It's me again: Liz, your favorite non-Kitty Krystal Counter reporting (let's be honest, everyone's favorite Krystal Counter is Kitty—even mine). If you didn't make it out to the competition on Sunday, you really missed something special. By catching the ESPN broadcast, you got a taste of it, but I'm sorry if you didn't get to feel that warm Chattanooga breeze coming off the water, or see the green packed with people filling up on free Krystals and playing games. You missed the eaters pulling up in their hot little Corvettes, and you missed the excitement of fans waiting on line to get autographs from their favorite eaters. I always feel like I'm missing something when I can't make it to a competition and have to settle for the televised version. I won't lie: it felt good not to miss it this time.
You'll be happy to know I made it through the competition with nary a bobble. It turns out turning numbers and counting burgers is like second nature to me. A gift, if you will. They even tried to throw me with the new fancy three digit counters that they had made in anticipation of the 100-mark being broken, but I was totally cool under the pressure and flipped like a pro. The one thing they don't warn you about is the wind, which will flip your numbers the wrong way if you aren't vigilant. The crowd will be very confused as to how your eater managed 26 Krystals in ten seconds. Luckily, I caught onto that trick right away. No weather was going to affect my performance. Unfortunately, the wind was strong enough to knock a few cups of liquid on the eaters' table, but nothing too tragic.
Prior to the competition, I had to abandon my camera with my other personal gear, since I couldn't very well tote those on stage. It was a little like being asked to abandon my left foot for a little while. I could obviously get along without the camera, but I wasn't used to it. Who would take 100 pictures of the Krystals in various stages of mastication? Who would click the camera right with the fireworks and flames went off? Would someone manage to catch the aftermath of it all? The turned over boxes, buns soaked with fruit punch, confetti and streamers draped over deserted cups. I snapped myself out of it by remembering that the whole thing would be broadcast on ESPN, which I guess counts as one continuous photo. Plus, omigod, I was going to be on stage!
It was really exhilarating getting to watch the contest from behind. While the rest of the crowd, which was gathered thickly on the steps of Ross's Landing, waited for us to show them the numbers, we were getting the information a split second before them. And because I had a lucky spot counting for Pat Bertoletti, I was getting the high numbers fast. I warned you not to count out "Humble" Bob, who kept pace with Joey Chestnut for a good amount of time. Pat would catch up and then fall behind a burger. Bob would overtake Joey for a split second, before settling in behind Pat. Then Joey would surge ahead, Bob hot on his trail, and Pat keeping an excruciatingly close third. It was eight minutes of pure drama.
Then, of course, it happened. With 20 seconds left in the competition, Joey Chestnut ate that 100th burger and Krystal Kitty flipped that magic third digit. Joey did something that happens very rarely in these competitions: he stopped for a split second and just smiled. Later he would admit he slowed down a little right at the end, but that he couldn't help that smile. He was just that happy. And so were we.
Labels: Burgers, Competitive Eating, Joey Chesnut, Krystal Square Off
