Reading the newspaper, watching television or surfing the internet, we acknowledge these are turbulent times. However, examining world affairs, the most pressing issue seems to be the Coney Island hot dog eating controversy. This current culinary crisis in hot dog land exploded when world champion and defending champion Joey Chestnut was declared out of this year’s July 4 Coney Island hot dog eating contest.

Weiner world was shocked.

Why do you ask? The 16-time Coney Island winner had just recently agreed to an exclusive deal with a rival hot dog brand company, Impossible Foods. As a result, the official contest sponsor, Major League Eating disqualified Mr. Chestnut, much to the chagrin of hot dog enthusiasts.

You may wonder, what does Coney Island have to do with our fair Island? Let’s turn the clock back to July 1983 when our local radio station WMVY, sponsored the first, last and only WMVY Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Hot dog contest was a part of the Tisbury street fair, and few a lot of spectators. — Courtesy Ken Goldberg

At the time it seemed a great idea. The town of Tisbury was holding its annual street fair, commemorating the town’s 300th anniversary. With that in mind, and the approval of WMVY general manager DiAnn Ray, I took my idea to Cora Medeiros. Cora was on the select board, owned several businesses in town and was president of the Martha’s Vineyard High football team booster club. Cora Medeiros was a force, a genuine powerhouse in Tisbury.

I remember our meeting well. She inquired, “What do you want to do? What do you need?”

My suggestions were met with total enthusiasm.

We needed hot dogs. Cora got the hot dogs. We needed a contest location. Cora put us on Main street right in front of the old Bowl ‘n Board.

When we needed pots and pans, Cora found a supplier. We needed to cook the hot dogs — Cora found the restaurant. Thank you, Popeye’s Restaurant on Main street.

Loading up on the franks. — Courtesy Ken Goldberg

We needed permits for the event. Cora took care of the authorities. We needed electricity for the sound system. Cora made the connections.

The radio station promoted the event and sent out requests for contestants. Simple rules. Show up and eat.

So, on a beautiful summer evening in July of 1983, the WMVY Hot Dog Eating Contest became a reality. An enthusiastic crowd gathered around the long table in front of the Bowl ‘n Board. As emcee handling the play-by-play, I invited the contestants to come forth. Spectators made way as challengers confidently walked up to the table.

We had decided in advance that the inaugural eating contest would be a healthy event, so hot dog buns were excluded. Naked hot dogs were the only food on the menu. Mustard, ketchup and relish were made available.

Several hungry and confident gourmands fearlessly stepped up to the table. WMVY employees were on hand to keep the hot dogs and water ready to refuel and refill. The competition was set for 10 minutes. Who knew what to expect? How do you train for this event? This was my first experience as a Hot Dog Eating Contest announcer.

At the sound of the whistle, the eaters began to eat. It was not pretty.

Frenzied onlookers encouraged the contestants. Hot dogs went from hand to mouth and disappeared. I remember the bulging cheeks and the bulging eyes. I could only wonder what our fearless diners were feeling as they shoveled the tube steaks down again and again. What can be expected when your hand is your only utensil? Thankfully, that night, the Tisbury Board of Health was not convening a meeting on Main street.

Judges yelled out each number and kept count as contestants kept gorging and the hot dogs kept disappearing. Pressure mounted on the eaters. The pace slowed dramatically. In just a matter of minutes, contenders started dropping out. Spectators continued to urge on the struggling athletes. Grimaces appeared on their faces. Everyone was struggling.

Even your fearless Emcee was feeling the pain. I made every effort to cheer the eaters to feast. The pace slowed. Even shouts of encouragement could not make for faster eating. Suddenly, at the 10-minute mark, the whistle blew. It was all over and a champion emerged from the pack.

Keith Graves from Oak Bluffs was the winner. Accurate records have long since gone missing and remain lost in the annals of Hot Dog Eating Contests, but we concluded Keith devoured somewhere between 20 to 30 hot dogs. For his efforts, Keith was awarded a trophy along with a supply of Tums, or was it Pepto Bismol?

Word of his victory spread Island-wide and we were later told that Keith bragged about his eating title to family and friends.

A year later, when the 1984 Tisbury Street Fair rolled around, I sat down with Cora. I looked at her. She looked at me. We laughed. We were done.

Ken Goldberg lives in Edgartown and can be found at his table at the Chilmark Flea Market.