru finished his franks at the rate of one ever 16 seconds, and that is a goal that I will keep in mind while training for next year’s championship.”  Kobayashi won the competition by ingesting 44 wieners and buns, so Hughes has a long way to go to become top dog.  

Hughes got his chance to compete in the annual Coney Island event, sponsored by the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs restaurant chain, by winning the Norfolk (Va.) Hot Dog Eating championship last month.  He scarfed down 16 franks in 12 minutes to win that contest.  

On July 4, though, Hughes managed to eat just 15 hot dogs in the 12 minute contest.  A cold may have ruined his chances.  

“Looking back.  I’d say that it was definitely hard inhaling the hot dogs and trying to breath around them.”  Hughes said.  “What a cold.  I’m still coughing my head off....My swallowing capacity went from full, at about half-dollar size, down to the size of a nickel.  Trying to cram them hot dogs down that small opening was challenging.  

The competition was tough, Hughes said, but one contender who had garnered much media attention turned out to be a huge disappointment.  Former NFL great William “The Refrigerator” Perry managed to eat only four hot dogs before bowing out of the competition.  

An ESPN report on Saturday quoted Perry as saying he stopped because he “was full.”  Hughes said he’s enjoyed his time in the spotlight, and he’ll be waiting for a chance to compete again in 2004.  “It was the most wonderful experience I’ve ever had in my life,” he said.  “I wouldn’t change a thing.”  

The chance to visit New York also proved enlightening for Hughes.  “I couldn’t believe how big New York was in real life,” he said.  “I guess I was comparing everything in life to Erwin and Newport News.”  

On a recent trip to Erwin, Hughes stopped at J.D.’s Market on Jackson Love Highway and entertained customers by gobbling down 10 hot dogs in two minutes and 25 seconds.  

“At that pace,” Hughes said.  “I would of had it made in Coney Island.”