The sight of watered down hotdog buns dripping from grown men's mouths is beyond disgusting.
As I witnessed this today during the annual hotdog contest at the Grundy Bank and WCSJ/WJDK Brown Bag lunch on the courthouse lawn, the only thing that kept me from gagging was knowing it was for a good cause.
Nine men and one woman, all known officials or business people in Grundy County, stuffed their faces in hopes of winning $500 for their selected charity. State's Attorney Sheldon Sobol won again this year and is donating the money to Break Away - an organization that assists domestic violence victims.
For more information on the other contestants and the details of them stuffing their faces, read my story on the front page of Saturday's paper or online at .
This was indeed a fun Friday afternoon event. Hundreds came out to watch the contest and it was a beautiful day. But as I think back on the event all I can seem to remember is Sobol shoving a soaking wet hotdog in his mouth and water dripping from the bun in his mouth to his shorts.
And then there is the image of Peter Krowiak, a staffer of a competing paper that I refuse to name on my blog, whose beard was covered in wet bread crumbs.
But it wasn't the messy faces or half eaten dogs dripping off the contestants' faces that got me. It was the process of wetting the hot dog and then having to hold it in your hands long enough to try and eat it.
Just writing about it gives me goose bumps and makes my lips pucker in disgust.
I must admit at first I was offended that I was the only local media not asked to enter the contest. My co-worker Patrick Ferrell and I even discussed selling it to Grundy Bank and the radio station for next year. But not only could I not compete with Sobol or anyone else in the contest, I wouldn't even be able to sit next to them as they dipped the hotdogs.
I would get sick, not from overeating, but from seeing soggy bread. How embarrassing would that be for my selected charity? After that if I ever tried to compete again the charities would be thinking of excuses not to let me compete in their name. "I'm sorry we've become a vegetarian only organization," or "We don't encourage bulimia."
I have a year to figure out a way to get involved with the contest. I'm thinking of proposing a hotdog referee to watch the excess hotdog dipping or maybe being the ketchup and mustard girl.
Any suggestions?
Mallory Medved is an assistant managing editor of weekly publications for
the Sun-Times News Group. She helps cover the Lincoln-Way area and towns
southwest of Joliet. Being naturally nosy has led her to a career in
journalism and fulfilled her dream of getting paid to read. Being a new
homeowner and a future bride, she's also perpetually broke, but enjoys
hearing about other people in the same situation. She lives in Plainfield
but is a native of New Lenox.
Christina Chapman is a Will County resident who desperately wants to live in Grundy County. But since she lost that battle with her boyfriend when they bought a house, she makes due covering Grundy County news for The Herald News in Joliet. When not covering municipal meetings, school events and finding the truth behind the latest coffee talk, she is trying to balance life as a young home owner who is fighting the stereotype that she is living in sin because she is not yet married. She hopes to share with you her perspective on life and the news in hopes that you’ll share yours.
Congratulations to Sheldon on another great win -- 2 straight years as the champ. Most of all, thanks to Grundy Bank vice-president Don Brown who tackled plateful of lukewarm dogs with guts and gumption, on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.