Takeru Kobayashi arrested during hot dog eating contest
Is competitive eating, particularly NY area eating events run by an organization that demands membership and dues and a cut of ones’ purse to compete? Could this organization be manipulating the outcome of certain events? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.
Personally I think Kobayashi is way more charming than current wiener chomp champ Chestnut. The 2009′s Nathan’s contest, where Chestnut narrowly edged Kobayashi was decided by decision, and seemed a classic very bad call to me.
I think “Major League Eating” is perhaps fishy, but have no proof.
Give ‘em hell Kobayashi! Joey Chestnut may have won the Nathan’s title again in 2009, but no one can stop talking about YOU!
Six-time hot dog-eating contest champion Takeru Kobayashi, center, is joined by his attorney Mario D. Romano, left, and interpreter Maggie James as he speaks to reporters after leaving Brooklyn Criminal Court, Monday, July 5, 2010, in New York. Kobayashi was freed after a night in a New York jail after he pleaded not guilty to charges of obstruction of governmental administration, resisting arrest, trespassing and disorderly conduct. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Six-time hot dog eating contest champion Takeru Kobayashi, center, of Japan, is taken into custody by New York police officers after he jumped on stage at the end of the hot dog eating contest in New York's Coney Island on Sunday, July 4, 2010. (AP Photo/Nick Jesdanun)
Eating champ leaves NY jail after hot dog fracas
By EVA DOU | AP | July 5, 2010
NEW YORK — Japanese eating champion Takeru Kobayashi, arrested at a July Fourth hot dog-eating contest, was freed Monday after a night in jail, looking a little weary and saying he was hungry.
Kobayashi, wearing a black T-shirt bearing the message “Free Kobi” in green letters, was freed by a Brooklyn judge after he pleaded not guilty. The slim, boyish 32-year-old said he consumed only a sandwich and some milk in jail.
A contract dispute had kept Kobayashi out of Sunday’s annual Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, but he showed up anyway.
“I was there as a spectator, just to cheer on my buddies,” he said through an interpreter outside court Monday. Fans chanted for him, and “in the heat of it, I jumped on the stage, hoping they would let me eat.”
This image taken from APTN video shows six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi, center, of Japan, being taken into custody by New York city police officers after jumped on stage at the end of the hot dog eating contest in New York's Coney Island on Sunday, July 4, 2010. (AP Photo/APTN)
Six-time hot dog eating contest champion Takeru Kobayashi, center, of Japan, is taken into custody by New York police officers after he jumped on stage at the end of the hot dog eating contest in New York's Coney Island on Sunday, July 4, 2010. (AP Photo/Nick Jesdanun)
His attorney, Mario D. Romano, said his client was waved up onstage after spectators began chanting “Let him eat!”
“Shortly after he got on the stage, he was grabbed from behind by officers,” Romano said.
Kobayashi was charged with obstruction of governmental administration, resisting arrest, trespassing and disorderly conduct.
Kobayashi, who’s currently living in New York, had refused to sign a contract with Major League Eating, the fast food equivalent of the NFL. On his Japanese-language blog, he said he wanted to be free to enter contests sanctioned by other groups.
But a few days ago, he told Japan’s Kyodo News: “I really want to compete in the (Coney Island) event.”
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, of San Jose, Calif., won by downing 54 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
After witnessing the drama involving Kobayashi, Chestnut said, “I feel bad for him.”
Chestnut claimed the mustard-yellow champion’s belt and a $20,000 purse but was disappointed with his own performance. The 26-year-old was aiming for a record 70 dogs in 10 minutes. Last year, he ate 68 dogs, four more than Kobayashi.
Major League Eating issued a statement calling Kobayashi’s actions “inappropriate and unfortunate.”
“Kobayashi was a great champion and we hope that he is able to resolve his current situation and move past this,” the organization said.