Buzzfeed on Kobayashi’s schism from Major League Eating
Buzzfeed has what is probably the best competitive eating article of 2013 about Takeru Kobayashi’s schism from Major League Eating containg more information about his post-MLE business arrangements.
- Good news for Kobayashi about his deal with Hofmann Hot Dogs: He was to have received $100,000/year, 2% of supermarket sales and a stake in Hofmann’s restaurant chain
- Bad news: The deal was with Zaccanelli Food Group and not Hofmann and was terminated after Hofmann sued Frank Zaccanelli earlier this year. Rastellis is producing Kobayashi’s line of hot dogs which will debut tomorrow.
Maggie James also provides information about the start of her relationship with Takeru Kobayashi:
I was hosting this gay male party and I invited Kobayashi to come because I thought he was gay. He shows up and says, ‘I don’t think I’m gay,’ and I’m like, ‘What does that mean, you don’t think?’ He’s like, ‘I don’t know, everybody all my life has told me that I’m gay, but I’ve never experienced that.’ And Kobi is just a little bit strange, so people think that, but when you get to know him and talk to him, there’s nothing really feminine about him.
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TheTruth said
July 3, 2013 @ 4:19 pm
Thats a long fucken article
Anonymous said
July 3, 2013 @ 4:39 pm
That is a fantastic article and really gets inside everything. There may be some things people close to Kobayashi before he met James know but would never tell and they do not matter. The article tells us everything we want to know. Whether you agree or disagree with his path makes no difference. He has managed to decide for himself what he wants. I think Chestnut is right, his lack of English will always hamper him in one way. He is very smart but that is never really understood because he always needs a translator. If he did not have James though to translate and manage him, he might well have gone back to Japan. She guided him to “freedom”, now they are free to be.And I do not think MLE is suffering without Kobayashi. Maybe the only thing Kobayashi never achieved which was really his dream was to win back the title, to prove that he was and is still the best in the world. Will there ever be a showdown, money or not. You never know. If MLE thinks it is in their interest to do it, they will.
Anonymous said
July 3, 2013 @ 4:59 pm
If they ever have a picnic rules style showdown, Kobi will win easily. Kobi is still the best in the world, regardless. Joey’s health will cause him to give up the ghost long before Kobi bows out.
Anonymous said
July 3, 2013 @ 5:09 pm
There is more male talent thats indy now. Could Joey be next? Why not, they let Kobi and Pat leave.
Anonymous said
July 3, 2013 @ 11:10 pm
Im unfamiliar with the word schism OJ. Is that like jism?
Anonymous said
July 3, 2013 @ 11:49 pm
Why are the names of Kobayashi’s competition largely kept secret? Shouldn’t they (at least some of them) be on press releases too? You practically have to go digging to see who else is eating, and Maggie made no mention of them in the interview.
ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)
July 4, 2013 @ 12:08 am
They are mentioned on the facebook event page
https://www.facebook.com/events/143125209224106/
anonymous said
July 4, 2013 @ 12:21 am
Because since they have to pay their own way there is no confirmation if they will show up