They're colorful names in the annals of competitive eating — Crazy Legs Conti; Tim "Eater X" Janus (who grew up in Simsbury); Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas; "Pat from Moonachie" — but there's none more famous right now in the "sport" that has Alka-Seltzer as sponsor than 23-year-old Joey Chestnut. He's the California construction worker who trounced the reigning six-time world hot dog eating champ, Takeru Kobayashi of Japan, on July 4 at Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island. Setting a new world's record, Chestnut chowed down 66 hot dogs with buns in 12 minutes and now, he's coming to Fairfield.

On Saturday, Chestnut will be one of 20 pros from the International Federation of Competitive Eating racing the clock at the Ash Creek Saloon's third annual rib-eating contest. Speaking with him from his home in San Jose last Wednesday, Chestnut was in training to defend his title as Ash Creek's 2006 rib-eating champ. He's never been beaten in rib-eating, according to the IFOCE's Web site. His personal best and world record is 8.4 pounds in 12 minutes. "There's a lot of technique to eating off the bone," he said, describing his winning strategy. "There's a rhythm [to] skimming the meat off the bone."

At the time of the interview, Chestnut said he was fasting, preparing for a big night at an all-you-can-eat buffet on Thursday.

"There's a lot of training," he said "I go days without eating."

Obesity is a big concern, said the six-foot one-inch,

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220-pound competitor. "I count calories when I'm training and eat healthy so I don't gain weight," he said. He also gets a physical and talks with a doctor, he said, but as the IFOCE warns on its Web site, "speed eating is only suitable for those 18 years of age and older and only in a controlled environment with appropriate rules and with an emergency medical technician present." In other words, don't try this at home.

Ash Creek's general manager, Dave Cervero, credits World Wrestling Federation's Sgt. Slaughter with the idea for the rib-eating contest, but it was Cervero who made it happen.

"It became my project," Cervero said. "The first year was all amateurs, all regulars at the restaurant. About 200 people showed up in the parking lot [for the contest]."

The next year, the IFOCE became involved. Only five amateurs tried their luck against the pros and the amateurs didn't do very well, Cervero said. But with big names in the biz participating like Chestnut, who won the contest last year by eating 6.15 pounds of rib meat in 12 minutes, attendance was up to 600 folks. Ryan Nerz, spokesman for the IFOCE and the Major League of Eating, said viewing competitive eating as entertainment has been gaining popularity since the organization began in 1997. There are about 80 competitions a year, mainly in the United States, with some handsome prize money involved. Most competitors still have to keep their day jobs, Nerz said, but the Ash Creek event offers $5,000 in prize money, which is pretty good, according to Nerz. But, competitors usually have to pay their own expenses, he said.

So, how many contests can one person do in a year?

"Technically, 25 to 30," he said. "We try to keep them to 15 contests." For the contest, each participant will have a platter of ribs and 12 minutes to eat as much as they can. Each plate is weighed before and after the contest to determine how many pounds of ribs they ate. Also, each person has a judge closely watching them eat to prevent any cheating.

Last year, the Ash Creek event raised money for Stratford's and Southport's volunteer fire departments. This year, it will benefit the Kim and Tim Donnelly Music Scholarship at Fairfield University, Cervero said. And, it will take place at a different venue, the Fairfield Theater. "We're expecting way too many people [for the restaurant]," he said, predicting that about 2,000 people will attend. "We have people coming from Pennsylvania Massachusetts .. . families, children."

While the appeal of watching an eating competition may escape some of us, Cervero explained the fascination for it this way.

"I think it is messy," he said. "It's kind of like the train wreck you don't want to watch and you feel like you have to.

"You'd never believe it until you see it up close. It's unbelievable what these guys, and ladies, do."

Ash Creek Saloon World Rib Eating Championship will take place Saturday at the Fairfield Theater Company, 70 Sanford St., Fairfield, from 1 to 5 p.m. There will be live performances by The Christopher Robin Band and Midi & The Modern Dance. Former WWF star King Kong Bundy will be a guest judge. Admission is free. Tickets available for purchase for food and beverages. Donations accepted for the Kim and Tim Donnelly Music Scholarship.

Visit ashcreeksaloon.com or call the restaurant at 255-5131.