Kobayashi wins again, but there is a challenger

July 5, 2006 1:00 PM

Kobayashi wins the world speed hot dog eating contest again, but finally there is a real challenger. American Joey Chestnut (W) , a 22 civil engineering student from San Jose managed 52 to Kobayashi's (W) 53.75 dogs.
posted by sien (35 comments total)

Well, if Pac-Man had entered this year.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 1:04 PM on July 5, 2006

He just didn't believe in the no-win scenario.
posted by George_Spiggott at 1:06 PM on July 5, 2006 [1 favorite]

Their mothers must be so proud.
posted by Cranberry at 1:06 PM on July 5, 2006

Yeh gluttony!
posted by fenriq at 1:09 PM on July 5, 2006

We're number 2!
posted by I Foody at 1:11 PM on July 5, 2006

Kobayashi is the great grandson of Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the commander of the Japanese fleet that attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Continuing the family tradition of sticking it to the Americans... 65 years later.
posted by PWA_BadBoy at 1:14 PM on July 5, 2006

i thought kobayashi was the creepy bad guy's lawyer from The Usual Suspects.
posted by Doorstop at 1:23 PM on July 5, 2006

OMG . . . Funny!!!

Federation freighter that served as part of the Kobayashi Maru scenario, a simulated Starfleet Academy training exercise wherein cadets had to decide what command decisions to make after receiving a distress call from the freighter.

The scenario is considered as unwinnable. But, as a cadet, James Kirk found a way around the test by reprogramming the simulation, thus changing the conditions of the test. In doing so, Kirk defeated the no-win scenario and received a commondation for original thinking.

Other notable officers to have taken the test include Lt. Saavik.
posted by augustweed at 1:31 PM on July 5, 2006

Sorry, doorstop, it was just the maker of fine porcelain cups.
posted by absalom at 1:31 PM on July 5, 2006

Any relation to Turkmenbashi?
posted by wendell at 1:55 PM on July 5, 2006

Some may scoff, but I think this was the most exciting Nathan's Famous competition in years. Chesnut's unorthodox (and to this observer's eyes, lascivious) style stood in sharp distinction to Kobayashi's fluid, much more graceful eating.

Chicago's own Pat Bertoletti put in a pretty good showing for a rookie. I think he'll be a real force this coming year. Tim Janus (Eater X) underperformed this year, in my opinion. I look for him to show his true color this year as well.
posted by tew at 2:30 PM on July 5, 2006

totals:


Takeru Kobayashi 53.75
Joey Chestnut 52
Sonya Thomas 37
Patrick Bertoletti 34.25
Tim Janus 34
Chip Simpson 33
Rich LeFevre
Bob Shoudt 30
Badlands Booker 24
Patrick Philbin 23
Eric Denmark 22
Seaver Miller 22
Brian Subich 22
Crazy Legs Conti 21.33
Allen Goldstein 20.5
Robert Andersson 20
Hall Hunt 18
Kamil Hamersky18
Kenji Oguni 16
Jed Donahue 1

go Jed!
posted by juv3nal at 2:33 PM on July 5, 2006

I guess this has to be the Nathan's Famous Open, right? Because otherwise, I outate Jed by at the July 4th party last night. Several times over. By accident.
posted by danb at 2:47 PM on July 5, 2006

Another amazing performance from Sonya Thomas, who is the only woman who's really even competitive against the guys. Check out those records: 44 lobsters! 65 eggs!
posted by Gilbert at 2:50 PM on July 5, 2006

1? I'm pretty sure you have to qualify for the tournament, ie - no walk-ons. How the hell did that guy get there?
posted by puke & cry at 2:51 PM on July 5, 2006 [1 favorite]

I saw an MTV show about Kobayashi and Tim Janus among others. Kobayashi's training regimen is amazing. It was almost unbearable to watch him eat the 20 pound "meal" fed to him as a challenge by a Japanese chef.
posted by mullacc at 3:08 PM on July 5, 2006

For those who want more insight into the amazing world of competitive eating it is well worth checking out the story of one of the competitors in the documentary Crazy Legs Conti: Zen and the art of Competitive Eating.

These athletes push themselves to extremes and do things the rest of us can only dream of doing. Truly amazing.

