ESPN: Kobayashi not scheduled to compete in 2010 Nathan’s
update The new poll asks what you think Kobayashi’s future in competitive eating will be.
ESPN Sportcenter recently announced that Takeru Kobayashi has failed to reach a contract agreement with Major League Eating and is not scheduled to appear in the July 4 contest. This will end his streak at 9 contests (6 victories) if he does not compete.
An official article has not been released. Use twitter search for “Kobayashi” if you need verification.
update Fanhouse has a blog entry raising the possibility that the contract dispute is a publicity stunt.
Deadspin has a blog entry with Richard Shea’s statement.
update #2 IFOCE.com has a post consisting solely of Richard Shea’s statement
update #3 The Wall Street Journal’s Metropolis blog has an entry noting that the MLE contract does not offer a guaranteed payout.
update #4 Kobayashi’s blog makes no mention of a contract dispute. The most recent entry (June 24) talks about received the book Tacky the Penguin from Crazy Legs Conti.
update #5 CSNBayArea has an interview with Joey Chestnut (link fixed, thanks gastroboy)
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Anonymous said
June 28, 2010 @ 2:04 pm
“Takeru Kobayashi has failed to reach a contract agreement with Major League Eating”
This means Koby saw the writing on the wall. He wants more money for them using him and they want to keep more money in their pockets.
Maybe Crazy Legs can wear a Japanese Kimona and no one will know the difference.
Anonymous said
June 28, 2010 @ 2:27 pm
should give another wildcard out for his spot
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
June 28, 2010 @ 2:32 pm
I hope that’s not true. Kobayashi is to Nathan’s what fireworks are to the rest of that day. Since 2001 Kobayashi has been fireworks personified.
Guys you might have to take the water out of Nathan’s to get Koby back IN Nathan’s.
Though I think Koby’s the best competitive eater in the world, he knows and I know that he can’t top Joey any more in HDBs, and Koby’s tired of playing second fiddle at the Super Bowl of CE.
Anonymous said
June 28, 2010 @ 2:38 pm
Relax. Fanhouse is correct. It’s a stunt. Jeez.
Anonymous said
June 28, 2010 @ 2:42 pm
Without Kobayashi the Nathan’s finals will certainly have “Jumped the shark” like a hit TV show that suddenly took a turn for the worse. Unless an agreement can be reached, 2010 may be the last year that ESPN will broadcast the contest. On the positive side, it can open the possibility of Janus or Pat B. taking the very respected 2nd place.
A-Bomb said (Registered May 7, 2009)
June 28, 2010 @ 2:57 pm
I think stunt too.
But Koby (from what I’ve seen of him) seems to have integrity, and after being involved with the IFOCE for all those years, he might actually be making a principled stand, and he might actually not want to go on stage again with that cast of cheaters. Japan can access YouTube as well so he probably has seen the Conti video.
Or stunt.
Anonymous said
June 28, 2010 @ 3:04 pm
coinsidence this gets leaked now? this was done to direct the media away from the california activites this weekend. but if kobayashi really doesnt show up, this will clear the way for houdini to make more fodd disapear and pull the upset. kevin ross thanks for telling it like it is. anyone else with info, videos, pics should share them
Fan of Fanhouse said
June 28, 2010 @ 3:06 pm
What’s the best way to distract one controversy (Conti)? You add a bigger one with Takeru Kobayashi.
Truth Seeker said
June 28, 2010 @ 3:15 pm
This is a publicity stunt.
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
June 28, 2010 @ 3:16 pm
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/33/27/all_hotdogstunner_2010_07_02_bk.html
Koby probably got an upset stomach aver not getting a fair share of that new sponsor money. What a hell of a way to endorse a product of one of the sponsors!
Anonymous said
June 28, 2010 @ 3:21 pm
Remember when Koby had a toothache or jaw problem yet he still competed. Could this be another publicity stunt or scam by those running the show?
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
June 28, 2010 @ 3:21 pm
As much as I like Koby, he probably wised up.
Anonymous said
June 28, 2010 @ 3:32 pm
http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=31&id=36346
Harry Seaward said
June 28, 2010 @ 3:32 pm
TUBE SOCK DESTROYER! Please weigh in on this!!!! The hour is critical!!
