Chestnut Wins, But Kobayashi Says He'll "Beat Him"

The hot dogs were barely digested when Takeru Kobayashi threw down the proverbial gauntlet for next year's Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. After being handed defeat by Joey Chestnut in this year's contest, Kobayashi looked at Chestnut, pointed and yelled, "I will definitely beat him next year." Chestnut broke his own world record and Kobayashi's Coney Island record yesterday by eating 66 HDB (hot dogs and buns) and brought the Mustard Belt back to the United States. Kobayashi finished with 63 HDB and wasn't disqualified despite what looked like a reversal of fortune. George Shea said, "If it were to come out of his mouth or out of his nose and fall on the table, it would have been considered a reversal of fortune." Ah ha! Liquid which clearly squirted out of Kobayashi's mouth and then through his hands does not count. The contest was so close that judges had to count the scraps left on the plates of Kobayashi and Chestnut for the final count.

Before yesterday's event, it was unclear if Kobayashi would compete, and if he did, what shape he would be in. In the weeks leading up to the event, it was revealed that Kobayashi's jaw was sore from training and he had a tooth removed to alleviate the pain. Kobayashi's jaw seemed fine while eating yesterday, when the biggest challenge that the former 6-time champion faced was the 23 year-old Chestnut.

With his performance yesterday and with his previous world record of 59 1/2 HDB in June, Chestnut has clearly shown that he's now the eater to beat. Prediction for next year: another record is set with at least one eater eclipsing the 70 HDB mark. A crazy feat considering the world record before this year was 53 3/4.

Photo of Joey Chestnut after winning the by Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest AP/Seth Wenig

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By tien mao in News on July 5, 2007 10:45 AM

Comments [rss]

guest

This is the greatest 12 minutes of sports (or entertainment, if you prefer) in the world! If you can't enjoy it you take yourself too seriously.

guest

AND HOW MANY AMERICANS DIED IN IRAQ TODAY?????????

Alex

Naw, they can't be. When's the last time a fat guy won this thing?

drewo

As ridiculous as it is: there is athletic skill involved in having enough control over your body not to puke all the over the place after eating 66 hot dogs.

So, obese folks can now be considered athletes?

Alex

Yes, because the third world really has so little to worry about that they care about our eating contests.

guest

and we wonder why this country is so hated by the third world.

TKaisen

Athletic prowess? - raising your hand to your mouth? Just as much athleticism is involved in sharpening your crossword puzzle pencil.

As ridiculous as it is: there is athletic skill involved in having enough control over your body not to puke all the over the place after eating 66 hot dogs.

guest

JMH, I could do it in a week, thus badly beating your ass!!

JMH

You know what would be good television? Take ordinary people and see how long it would take them to eat 66 hot dogs if they were not allowed to eat anything else or drink anything but water until they ate the hot dogs. I think that would probably take me about a week and a half.

guest

Crossword puzzling IS a sport, dammit!

guest

Athletic prowess? that's a good one.

drewo

"Why is it not a sport?

- Takes immense skill

- Competitive

- Takes athletic prowess"

Skill and competitiveness can be applied to solving crossword puzzles as well. Does that make puzzle solving a sport?

Athletic prowess? - raising your hand to your mouth? Just as much athleticism is involved in sharpening your crossword puzzle pencil.

Uncle Eddie

Joey Joey Joey

USA USA USA

Con Ed is proud of you brotha. Way to drop the A-Bomb on that skinny punk!

Tonight Con Ed is gonna show there appreciation with a little hot dog contest of our own...we promise "special prizes."

We're On It

guest

Why is it not a sport?

- Takes immense skill

- Competitive

- Takes athletic prowess

Seems more of a sport than car racing.

guest

They should remove the 12 minute time limit and make it into an endurance event. Those guys could have eaten more if they had more time. The winner should be the person who can eat the most before they puke or die.

drewo

Over-eating is the new passtime. It's the closest most Americans get to physical activity these days. I hope these "athletes" are not using any performance-enhancing drugs, otherwise the children will become disillusioned.

Alex

Who cares if it's really a sport or not? ESPN shows poker all the time. The event is an amusing and fun thing to watch on the Fourth of July. What else is ESPN gonna show on a Wednesday afternoon?

guest

I'm with [3]

This is not a sport, even if ESPN had a &%$#@*! reporter there to get comments from the "winner"

guest

this is NOT a sport

disguisting

Alex

It was my first year attending the contest, and it was a lot of fun. With the mic problems at the beginning, the terrible musical acts, and the MC arguing with people on stage while accidentally leaving his mic on, the whole thing seemed really disorganized though.

Jen Chung

I think weather played a big part in this year's crazy hot dog eating pace. Last year's 53.some HDB number was during a sultry day - nothing like yesterday's overcast and relatively crisp weather. It was perfect marathon-running weather!