This years contest was really something, next year will be even better. Kobayashi may well lose his crown. It may be the end of an era in competitive eating.
posted by sien at 3:11 PM on July 5, 2006

Kobayashi may have had a "a reversal of fortune."
posted by jackmakrl at 3:18 PM on July 5, 2006

It's worth mentioning that Kobayashi has only lost once. The opponent? A 1089-pound Kodiak bear.
posted by puke & cry at 3:35 PM on July 5, 2006 [1 favorite]

From jackmakrl's link

"When the hot dog came up, and some of it came out his nose, Kobayashi sucked it back down. To me, that's the testament of a champion and great athlete."

It's hard to argue with sentiments like that.
posted by NinjaTadpole at 3:42 PM on July 5, 2006

Is anyone not a little more than creeped out by Kobayashi?
posted by Big Fat Tycoon at 3:54 PM on July 5, 2006

Why would you say that?


posted by puke & cry at 4:12 PM on July 5, 2006 [1 favorite]

Kobayashi is f'ing ripped. And as far as I can tell the only male competitive eater who's capable of getting laid.

Ganbatte!
posted by bardic at 4:20 PM on July 5, 2006 [1 favorite]

bardic writes "And as far as I can tell the only male competitive eater who's capable of getting laid."

Look again... thin is definitely in among competitive eaters. Though there are still some big guys, the new ones especially are of average weight. Which is definitely due to the influence of Kobayashi.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:40 PM on July 5, 2006

Kobayashi broke his own record by 1/4 dog. The crowd gave a great cheer whenever he traded the lead with joey Chesnut. Do they have a booth review to ensure accurate judging?

Unfortuntely, Sonya Thomas was one hotdog short of the female record (38 dogs).

I met some people from California standing in line at Nathan's who flew in to attend. We got to know them fairly well in the 55 minute wait to get myself a chilli cheese dog.
posted by yeti at 6:00 PM on July 5, 2006

This is the first I knew that "competitive eating" even existed, beyond the occasional bar competition or county fair pie-eating contest. I think they should hold the finals in East Africa, where I'm sure they'll draw an admiring and appreciative audience of barely-living skeletons.
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:49 PM on July 5, 2006

"I think they should hold the finals in East Africa"
Oh right, along with every other sport that has
1) Equipment
2) Athletes (not that these people are,necessarily)
How about golf? Sailing?
Sell the boats/clubs! Feed the hungry!
posted by pantsrobot at 7:17 PM on July 5, 2006

No, nothing so extreme as "no one should have anything while anyone has nothing". It's just the symbolism of the thing. There's something kind of pure and naked about this particular example of unnecessary consumption, in that it consists in its entirety of unnecessary consumption taken to its ultimate limit. I wasn't writing a manifesto, just putting it in a certain context.
posted by George_Spiggott at 7:27 PM on July 5, 2006

George_Spiggott : "I think they should hold the finals in East Africa, where I'm sure they'll draw an admiring and appreciative audience of barely-living skeletons."

And the next Olympics should be held in the living room of the paraplegic guy down the street.
posted by Bugbread at 7:35 PM on July 5, 2006

Dammit George_Spiggott why do you have to be so reasonable? I was so hoping for a flame war...
Although, that's pretty much the impression I had when I first heard about this thing. But now it's just, "Meh, another ridiculous sport"
posted by pantsrobot at 7:35 PM on July 5, 2006

"And as far as I can tell the only male competitive eater who's capable of getting laid."

Actually, in the top 10 eaters, only 3 are big fat guys. And the top four probably have no problems getting digits. Of course, then you got Cookie Jarvis, who weighs about a half-a-ton.
posted by puke & cry at 9:03 PM on July 5, 2006 [1 favorite]

Associated Press headline:

Wiener-Eater Wins 6th Straight Contest

Ummm ...
posted by bwg at 2:25 AM on July 6, 2006

This is in my neck of the woods, and my pizza-eating skills have always been above average, both for quantity and speed. (A few years back, I came in second at a contest at the late, lamented Mike's Pizzaria (sic), and the winner only beat me on a technicality.) Of course, the event is also eight days before my wedding. I'm going to ask the future Mrs. FoB for permission to enter.
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:50 AM on July 6, 2006

PWA_BadBoy: Kobayashi is the great grandson of Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the commander of the Japanese fleet that attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

This was removed from the Wikipedia article as inaccurate.
posted by aerify at 10:14 AM on July 6, 2006

Congrats on your engagement FoB.
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:03 PM on July 6, 2006