The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Michelle Lesco, of Tucson, holds the women's trophy after winning a qualifying Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Lesco advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Erik "The Red" Denmark, of Seattle, Wash., kisses a trophy after winning a qualifying Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest[Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Denmark advances to compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Within the 10 minute contest, Erik "The Red" Denmark ate 30 1/2 hot dogs and buns while Michelle Lesco downed 24 hot dogs and buns. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Current users sign in here.
Guest Commentary by Tom Patterson
By Mark Scarp, contributing columnist
By Jerry Brown, contributing columnist
Guest Commentary by Bill Richardson
Guest Commentary by Roc Arnett
© Copyright 2013, East Valley Tribune, Tempe, AZ. [Terms of Use | Privacy Policy]
A Division of 10/13 Communications