The Sonoma Portal claims that Miki Sudo will compete in the Nathan's qualifer at Sonoma Raceway on June 22.

21 Comments »

  1. Nice said

    June 5, 2014 @ 2:45 pm

    Good luck Miki. Sending positive vibes.

  2. Psst said

    June 5, 2014 @ 3:39 pm

    I think the PR strategy when it comes to Miki and Nathan’s is pretty transparent this year and it’s not bad. I’ll just refer to Miki’s past as “that subject.” If you don’t know or care about “that subject” that’s fine. Here’s how it’s going to work. As close to July 4 as possible, have Miki qualify in a small market (Sonoma) where hick reporters wouldn’t know the difference between background research and groundtable research. She’ll put up an incredible qualifyier. Now the tough part, keep Miki away from doing anything on her own. From June 22 to July 4, Miki won’t be able to fart without IFOCE’s permission. IFOCE will continue to go around touting Miki’s qualifyier and the battle with Sonya. The last week, if the strategy falls apart and national reporter’s start to focus on “that subject,” they can always pull her “due to scheduling problems” ala last year. By then IFOCE has already got media committed to July 4. If Miki wins on July 4, the day of the story will be her win. Sure, some saavy reporter will bring up “that subject,” but now IFOCE can threaten if you want to talk to the hotdog champ then STAY AWAY FROM “THAT SUBJECT!” Even if Nathan’s complains about what they’ve gotten into, the IFOCE check has already been written and all parties are stuck with her.

  3. Anonymous said

    June 5, 2014 @ 4:54 pm

    I just love Martha Stewart.

  4. Miki! said

    June 5, 2014 @ 5:50 pm

    Best of luck to you! 🙂

  5. Anonymous said

    June 5, 2014 @ 9:36 pm

    “Stuck” with her? Makes her sound like a liability.

  6. Psst said

    June 5, 2014 @ 10:48 pm

    Best of luck to you too Miki

  7. Oops! said

    June 6, 2014 @ 10:31 am

    I posted the 5:50pm comment. I meant to say “Miki!” as a subject line, not to impersonate Miki. I am not Miki. Sorry Miki!

  8. Psst said

    June 6, 2014 @ 2:45 pm

    Anony 9:36 — Asset or liability? That’s the question and discussions underway at IFOCE. The general public has little or no interest in competitive eating. So, how do you get them positively interested? Miki won’t do anything more than what Sonya’s already done. Who cares if Miki gets 40 world records and is number one over the next 12 years? The negative interest in Miki’s past will far outweigh any positive interest in her eating. The general public doesn’t watch Congress on C-SPAN, but they will tune into a congressman yelling at a flight attendant. The results, all time low Congressional ratings. If Miki wins, Katie bar the door when a national reporter breaks the story about Miki’s past. In the end all eaters will get painted as scumbags. So, Miki may gain interest in competitive eating, but it won’t be positive. Do you think Barry Bonds’ or Pete Rose’s impact on baseball is for outstanding play? Also, if you think Miki’s past won’t get covered, ask any news director which story they’d cover — bomb threat or eating contest? So call me troll or anything but a realist. When the spotlight fades on Sonya, go with someone who won’t bring down everyone around her. Sonya was good news. Michelle, for instance, is good news. Miki will be bad news.

  9. Moot points - flawed assumption said

    June 6, 2014 @ 3:17 pm

    2:45pm, your entire argument assumes that an old story negates a new, shiny, fresh story on a young, pretty girl beating the long-standing champion. I just don’t believe that’s true. That’s not how news works. Without getting into listing all the reasons (for now), Miki is one of the most exciting developments to happen to CE in years.

    How about we wait until Miki beats Sonya, and trust that the PR pros manage this properly? If I’m wrong, I’ll buy you a beer. You seem to care about CE having a positive future, trust the pros to do their jobs.

