CalorieLab on Kobayashi contract dispute
CalorieLab has been in contact with Takeru Kobayashi’s publicists and has produced several posts about his contractual issues. In one post, explains Kobayashi’s grievances and contradicts the claim that the new contract is similar to previously signed documents:
He says that previous contracts only prohibited him from appearing in eating contests that weren’t sponsored by the MFE or its sister organization the International Federation of Competitive Eating without IFOCE permission. They did not prohibit Mr. Kobayashi from appearing in television or radio commercials or from appearing on television and radio shows.
Kobayashi also claims that the contract prohibits him from appearing on Japanese competitive eating television programs, which would explain his absence from “Gluttonous King” and similar shows. (There is no restriction on Japanese appearances. This was translated incorrectly.)
In another post, Kobayashi says he would be willing to compete tomorrow with no appearance fee if the exclusitivity requirement is also dropped.
update In the most recent post, Kobayashi describes his new immigration status after moving to New York City earlier this year.
He decided to try to obtain a visa on his own, and he took it upon himself to apply for and ultimately receive an O-1 visa. The IFOCE, in the form of George and Richard Shea, the publicists behind MLE and the IFOCE, didn’t take kindly to this development, since being Mr. Kobayashi’s visa sponsor had given them a considerable degree of control over Mr. Kobayashi’s U.S. activities. A free agent Kobayashi roaming around the United States, was worrisome. Thus the MLE’s more restrictive and hardline contract proposal to Mr. Kobayashi.
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Anonymous said
July 3, 2010 @ 10:25 am
Don’t give in Koby. Stick to your principles. It woill work out better for you that way.
Gentleman Joe said (Registered December 8, 2005)
July 3, 2010 @ 10:39 am
Wouldn’t Kobe be much better off making a deal w/ Ball Park having a contest @ Fenway Park on Memorial day w/ Hunts Ketchup, Banana Republic, pepsid, alka seltzer, coors, coke, as paid sponsors.
Broadcast live on Fox, w/Coon dog, me & Adam Richman doing the broadcast, just before the airing of the Coca Cola 600??
I know if I was a sponsor, I would want the Tiger Woods of eating (pre-scandal) Instead of the entire rest of the ifoce.
Pre- scandal who would you want… Tiger or the entire field… Michael Jordan, when active, or the entire field.
Kobe can be a multi millionaire by next 4th of July.
Hire a major, name recognizable agent & this can be done easily.
He can drag some other quality eaters w/him. As ive heard thru the grapevine Joey, Bertoletti, Humble, Sonya & others @ various times have been unsatisfied w/ the sheas.
Anonymous said
July 3, 2010 @ 11:28 am
I totally agree with you Gent. Joe!
Anonymous said
July 3, 2010 @ 11:57 am
I think Joe is giving Koby too much credit. I think Pete can top Koby, and Joe has topped Pete, so Koby is no more talented than either one.
Anonymous said
July 3, 2010 @ 2:05 pm
Is koby a retard? Why would he want MLE to sponsor him and not be part of the organization?
Mega Munch said
July 3, 2010 @ 5:23 pm
The Sheas would be morons to deny Koby a spot at the Nathan’s table over something as idiotic as the non-compete clause.
Anonymous said
July 3, 2010 @ 7:12 pm
Don’t cut then short. The Sheas have been morons before, and by gum they have every right to be that way again!
Anonymous said
July 5, 2010 @ 7:45 am
GJoe is right about some things. Easily done, no. Kobayashi had a chance to be exactly that, a millionaire by next year. With his arrest, he may not even be allowed to stay in the US. But check the latest post by CalorieLab. Koby may not be the only one trying to get the best for all eaters.
anonymous said
July 5, 2010 @ 9:02 am
Did charles hardy bring him some hot dogs while in the prison cell waiting for his trial date
Pat From Moonachie said (Registered December 10, 2005)
July 5, 2010 @ 9:45 am
I’ll bet that Kobe will just say (through an interpreter) that he wanted to congratulate Joey and that he didn’t understand that those guys were police officers ..he might get a ticket over it.
..the reality was probably that he wanted to make a bit of a scene (mission accomplished!) to create a buzz for himself.
world watcher said
July 8, 2010 @ 2:29 am
The only way out is by joining the WLOCE . Which has a base in Asia .. In Bangalore India .. Thus giving him the right to eat in Competitive eating contest By WLOCE. In any part of the World . Aice would not work due to having only a Usa based company. WLOCE has the upper hand on this. As i remember Boone sani and Koby are big friends.