"Free Man" Kobayashi Talks Hot Dogs And Spending The Night In Jail

Kobayashi being arrested at last year's Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest (Flickr Quiet Storm)

Blacklisted competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi spoke today, shedding some light on his ongoing battle with Major League Eating and describing his night in jail after bumrushing the stage at last year's Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Regarding the League, "I didn’t agree with the way the organization was treating the athletes...Athletes are constantly in fear, and it’s not just about me," Kobayashi told Time Out. He explained that MLE places all sorts of restrictions on athletes, barring them from participating in competitions that aren't sanctioned by the League, or doing TV or commercials, or even appearing in public with a hot dog. And as for that whole climbing onstage thing, "I did it because I really love my fans," Kobayashi says. His resulting night in jail was "one of the longest nights I've ever known," though he did manage to befriend another inmate who was behind bars for stabbing his mother.

As for this year's 4th of July, the Kobayashi will be competing in the hot dog eating contest live via satellite from the rooftop lounge at 230 Fifth in Flatiron, where he says he's keen to break the world record (currently held by Joey Chestnut with 68). Because Kobayashi is a free man now, and free men eat hot dogs wherever they damn well please!

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

By Jamie Feldmar in Food on June 29, 2011 10:37 AM

Comments [rss]

mhann24

I really hope Joey Chestnut does not win again. He is a poor sport who apparently is too dumb to understand that the Nathan's contract is completely unreasonable for a Japanese guy who makes his living competing in eating contests year-round. When Kobayashi refused to sign the contract, which would have made it impossible for him compete in events outside of the eating league to which Nathan's belongs, he was barred from competition. Chestnut responded by saying something like, "If Kobayashi were a real man, he would be in the competition!" Money issues aside, let's also remember that no one would care about Chestnut or the hot-dog-eating competition if Kobayashi had not brought the competition to the public's attention with his unprecedented feats. Nathan's capitalized on this and have now taken Kobayashi's name off of their wall of fame because he would not agree to their fascist terms.

proudliberal1947

Was wondering why, i haven't heard from or about him.

whitecastlerock

The "athletes" should be more fearful of the impending heart attacks, diabetes, and other ailments that will plague them in the not-too-distant future. They also need to unionize like the NFL.