Chestnut Keeps Mustard Belt But Kobayashi Steals The Show

There are a few more details about the strange arrest of competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi after Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Kobayashi, who claimed he was not participating in the event he won six times because of a dispute with Major League Eating organizers (hence the "Free Kobi" shirt), had been watching the event from the crowd. Apparently the crowd's chanting of his name inspired him to rush the stage; he said, "I went as a spectator to cheer on my buddies that I used to eat with. Everyone in the crowd kep chanting 'let him eat, let him eat'. So I jumped onto the stage to prove that I am still the champ, but I was arrested."

His lawyer claims that a Nathan's rep gestured for him to come onto the stage. Only he was arrested for obstruction of governmental administration; resisting arrest; trespassing and disorderly conduct. A judge freed the 32-year-old who pleaded not guilty to charges. Staying on message, Kobayashi said, "I am very hungry. I wish there were hot dogs in jail."

One spectator told the Daily News, "He's trying to upstage Joey," referring the the four-time champion Joey Chestnut. "He should have just competed and signed the contract." The Post's witnesses were split, with one thinking, "I thought he was going to congratulate Chestnut as he was lifting up his belt," but another said, "For all I know, he was going up there to punch him out." Punch Chestnut out for eating 14 less hot dogs than he did last year?

George Shea, MLE chairman, said, "It was extremely unfortunate and a little bizarre. It makes you think about his thought process. It was not appropriate." However, Kobayashi's manager insisted, "He just wanted a chance to eat and break the record and prove that he was the real champion. Unfortunately, he was unable to reach an agreement with the organizers." While we're not sure if Kobayashi would have bested Chestnut, we do think it would have been a more exciting contest.

For his part, Chestnut claims he was dehydrated, which impaired his performance, "It’s all right. I beat the competition. If anyone else was here, I would have beaten them too." And before he knew of his archrival's arrest, Chestnut said of Kobayashi, "If he was real man, he’d be on the stage. There was no reason for him not to be here."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on July 5, 2010 11:47 AM

Comments [rss]

RevWaldo

Velma: Good job officers! And now let's see who you really are!

(Fred rips the rubber mask off Kobi. The crowd gaps.)

All: It's Kanye West!

Kanye: I was trying to make someone else the butt of "being a spoilsport and embarrassing himself at major event" jokes. And I woulda gotten away with it too if it weren't for you meddling kids!

Velma: That's not the only reason he did it - we found a check made out to Kanye for a hundred grand from Thor Equities in Kanye's dressing room. They wanted to ruin the contest and drive Nathan's out of business, then buy up the property cheap and build luxury condos.

Sherrif: We found the real Kobi tied up in the base of the parachute jump. He says he just flew out to watch and congratulate Joey Chestnut.

Daphne: Are you OK, Kobi?

Kobi: I'm hungry!

Shaggy: Zoinks! Like I'm hungry too man! Let's go get some hot dogs!

Scooby: Reah! Reah!

(Cut to picnic table outside Nathan's. Mr. Nathan drops a platter of about a hundred hot dogs on the table.)

Mr. Nathan: I can't thank you kids enough for saving the contest. The hot dogs are on me!

(Kobi, Shaggy and Scooby violently begin pounding away hot dogs. Kobi looks impressed as Shaggy and Scooby both manage to eat four at a time.)

Shaggy: Like, where's the mustard man?

Scooby: Reah! And the 'roclate 'rauce!

Velma: Well, it looks like Kobi found himself in a hot dog eating contest after all!

(Everyone laughs. Exit music, fade out.)

pinball29

Um, Kobi,this is the new New York City. No spontaneity, or anything not corporate sponsored, contractually outlined or permit-sanctioned by the NYPD is allowed in Bloombergville. Sorry you didnt get the memo.

r1b2

+1

John L

+2

Does the NYPD have to arrest everyone. Wouldn't just blocking him from entering and possibly restraining and escorting him out of the area have been enough? He might an eating champ but the guy looks like he weighs 130 pounds (wet), how much of a danger could he have been?

JacqueMehoff

judging from the way the security guy in the white kangol, you'd think kobayashi insulted his mother.

JacqueMehoff

without this guy there wouldn't be a coney island hot dog eating contest. he made this event.

potsmoker

is there a jizzz guzzling contest planned, i could suggest a few gothamist commenters i suspect would be champs.

Pull My Finger

I bet he gets to eat a lot of hot dogs on jail if you know what I mean.

Spirit of 76

They should thank Kobayashi. There was more drama and excitement in the arrest than there was in the contest.

ericthehalfbee

This HOT DOG ROCK dude really seems to have called it. His song is "The July 4th Song (The Day Kobayashi Went Down)."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcyNOwnUWMs&feature=related