@WingBowl20, the official Wing Bowl twitter for WIP, retweeted the following: "#America>Japan. #KobayashiSucks" update Jan 27 The retweeting appears to have been undone.(original post) update Jan 27 #2 WIP has emails that it believes the Wing Bowl twitter was hacked and says that it "will be excited to have Takeru Kobayashi participating in Wing Bowl 20 and we have the utmost respect for him"

January 26, 2012 at 3:42 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Kobayashi (小林尊), Wing Bowl 20 | Permalink * Comments (28)

28 Comments »

  1. Whaaa? said

    January 26, 2012 @ 4:15 pm

    Oh great, I was hoping the racist stuff against Sonya was just an aberation. But now Cataldi’s own crew is fanning the racial flames on their official website. A little advice, Kobi better have protection and not join the entourage parade. Racism and beer don’t mix well.

  2. TroOtH said

    January 26, 2012 @ 9:22 pm

    Hopefully someone let’s Kobayashi know about these offensive comments made the wing bowl crew. All I really want to see is a FAIR CONTEST,that’s it

  3. Anonymous said

    January 26, 2012 @ 10:26 pm

    Keep dreamin’…

  4. Anonymous said

    January 27, 2012 @ 1:02 am

    It’s not necessarily racism. It could just be nationalism. I would assume if he were British, they’d be tweeting that Great Britain sucks.

  5. Anonymous said

    January 27, 2012 @ 3:48 am

    They do not really mean America either and it is unclear who they consider to be Americans. I think to be considered an American it cannot be revealed that you were born in another country, or that you appear top have a foreign accent. That is only a guess but it probably goes beyond that.

  6. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    January 27, 2012 @ 8:05 am

    That is really sad and it p##@@es me off to no end! It is offensive to me, personally, as an American, because I want no foreigner to generalize the behavior of those associated with Wing Bowl to all Americans.

    Some things about Philadelphia (everything about Wing Bowl) suggest that particular city represents the antithesis of “Brotherly Love.” Ben Franklin and William Penn must feel like they’re on skewers, continuously rolling over in their graves!

    It makes me want to root for whomever is deemed an outsider, or the “bad guy” at all future Wing Bowls. Hell, I’d even root for Dale Boone if he were the only “outsider!”

    Several years ago Angelo touted his desire to lure Kobayashi to participate in Wing Bowl, with the theme, “Philadelphia Versus the World.””

    Now, unfortunately for Kobayashi, the deck seems stacked. From Koby’s standpoint, it will soon be, “Me Against a Mad, Unfair World.”

  7. Hmm said (Registered November 12, 2009)

    January 27, 2012 @ 8:50 am

    Boone may be a Buffoon but I agree with Rhonda completely. This is beyond disgusting. Not necessarily racism does not compute. Great Britain and the US were at war once but not in the more recent past.

    Lodging complaints is perhaps important but will do not one iota of good. Wingbowl is for very bad boys and girls, it is set up that way and should be “fun” for the participants. But racism has no place anywhere. I would rather see Kobayashi “sue” them for his winnings than participate though that would be impossible. Nevertheless, if something like that could happen, that would be an illustration of the possibility of true freedom. The 1st amendment never considered the full range of people of ill will and racists. There is a reason that slavery was abolished. That is one thing freedom and equality used to be about in the so called Good ole USA.

  8. capn brian said (Registered November 17, 2010)

    January 27, 2012 @ 9:28 am

    i fear they plan to make a mockery of kobi at this abomination of a fixed contest. i hope this isn’t career suicide for kobi… 🙁

  9. Hmm said (Registered November 12, 2009)

    January 27, 2012 @ 9:48 am

    i am afraid that capn brian may be right.

  10. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    January 27, 2012 @ 10:07 am

    Even if it is not meant to be racist, these people know that perception is oftentimes construed as reality, and tweeting stuff like that shows a total lack of responsibility, as well as brash American egocentrism / anti-foreigner sentiment.

