kobayashi vs chestnut

July 2, 2007 10:02 AM

The IFCE world ranked number 1 competitive eater, Takeru Kobayashi may loss his title on July 4th, at the Superbowl of competitive eating, the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Contest. Kobayashi is heading into the event with a jaw injury. That gives a big opening to the world ranked number 2 eater, Joey “the jaws” Chestnut. But, is Kobayashi just playing mind-games with Chestnut. It should be an exciting event in Coney Island on Wednesday. You can catch live coverage of the event on ESPN at 12 noon, EST. [previously]
posted by Flood (29 comments total)

I like the contrast with the mummy post just below this one.

Of course, with the preservatives found in your typical hot dog, the results may be similar.
posted by logicpunk at 10:12 AM on July 2, 2007

Oh, the IFOCE! Back in the day when I had a well-known buffalo wing joint in the East Village of NYC the IFOCE called us to propose a wing eating contest at our location. Everything sounded great until, two weeks later, they mentioned that having the event at our restaurant would cost us $5000.00! Wouldn't you think they'd mention that from the get go? Needless to say, we passed...
posted by digiFramph at 10:12 AM on July 2, 2007

Related news
posted by dydecker at 10:14 AM on July 2, 2007

Shouldn't this be on ESPN 8, the Ocho?
posted by Ironmouth at 10:22 AM on July 2, 2007 [3 favorites]

I guess the news story went in one ear and out the other, but now that I look at it more closely "jaw arthritis" does seem a bit fishy. After breaking them up and dipping them in water -- I don't see a helluvalotta stress on the jaw.

I'll vote shenanigans and expect to see him win.
posted by RavinDave at 10:30 AM on July 2, 2007

I like turtles.
posted by humannaire at 10:47 AM on July 2, 2007

After breaking them up and dipping them in water -- I don't see a helluvalotta stress on the jaw.

Keep in mind that Kobayashi has been in many competitions for many different foods over the past several years.
posted by puke & cry at 10:53 AM on July 2, 2007

I'd ask "Is there anything more disgusting than eating competitions?" but I'm afraid of the answers I would get.
posted by moonbiter at 10:56 AM on July 2, 2007

I dunno...Competitive eating contests seem like a great reason for The Terrorists (Inc.) to hate us. They kind of just sum up capitalist excess.

Oh yeah, and they're disgusting to watch. That, too.
posted by Pecinpah at 11:01 AM on July 2, 2007

I'd ask "Is there anything more disgusting than eating competitions?" but I'm afraid of the answers I would get.

I've seen a couple and yeah, they are pretty disgusting. Especially watching Joey Chestnut. He looks like he's in extreme pain as he shovels food down his throat, like he could just projectile vomit at any second. It's hard to watch.
posted by puke & cry at 11:11 AM on July 2, 2007

This reminds me of the pie-eating scene in the Sandlot.

GREAT movie.
posted by craven_morhead at 11:33 AM on July 2, 2007

I haven't read it yet, but I can't imagine a better title for a book about competitive eating: Horsemen of the Esophagus.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:48 AM on July 2, 2007

Sure, because there's nothing more entertaining than watching people stuff themselves with 50+ hot dogs.

Now, if ate 'em and exploded, that would be entertaining.
posted by zarq at 11:51 AM on July 2, 2007

According to the last line in the jaw injury link, he also holds the world record in cow brains eating, among other foods.
posted by parallax7d at 11:51 AM on July 2, 2007

Yet another reason not to watch:

There's one rather gross question everyone asks about competitive eating -- what happens if someone vomits? IFOCE rules are very clear, though they are very delicate about the terms that they use to describe someone throwing up. Anyone who suffers "a Roman incident" is disqualified if the result of that incident touches the plate or table. Once time has expired, competitors can rid themselves of the massive amount of food they've just eaten however they like.

Instant replay is not used in IFOCE contests -- the ruling of the judges at the time is considered final. This can sometimes lead to controversy. In 2002, record holder Takeru Kobayashi reportedly vomited some hot dog at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest, but held most of it back with his hands until time ran out.

"A Roman incident." Well, that's appropriate. After 50+ hot dogs, I'd think they'd each upchuck like a whole case of Roman Candles.
posted by zarq at 11:55 AM on July 2, 2007

A reversal of fortune sounds better to me than a Roman incident.
posted by peeedro at 12:07 PM on July 2, 2007

This reminds me of the pie-eating scene in the Sandlot.

Standy By Me?
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 12:15 PM on July 2, 2007

Not so much a mind game. Probably a way to save face -- a big cultural thing in Japan. For the first time in a long time, someone (Chestnut) stands a better-than-good chance of beating Kobayashi. If Kobayashi does not compete this year, he will never have to say that he was defeated. Defeat = shame.
posted by Possum at 12:20 PM on July 2, 2007

Stand By Me?

Damnit.
posted by craven_morhead at 12:24 PM on July 2, 2007

Next up on ESPN12, Competitive Pooping with Ricky "The RingPiece" Chestnut.
posted by facetious at 12:27 PM on July 2, 2007

Gluttony for fun.
posted by Dave Faris at 1:59 PM on July 2, 2007

Er...Is anyone else having errors trying to comment in this thread?
posted by bugbread at 2:02 PM on July 2, 2007

Dammit. That got through, but my original comment didn't.

Let's try again.

Possum writes "Probably a way to save face -- a big cultural thing in Japan. For the first time in a long time, someone (Chestnut) stands a better-than-good chance of beating Kobayashi. If Kobayashi does not compete this year, he will never have to say that he was defeated. Defeat = shame."

Face is not nearly as big a thing in Japan as people overseas make it out to be. Sure, it's important in some things, but not so important that an athlete who thinks he may lose in a sport would fake injury to avoid defeat...If anything, that would be a bigger loss of face than just competing and losing.

Japan loves loves loves Rocky type stories: putting up a valiant fight, but still losing. You see it in the food fight shows they have here: Contestant A has eaten 15 bowls of ramen. Contestant B has eaten 14 bowls of ramen. Contestant C has eaten 6 bowls of ramen. There are only 30 seconds left on the clock. If I were contestant C, I'd just quit and wait out the clock. Now way I can eat 9 bowls of ramen in 30 seconds. But here, they always eat right till the end. They know they're going to lose, but there's no shame in losing, only shame in quitting.
posted by bugbread at 2:03 PM on July 2, 2007

Will this be webcast?
posted by sien at 4:04 PM on July 2, 2007

Another way of introducing mass quantities into the stomach for the enjoyment of the crowd.

Hence the "Tube" moniker.
posted by Tube at 4:35 PM on July 2, 2007

Obscene.
posted by Krrrlson at 6:10 PM on July 2, 2007

After breaking them up and dipping them in water

Water? Hahaha.

After getting sucked into watching 3-4 years of July 4th competitions during an ESPN marathon, I know that competitors use lemonade or iced tea (an innovation in the sport first introduced a few years ago).
posted by probablysteve at 6:56 PM on July 2, 2007

Okay, I just saw this Kobayashi goober strutting around in a Coor's Beer commercial ... that pretty much confirms in my mind that he's playing opossum with the jaw thing. I'll predict an 8-dog margin of victory over Chestnut.
posted by RavinDave at 12:04 AM on July 3, 2007

I'm planning on attending this thing as an audience member. Can't wait!
posted by painquale at 1:15 AM on July 3, 2007