Speed Eating
This story about a man who swallowed 100 pork buns in 12 minutes reminds me of two things. First, when I went out to dinner last night with Jennifer, I wolfed down my dish while she took a remarkably long time to eat hers. At least an hour, possibly more, and she didn't even finish it. I was tempted to comment that she was eating slowly, but didn't think that would go over too well. "Tell me, Jon," I could hear her say, "do you have a problem sitting here in the restaurant with me?" The second thing that comes to mind is that they actually televise speed eating contests on ESPN. I actually watched a few minutes of the Alka Seltzer - how fitting, right? - U.S. Championship recently. Not because the contest itself interested me but because the idea that it was actually televised with play-by-play and color commentary astounded me. The announcers were commenting on the different styles of the two contestants and how they were progressing. Eating as a spectator sport. Guess ESPN has to do something with the available air time on its many channels.