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
June 28, 2010 @ 3:46 pm
http://www.uncommonsportsman.com/2010/6/28/1541653/kobayashi-could-miss-hot-dog
This writer needs help … bad! After reading the second paragraph I’d like to wring his neck!
actually said
June 28, 2010 @ 3:50 pm
Wouldn’t Koby go out as winner? He won Krystal’s!
ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)
June 28, 2010 @ 3:57 pm
Kobayashi lost the Singapore contest.
actually said
June 28, 2010 @ 3:59 pm
I stand corrected OJ.
nunonabun2 said (Registered November 10, 2009)
June 28, 2010 @ 4:11 pm
It will not be the same without him. But life goes on.
anonymous said
June 28, 2010 @ 5:47 pm
good move now joey will win a boring 4th of july amd espn will eventually drop the boredom from the schedule hence the end of MLE
nunonabun2 said (Registered November 10, 2009)
June 28, 2010 @ 6:50 pm
I can not wait to hear “Where is the little asian kid?” in the crowd down there.
Bellylicious said
June 28, 2010 @ 7:29 pm
nunonabun2, I believe they will specify, where is the little “chinese” guy. Gotta love American ignorance.
Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)
June 28, 2010 @ 9:50 pm
Who’s Bellylicious? Methinks I’m in love!
And... said
June 29, 2010 @ 6:25 am
So what is the point in watching?
gastroboy said
June 29, 2010 @ 6:27 am
Last link to Joey Chestnut’s interview doesn’t work, here one that works:
http://www.csnbayarea.com/06/28/10/Drama-Unfolds-Prior-to-Hot-Dog-Eating-Co/landing.html?blockID=262317&feedID=2497
Mega Munch said
June 29, 2010 @ 7:06 am
It takes the IFOCE three weeks to post GOOD news on their website. The fact that they were so quick to report bad news tells me it’s a PR stunt. A nice move though. It’s getting a lot of attention from the mainstream media. In the off chance that it’s for real, it would mark the end of an era for competitive eating.
And... said
June 29, 2010 @ 7:58 am
If it is legit could TBW be next?
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
June 29, 2010 @ 11:12 am
My feeling is that the IFOCE is not using it as a PR stunt. If they were it would make no sense to wait until near the 11th hour to do so.
No sir. I believe Koby is disenchanted with several contract issues, centering on autonomy, money, and placing in the rankings.
Being that he’s now ranked # 3, he’s probably being offered a contract with little or no autonomy to eat at non-IFOCE-sponsored events (unlike what he had up to now), which severely cramps the man’s style.
Anyway, his being ranked # 3 in the world reveals MLE’s low regard for him, even after winning Krystals by a dozen. Koby sees the writing on the wall. He’s not stupid.
I think we’ve seen the last of Koby as we knew him … unless the IFOCE changes the terms of the contract, or unless George does some silver-tongue devilish talking that Koby gives in to.
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
June 29, 2010 @ 11:17 am
Be carefull Steak! Bellylicious may be a handsome dude with a six pack set of abs.
In that case, “he’d” be my fair game and not yours, assuming you don’t swing that way. 🙂
Why not? said
June 29, 2010 @ 6:58 pm
Kobayashi has been the only one who repeatedly did not even have to qualify for Nathan’s, even when he was not the reigning world champion. A lot of other competitive eaters did not get a berth, despite their performances, because they were defeated by better competitive eaters who carefully decided amongst each other (based on all the publication about who would attend which qualifier) which qualifier they would attend. I just want to know why, in the years that Kobayashi was not the reigning world champion, or even the reigning Nathan’s champion, that he did not have to qualify like all other mortals? Kobayashi did not even have to try to qualify. Well, I guess the Sheas gave him an automatic berth into every Nathan’s and Krystal’s, regardless of whether he won the year before. Bottom line: He should consider how many times already the IFOCE has excepted him from the rules, while DeepDish and Humble and other great eaters still have to qualify.
Gentleman Joe said (Registered December 8, 2005)
June 29, 2010 @ 8:41 pm
Why not? Because he is the greatest eater of ALL TIME is why.
He’s never been a member of the ifoce.
In fact as I understand it, he once threatened to compEAT in aice’s burger eating contest on the 4th instead.
When you get a five digit, or more appearance fee for showing up, you can not be expected to have to qualify.
Bottom line is if he’s in the states, its a publicity stunt. It may be based in fact, but its a stunt like banning vuvuzellas, & jawthritis.