Hot Dawg! An eating compeition this weekend

Maybe it’s better if you didn’t know how competitive eater Tim Brown acquired his nickname “Gravy.” But here it goes anyway: “I was given the name by [fellow competitive eater] Ryan Nerz because when I eat, after about five minutes I start to sweat. Like a lot. And snot comes pouring down my nose and the combination of the snot and sweat looks like gravy … yeah fortunately I already have a girlfriend because it’s not too appetizing.”

But then there isn’t much that’s appetizing about competitive eating, especially hot dogs. But that’s what Brown and others from around the nation will be eating this Saturday at the Sam’s Club at 8300 W.135th Street starting at 11 a.m.

Brown (he commissioned the accompanying portrait, which depicts him riding a unicorn and holding a turkey leg) lives in Chicago and is flying to KC for the event. As much as he’s looking forward to seeing the city — he’s never been here — he’s dreading the actual competition.