    If most Americans behaved similarly, I’d look for another country to call home … probably starting with Japan.

    Fortunately, that’s not the case, and I’ll keep my bags unpacked for now.

  11. Alert Kobi!!!! said

    January 27, 2012 @ 10:08 am

    Maybe someone should warn Kobi by getting a hold of his translater friend. Not a bad idea. I’d rather he not show up than to be made a mockery out of by Angelos wicked ass and the rest of the dumb ass drunks who run this sham fixed event.

  12. Whaaa? said

    January 27, 2012 @ 10:12 am

    Dear January 27, 2012 @ 1:02 am: Cataldi’s crew is media savvy. They know what they’re doing. It has nothing to do with nationalism. They want to stir up attention against Asian people for publicity and crowd intensity for the Wingbowl. Cataldi’s crew was there when Sonya was attacked for her Asian heritage. I know it’s hokey but sometimes they sing the national anthem before eating contests. And, I’ve actually seen Sonya get teared up, heart in hand, during the singing. She loves her adopted country, and I’m not making this up, she said to me personally the flag is “so pretty” (so cute). But nothing made me more sad when Sonya cried after Cataldi announced during her last Wingbowl that she may be losing and the crowd started chanting USA! USA! As if Sonya wasn’t American enough because she looked different and spoke with an accent. Shame on you Cataldi. Bringing home the Mustard Belt to America is different than saying America is greater than Japan and Kobi sucks, especially when you know what happened to Sonya and what could potentially happen to Kobi.

  13. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    January 27, 2012 @ 10:22 am

    Capn Brian, I’ll say one thing, they’ll surely have to deduct an awful lot of wings from Koby’s total for him not to win. And if he does win, the poor guy’s safety could even be in danger —-literally—-and I don’t know that any security people there actually care, except for the fact they might look bad if the crowd gets out of hand.

    I’ll admit … I’ll actually be praying for Koby. Whether he’s MLE or not, and whether or not I think he has made bad decisions or not the past 2 years, he’s a good guy. And no one, especially Koby, deserves to be used and abused in that sham of a contest called Wing Bowl.

    I’ll have my ears trained on the broadcast next Friday.

    I hope we are simply overly concerned for nothing.

  14. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    January 27, 2012 @ 10:31 am

    Whaa … thanks for sharing. That actually brought a tear or two to my eye.

    One very nice thing I remember from WB 13, was what I read about El Wingador after being crowned champion.

    According to what I read, El Wingador ran over to Sonya and said a few words after he was crowned victor. When he returned, the reporter asked him what he said to her, to which he replied, “I told her she was the best competitive eater in America.” (She was at the time.)

    That day I gained some respect for Bill Simmons.

  15. Hmm said (Registered November 12, 2009)

    January 27, 2012 @ 1:21 pm

    Counting on you Rhonda to contact Kobayashi’s manager, PLEASE!

  16. Kobi Fan said

    January 27, 2012 @ 1:47 pm

    Open letter to Takeru Kobayashi: You have stood up for what you believe as your right to the personal freedom in maintaining the liberty of chosing where and when you could practice your abilities — “Free Kobi.” Now is the time to demonstrate that freedom. Recently, the people in charge of the Wingbowl decided to make their competiton between the United States and Japan with an implication of sociocultrual and racial differences. These are issues of which no sporting competition should be associated with. Since the organization in charge of the event has chosen this tactic to promote their event and has displayed a history of tolerating past digressions in racial harmony, as a fan, I respectfully ask that you decline any participation in the Wingbowl. Hold your own Wingbowl, you are the story not Cataldi and his crew and I’m sure a host of Philadelphia businesses would support a competition you are involved in. If you choose otherwise your “Free Kobi” slogan will really mean “Pay Kobi” and Kobi’s open to the highest bidder.

  17. Naader Reda said

    January 27, 2012 @ 1:58 pm

    Kobayashi’s representatives are on facebook and twitter. OJ retweeted this morning’s Wing Bowl material to them. They must have a damn good idea of all this junk swirling around.

