By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL/Designated Writers

This is one of the best days of the year in America.

This is one of the worst days of the year in American sports.

What happens today proves just how far we have de-volved as a sports society. Perhaps as a society in general.

There are all kinds of major league and minor league baseball games going on today. Opening rounds of golf tournaments opening rounds. Wimbledon, that’s a big deal.

But what’s stealing all the publicity? A hot dog eating contest. Let’s just hope the Martians don’t show up today, stop by Coney Island and think this represents what Earth is all about.

We have got to find a way to stop making this a thing of any kind. First of all, dipping hot dogs in water seems like blatant cheating. Who eats a hot dog like that in the first place?

And yet somehow, it continues to live. Two skinny guys will battle it out until one is declared champion and then receive more attention than it right due him.

Even sadder is that there’s millions of dollars being wagered in Las Vegas on this. There’s even a prop bet on whether someone from PETA interrupts it (-$1600 on No).

Of course, breakdancing is about to become an Olympic sport, so apparently the boundaries of what is and isn’t a sport have been erased a long time ago.

Since this is held at Coney Island, they oughta make the winner ride the Tilt-A-Whirl after he finishes. Let’s see if he can hold it together long enough to really accomplish something special.