Happy 4th of July people.

Yes, it’s that time of the year again when the proud U – S – of – A celebrate its day of independence. And while some of the more patriotic Americans wave their little flags and light up a firecracker or two on the 4th of July weekend, some will watch two men make a fool of themselves by eating a butt-load of hot dogs while they bet on it as if it was the freakin’ Super Bowl.

Since everybody was so into this entire thing last year, (you have ESPN to blame for that…) Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi will once again try to find out who loves ‘em hot dogs the most in the now 94th Annual Nathan’s Hot dog Eating Contest.

This eating contest has become a tradition in New York, gaining international exposure and impressive spectator numbers with 30,000 people showing up to watch the entire thing last year. And with the popularity, the sports betting world has taken notice and bettors look forward to having a little fun with it this year and basically every other year as well.

Online sportsbook SPORTSBETTING.COM is offering up a number of prop bets and wagering options for the event, with some very cool betting offers. As you might expect, most of the betting focus surrounds the rivalry between the two top contestants (the only two people who have won the competition the past eight years) Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi.

As it stands, Joey Chestnut is listed as the…

It may not sound like a real sports championship to you. But as much as Nathan’s famous hot dog eating contest, held annually since 1916, is an Americana novelty, we should all remember that this undertaking was created out of deep patriotism.

And you thought it was just one of those crazy Fourth of July activities concocted by some drunk gluttons in the park.

So I’m thinking me and my friends ought to ho into Coney Islands this year and finally watch this hot dog eating spectacular. Yeah, haven’t seen one myself. Was content to see them on the tube because well, I pity those hot dogs. Really.

Mostly I’d like to see this Takeru Kobayashi guy who has held the record since 2001. People call his the Tsunami, probably exactly how the hotdogs feel that hit them once Kobayashi is through with them.

In the championship of 2006 alone, he downed 53 and 3/4 total of hotdogs, setting a new world record. The runner-up, California’s Joey Chestnut ate 52 hot dogs in 12 minutes.

Chesnut is posing to become Kobayashi’s nemesis for the second straight year. Because in the Southwest regional qualifiers for the 2007 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, Chestnut shattered the world record by eating 59 1/2 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes. Meaning it beats Kobayashi’s championship record the last time.

The odds are even for these…

Thousands of flag-waving Americans spend 4th of July celebrating our country’s birthday by watching a bunch of gastric freaks ingest hundreds of dead pig pops in Coney Island, New York. That’s right, it’s time for the 2005 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition where competitors from all over the world will attempt to eat as many hot dogs as possible without booting all over the stage. BetUs has released its favorites this year and, of course, the prohibitive favorite is the skinny Japanese hot dog eating wonderboy Takeru Kobayashi at 1 to 5. The runner-up is American champion, 400-lb. Eric Booker at 2 to 1. Any other contestant is listed at 10 to 1, which we wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot weenie.