  18. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    January 27, 2012 @ 2:19 pm

    I’m hoping / thinking he’s reading this thread, also. I think most every person who’s anybody comes here, whether they respond or not.

  19. Anonymous said

    January 27, 2012 @ 3:31 pm

    no, kobi doesn’t read anything here. likely his manager doesn’t either.

  20. anonymous said

    January 27, 2012 @ 4:56 pm

    Kobi has no time for bullshit and that’s exactly what this site is about contrary to popular belief

  21. Anonymous said

    January 27, 2012 @ 5:40 pm

    You are wrong.

  22. Alert Kobi!!!! said

    January 27, 2012 @ 5:59 pm

    Yeah you hope he isn’t on here Angelo bitch.

  23. Anonymous said

    January 27, 2012 @ 6:11 pm

    no 4:56 you are completely wrong, wrong, wrong. kobi doesn’t read this because he doesn’t read english well. thats a fact. someone should write to his manager, Kobi fan? are you a fan of his? Maggie James is his manager. Friend her.

  24. Kobi Fan said

    January 27, 2012 @ 7:39 pm

    To all those who claim that Kobi is not aware of the negative postings made towards Japanese people and the offenses that were made towards Sonya Thomas at her Wingbowl appearances are living in dreamland. I’m sure Kobi and his people made their disgust clear to Cataldi and/or those associated with promoting the Wingbowl. This is demonstrated by the removal of that posting on their official Facebook site. Furthermore, please refrain from naming people other than Kobi (a public figure and fair game) such as friends, family, loved ones. They are not the issue here. Many of us who know Kobi and his people, understand that any decision regarding Kobi is up to Kobi. Now here is where Kobi is between a rock and you know what. He most likely is contractually obligated now to attend Wingbowl. Yet, he can ask that those promoting Wingbowl change their message in promotion of the event. Apparently he has done that. I just hope his reputation will not be negatively affected by Cataldi and his people who seem to pray on the base attitudes of some people in the goal of promotion. A public apology would be in order, but having to ask for an apology is somewhat pointless. You can delete postings, but you cannot delete thoughts.

  25. Kobi Fan said

    January 27, 2012 @ 8:00 pm

    Are you kidding me? Cataldi is trying to put up the Congressman Anthony Weiner defense of being hacked for their racist statements. Come on, stand up like a human beings and admit you made a mistake. You put your junk out there guys. Take some responsibility before all your credibiltiy of this fake contest is exposed.

  26. Hmm said (Registered November 12, 2009)

    January 28, 2012 @ 9:43 am

    I really really hope that Kobi fan is right. You are right about what you have written, more than right. What I wonder about is to whom you refer when you say “Kobi and his people…”. It is Maggie James who accompanies Kobi and translates for him and likely makes all kinds of arrangements from all reports going back to Nathans. If there are other advisers other than close friends, that would be very reassuring. I get the impression from reading and watching that he and Maggie James are the team with some supporters but not professional people like lawyers etc. I hope that this is not correct. Cataldi et al are just using Kobayashi just as they use everyone, no respect, period, amen. I will be holding my breath until it is over and am definitely not looking forward to it.

  27. Kobi Fan said

    January 28, 2012 @ 12:15 pm

    Hey, if you’re a friend of Kobi, keep his friends names out of it. That’s not fair. If you are an eater, we all remember the old days when Kobi had another translator. That day is gone. Kobi has a decision to make, not his translator. I’m afraid he may be boxed into a situation here contract wise. We love you buddy, just go with what you think is best. But remember, there are people who will use your good name and talents for their own benefit. Try to avoid that. Good luck at Wingbowl — but be safe.

  28. Oh please! said

    January 30, 2012 @ 12:30 am

    They retweet anything that has a #WingBowl on it. They basically blow him. It wasn’t personal. Only an idiot would assume that.

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