Japanese National “U.S. Patriot of the Year” for 6th Straight Time
CONEY ISLAND, NY (Disassociated Press) July 5, 2006 – For the 6th consecutive year, Takeru “Tsunami” Kobayashi has achieved the unofficial title of “United States Patriot of the Year” by once again winning the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest here at Coney Island.
The contest has been held annually with few exceptions every 4th of July since 1916, when “Irish” Jim Mullen became the first ever champion by eating 13 hot dogs in twelve minutes. The contest was held, according to lore, to discover who amongst the contestants was the most patriotic.
The patriotic theme has held throughout the years; included in the list of former champions are Jack Armstrong, Yankee Doodle and his Uncle Sam, and mild mannered Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent.
Once again this year, Kobayashi received the customary congratulatory phone call from the President, and will be named as an Honorary Marshall for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, both by virtue of being the most patriotic American in the country.
There are some who have reservations over a non-U.S. citizen being awarded the title. “Why can’t a real American win the championship again?” queried Ted Hucklesberger of Flushing. Such controversy is not new to the competition; during the Clark Kent era, it was rumored in some corners that he, too, was secretly an alien.
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