'Badlands' Defends Hot Dog Title: Great to Be a Wiener Again

'Badlands' Defends Hot Dog Title
Great to Be a Wiener Again

Train Conductor Eric "Badlands" Booker always dreamed of joining the world of competitive eating, even before the circuit officially existed.

DWARFING THE COMPETITION: Eric 'Badlands' Booker (right), pictured here during last year's international hot dog-eating contest, successfully defended his title after scarfing down 30-1/2 franks in 12 minutes at the annual Civil Service Hot Dog-Eating Championship June 27. 'I kind of approach it like a prize-fighter,' the 450-pound, 6-foot-5 Mr. Booker later remarked. "I grew up watching this as a kid," he said June 29, two days after winning the annual Civil Service Hot Dog-Eating Championship by downing 30-1/2 franks in 12 minutes. "In the back of your mind, you think, 'maybe I can do that.'''

Put Money on Stomach

Several years ago, "fate came to fruition" when he took his young son to a Nathan's Famous store in Long Island. They saw a sign for a qualifier for the upcoming July 4th contest at the chain's Coney Island flagship. "I guess this was the time to do it - to put my money where my stomach is," he recalled.

Since then, Mr. Booker has become a star in the expanding International Federation of Competitive Eating, competing in Las Vegas, Maui, and Los Angeles. "I'm one of the legends of the sport," he said.

The cameras and hundreds of cheering spectators were focused on Mr. Booker during last week's competition, which was held on a makeshift stage set up at the South Street Seaport. George O'Shea, the event's announcer, led the curious onlookers on.

"He's the biggest guy there and the person everyone knows," said Howard Nath, who came to watch during his lunch break.

'Like a Prizefighter'

Mr. Booker, who tied his personal record, said that he trained hard for the contest. "I kind of approach it like a prize-fighter," the 450-pound, 6-foot-5 Mr. Booker remarked. "When you are at the table you have a plan."

John Sclafani, a Customs and Border Protection Officer, placed second after eating 12 hot dogs. Winning, Mr. Booker said, takes a four-pronged approach, which includes a good eating strategy, stamina, focus, and a large stomach capacity. Before events, he eats a light breakfast and drinks a lot of water. "The worst thing you can do is fast for a couple of days, because that's when your stomach starts to shrink," he said. "I hit the gym a lot."

He was hoping that the training would lead him to victory at the "Super Bowl" of eating competitions, the Coney Island contest, which took place after this newspaper went to press.

"I think I'm going to have a good year," he predicted. "After eating 30 and not feeling full; I could have eaten a lot more."

Results of the competition will be published in next week's issue.

He faced a hardy field of competitors led by five-time reigning champion Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi, who chomped down 49 hot dogs last year. In 2004, the 132-pound Mr. Kobayashi scarfed down a record 53-1/2 hot dogs.