Free Republic

Steve Hummer Las Vegas August 2, 2006 IT IS going on 10.30pm in the city without clocks, and after nearly 12 hours of poker, Paul Azinger is a deep-down, someone's-just-starched-my-hamstrings tired. His eyes are glassier than a mounted marlin's. "It's like playing 36 holes," said the 46-year-old winner of 12 PGA Tour events, including the 1993 US PGA Championship. "My lower back is sore. My legs ache. I've got a little fatigue now." If the trials that come with sitting in one place for long periods of time qualified as a sporting challenge, this would be an Olympic event. That...

NEW YORK -- A 160-pound wonder from Japan set a record by devouring a sickening 53¾ frankfurters in 12 minutes to win the annual Independence Day hot dog eating competition on Coney Island. Dog gone: Kobayashi's winning marks since 2001 2006 53¾ 2005 49 2004 53½ 2003 44½ 2002 50½ 2001 50 The feat earned Takeru Kobayashi, 27, his sixth straight title in the event, held at the original Nathan's Famous hot dog stand on Brooklyn's seashore. His prize: the coveted Yellow Mustard Belt.Kobayashi broke his record of 53½ hot dogs, set at the same competition two years ago.Thousands of...

I died because I'm poor. I'm floating in the water. My Mom is accross from me. Mosquitos swarm around us. They're our only friends. I'm in the United States. Of, America. Not Vietnam. I'm not on T.V. It's really me. I'm dying 'cause I'm poor. Mama's eyes are fluttering. Like a butterfly. This is real. Please, people. Not a photo op. I'm dying 'cause I'm poor. I spit on Mama's lips, to give her moisture. Her face turns cold. I'm crying 'cause I'm poor. Oh, Mama! Dear sweet Mama. I wail into the sky. Where's that promising Bush? Mama didn't...