  10. Psst said

    June 6, 2014 @ 4:10 pm

    3:17 — You, of course, are entitled to your opionion as am I. I’m pretty sure most professional sports bar convicted past criminals from participating in their sports, Boxing, etc. In fact, as we have learned recently, even past behavior that could adversely the image of the sport could bar an individual from a sport, as in the recent case with the NBA and racism. So you have to ask why? Like any professional sport competitive eating is a business and individuals with pasts that could do harm to a sport’s popularity with the general public is not good for the bottom line. I know for a fact that a competitive eater was banned for spousal abuse, so MLE will ban eaters for their behavior beyond the table. So where do you draw the line? Spousal abuse obviously bad, bomb threats okay. I know you can’t stop bad news from getting out. So, if you think Miki’s past won’t get out, and that it won’t reflect negatively on the sport and those within it, I think you’re kidding yourself. Imagine if MLE tried to get on top of the story to address Miki’s past, the public outcry against Miki would be tremendous. More people care about terrorist threats than competitive eating. Competitive eating has enough detractors, vegans, vegitarians, etc. I don’t see why MLE would want to attract more powerful groups such as victims of 911, etc., to speak out against competitive eating. Particularly, when there are a host of new eaters with squeaking clean backgrounds.

  11. Fair points said

    June 6, 2014 @ 4:58 pm

    3:17pm — Fair enough. All good points. But, how do you explain the fact that in the time that Miki has been in the media over the past year, not once was the past subject mentioned in outlets’ pieces? All of these media outlets had plenty of opportunity to dig up the past and use them to their advantage. If there was an opportunity for a mess on July 4th, we would have already seen hints of it.

    Also, there is something to be said about making mistakes in youth and redemption here. I really don’t want to speak for Miki, it’s just not fair for us to do that in this forum without her input (even though she might at some point read this), but I’ll only say that she has already paid her dues for the mistake. Further, I will just say to your point about convicted past criminals participating in pro sports, what about Michael Vick or Plaxico Burress?

    But to get back to the core of your point on perception, with the proper speaking points she can answer questions about this like a pro. If all of these other athletes can do it, so can she.

  12. Fair points said

    June 6, 2014 @ 5:00 pm

    That lost post was from me (3:17pm) to 4:10pm.

  13. anonymous said

    June 6, 2014 @ 6:29 pm

    Please dont feed me that harm MLE popularity bull.The guy who judged the recent corn contest has a rap sheet that makes sudo felony conviction seem meaningless

  14. gourmand said (Registered December 1, 2013)

    June 6, 2014 @ 6:42 pm

    Who care’s about Miki’s criminal past? Everyone was young and stupid at one point in their lives. Many of us have called in bomb threats. So what? It’s a non-issue and non-story.

    ” I’m pretty sure most professional sports bar convicted past criminals from participating in their sports, Boxing, etc.”

    Really? Lots of athletes in the NFL and NBA have criminal records and are getting arrested all the time.

  15. Anonymous said

    June 6, 2014 @ 7:06 pm

    We all like Miki and want her to do well. That’s all that counts. Nothing else really matters from here on.

  16. I'm done said

    June 6, 2014 @ 7:09 pm

    I’m 3:17 and 4:58.

    I’ve made my POV. I don’t want to make this ‘a thing’..I don’t want to do her a disservice, so I’m out.

    G

  17. the great gavonne said

    June 6, 2014 @ 7:37 pm

    I’ve been remiss lately but I will now start sending e-mails to every outlet in Somona & I urge everyone else to do so also-detailing Mika-ka’s criminality. Hit the Sheas where it hurts the most:in their pockets. BTW. I had surgery this morning-Gavonne’s Hernia is no more!

  18. If you say so said

    June 6, 2014 @ 8:07 pm

    I’m guessing the people of NYC are way past this little 911 thing. I mean, it was was just a mistake, right? Hell, I just called one in myself. Oops, just a little screw up. Out of forty thousand people at Nathans, probably nobody will notice. What could be a problem?

  19. Gavonne you're a dick said

    June 6, 2014 @ 8:16 pm

    You’re a troll and you’re not funny

  20. Mormon Mike said

    June 6, 2014 @ 8:50 pm

    great gavonne, you are a worthless piece of shit! At least Hank has financial and personal reasons for Miki not being allowed in the finals. The girl has paid for her mistake and it was NOT a terrorist act, you ignorant pig!

  21. father guido said

    June 6, 2014 @ 9:46 pm

    Gavonne you have my blessings

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