Earlier this week we learned that this year's Nathan's Famous July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest would be lacking in both vuvuzelas and Takeru Kobayashi, meaning Joey Chestnut is a shoe-in for winning the competitive eating contest (this would be his fourth consecutive title). But why no Kobayashi? Early rumors mentioned a problem in contract negotiations, and now the Daily News reports on the finer details. more ›

The 4th of July is canceled, everyone! Not really, but it might as well be. According to a press release Major League Eating president Richard Shea just sent out: “Takeru Kobayashi is currently not scheduled to compete in the 2010 Nathan's Famous July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest. In recent weeks, Major League Eating has sought to arrive at an agreement with Kobayashi, but contract negotiations have reached an impasse. MLE remains hopeful that Kobayashi, who won the contest from 2001-2006, will decide to compete this July 4th in Coney Island, when Joey Chestnut will seek his fourth consecutive title.” Also: competitive eating is a very serious sport with very serious contract negotiations? more ›

The holiday weekend has all but started, which means the countdown is on to the 94th Annual Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest. Tens of thousands will be watching Takeru Kobayashi and reigning champ Joey Chestnut shove the sticks of mechanically recovered meat down their throats. The current record stands at 66 hot dogs, and analysts have posted odds on the contest, in case you're, like, betting on this or something.

Odds for the Winner of the 94th Nathans Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest more ›

Earlier today at Gallagher’s Steakhouse on West 52nd Street, some of the top Major League Eaters gathered around an obscene amount of corned beef sandwiches to see who could eat the most. Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti (sporting the mohawk) took the $10,000 prize home after a ingesting an impressive 8 lbs of meat (16 3/4 sandwiches), beating out Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, the reigning Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Champ, who "only" ate 15 1/2 sandwiches. The numbers alone are enough to induce meat sweats! Anyone up for Katz's? more ›

As previously mentioned, competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi went to town on a bunch of fruitcake this morning, all in the name of fighting hunger for the Food Bank of NYC. Word has come in that he had 4 pounds 8 ounces of the holiday "treat" in 10 minutes—more than any human should ingest, but still shy of Sonya Thomas' record (4 pounds 14 ounces). He told the Daily News, "It was very difficult to eat because it was so dense." more ›

Competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi will do what no one wants to do: eat all the leftover holiday fruitcake! This is all part of the Major League Eating’s Holiday Food Bank Giving Initiative; the MLE tells us that "Kobayashi will attempt to break the fruitcake-eating world record, seeking to consume all fruitcake leftover from the holidays. The event is designed to benefit the Food Bank For New York City and to raise awareness of the crisis faced by food banks across the nation in the current economic environment." more ›

After last year's Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, six-time world hot-dog-eating champ Takeru Kobayashi declared: "I will definitely beat him next year." His opponent, Joey Chestnut, had won by eating 66 HDB (hot dogs and buns) to Kobayashi's 63. Despite not earning his way in to the contest as a regional qualifier, last year's loser be on hand this year in an attempt to earn back the title. more ›

Attention competitive eating fans – hey, stop snickering; it’s a legitimate sport regulated by an International Federation! As one fan site says, "For those of you who doubt it's a sport, try making your body consume 20 pounds of food in 10 minutes." Anyway, C.E. fans will definitely want to plan for an extra-long lunch break on Tuesday, May 20th, when two of the world’s biggest "gurgitory gladiators" will lock horns in a Battle Royale for watermelon eating dominance. more ›