Kobayashi says “Sayonara” to Nathan’s in handcuffs
On a Fourth of July sports weekend that featured Wimbledon tennis, a UFC unification bout, MLB baseball action and a little tournament called the FIFA World Cup, an eating contest stole the sportspage headlines: The latest “athlete” to be busted in public fashion is former Major League Eating superstar Takeru Kobayashi.
After a much publicized regulations issue, Major League Eating officials disallowed Kobayashi from participating in the 2010 edition of the traditional Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Live Bets Direct readers may recall that Bet365’s proposition bet on the competition bore the caveat that both Kobayashi and now four-time defending champ Joey “Jaws” Chestnut had to compete for wagers to be valid.”
Sorry, y’all!
Huge sums wagered on this competition or no, controversy was soon to rule the day. Just after the end of the contest, to which Kobayashi later claimed he “went as a spectator to cheer on my buddies that I used to eat with,” some in the crowd began chanting “let him eat!” in support of the former champ.
“So,” explained Kobayashi, “I jumped onto the stage to prove that I am still the champ.” This was the result:
As for the match, well, Chestnut won in walk, pounding “just” 54 dogs to easily win by nine in a performance he called “disappointing.”
On Monday, Kobayashi pleaded not guilty in a Brooklyn court to four charges: obstruction of governmental administration, resisting arrest, trespassing and disorderly conduct. Said Kobayashi’s attorney Mario D. Romano: “He was protesting the restrictions of his contract. He jumped on the stage in response to people telling him to eat. All he wanted to do was eat quickly and publicly.”
And for the last word, here’s that kooky Rice Girl.
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