No Kobayashi at Booker / Hardy promo

July 1, 2008 at 9:45 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Eric "Badlands" Booker, Long Island, Nathan's Hot Dog Contest

The producer of the promotional contest that took place in Westbury, NY yesterday between Eric “Badlands” Booker and “Hungry” Charles Hardy has a blog entry and gallery of the event. Kobayashi does not appear in the pictures.

update (from Sean Gordon) Kobayashi’s most recent blog entry says he was too fatigued to appear at the Long Island event.

update #2 The news video clip is now available

Comments (20)

20 Comments »

  1. anonymous said

    July 1, 2008 @ 9:59 am

    Where is the big crowd they were expecting?

  2. Sean Gordon said (Registered June 5, 2008)

    July 1, 2008 @ 10:24 am

    Excerpt from the most recent entry on Koby’s blog…

    Qualifying farewell appearance

    Because there is fatigue, Long Island, did not play in the qualifying.

    The recovery is still slow.

    Blur the time difference, climate change, such as long flight, have a healthy body is also intended to work hard all been me.

  3. Sean Gordon said (Registered June 5, 2008)

    July 1, 2008 @ 10:29 am

    I’m assuming “recovery is still slow” is referring to jetlag? I can’t imagine he’s working the jaw angle still. Whether or not he had to qualify, he took CE to another level and I think is still capable of putting on a good show.

  4. The_Hangman said (Registered August 30, 2006)

    July 1, 2008 @ 11:17 am

    Koby will eat on July 4. Qualify or not. Bank on it. Too much money is riding on this event for him to not be there this year.

  5. Rhonda Evans said

    July 1, 2008 @ 11:22 am

    If Koby follows through and shows up, it’s only because he believes he will win. Joey surprised him last time, and in my opinion, you don’t fool Takeru Kobayashi twice.

    Regardless, Joey will be a tough, tough hombre to bring down. I would say that whatever the maximum is for a human that is Koby’s size to eat, Koby will achieve it. It may or may not be enough to win. I hope it is, but I don’t know.

    The sport needs Koby to win. Koby’s THE ICON. He seems to be very humble, a gentleman and a great sportsman. He doesn’t talk smack, which speaks volumes. He doesn’t let his mouth write checks that his ass can’t cash.

    Koby’s my kind of champion.

  6. el douche said

    July 1, 2008 @ 11:34 am

    Koby is a jerk. He’s the one that pulled the “My Jaw Hurts” crap last year. It’s like he wanted to put an astreik next to Joeys WIN *(only because Koby was Hurt). He’s a turd and Joey will demolish him at the table.

    P.S. I’ve also heard the 70+ rumor about Joey in training. This was from a reliable source.

  7. Rhonda Evans said

    July 1, 2008 @ 12:08 pm

    I can tell you’re a Joey follower. Nice tone. I’m sure Joey would be proud. You underscore EXACTLY the reason I care so much for Koby, versus Joey. Thanks! You made my proverbial day!

  8. Mega Munch said

    July 1, 2008 @ 1:04 pm

    Joey might have been capable of 70 in a 12 minute contest, but in the new, shortened 10 minute show, he’ll be lucky to do 60. At the 10 minute mark last year (source OJRifkin teleblog below), Joey had 57 HDBs and Koby had 56.

    Source: http://eatfeats.com/2007-nathans-finals-teleblog.html#more-2535

  9. Tonto said

    July 1, 2008 @ 1:38 pm

    I think Koby has a shot. Remember, Joey pulled away from him in the last two minutes of the contest. Although ridiculous and unreasonable, this two minute deduction from the contest time gives Koby a great chance.

  10. anonymous said

    July 1, 2008 @ 1:54 pm

    This is supposed to be a booker hardy post so why are you turning it into a no show kobe discussion. In the future make a separate post for kobe chestnut trash talk . Joey isnt doing 70 plus hot dogs unless he wants to die at a very young age

  11. Anonymous said

    July 1, 2008 @ 2:28 pm

    No prizes for Nathans this year? It appears that other reports are just a rehash of last years one time only prize structure.

    My prediction
    Joey then Kobay then a whole lot of Jed Donohues tie for third with 1 hot dog.

  12. anonymous said

    July 1, 2008 @ 3:30 pm

    Joey vs Kobe is still better than watching Kobe’s one man show in past years. It is a shame that Hal Shimmel and Stu Birdy cannot be a part of this

  13. Lily said (Registered April 26, 2008)

    July 1, 2008 @ 4:40 pm

    Although Koby did bring a lot of light into competitive eating, he SHOULD NOT get a bye into Nathan’s. He should qualify just like everyone else in a Nathan’s qualifier with the exception of Joey (being the defending champ and the only one who should get a bye).

  14. Anonymous said

    July 1, 2008 @ 5:56 pm

    Thanks for your opinion, Lily. I’ll be sure to forward it straight to the top.

  15. The Critic said

    July 1, 2008 @ 6:16 pm

    The event looked like fun, too bad no one seemed to attend it, except folks who accidentally dropped by for lunch. There must have been some fantastic promotion, shouts out to the Nathan’s marketing department – not!

  16. JO said

    July 1, 2008 @ 6:32 pm

    I asked Booker and Hardy because they are legends and are from our area. I don’t know what TK was talking about in his blog regarding LI. Maybe there is a qualifier there, I don’t know. There are quite a few promos, he could be talking about another. We only talked to Booker and Hardy.

    We did it for a news story, so we didn’t advertise for a crowd. There were people from word of mouth and people that happened to be there – that place gets pretty busy. I thought it would just be us, but there were quite a few onlookers.

    I am putting the video up a little later. I am going to convert, upload, and link right now. Thanks for linking.

  17. JO said

    July 1, 2008 @ 6:33 pm

    I think kobyashi should get in automatically. It isn’t the olympics. He is the biggest name in eating in the world.

  18. Pat From Moonachie said

    July 2, 2008 @ 7:12 am

    There’s been a 70 rumor coming from my training camp too, and let me just say, I hope to surpass that number ..on my I.Q. test! 😉

  19. Bronson Fan said

    July 2, 2008 @ 4:51 pm

    I hope Joey and Pat kick Koby’s ass!!!!

  20. nic "TheIncredibleBulk" fry said

    July 2, 2008 @ 5:49 pm

    i really dont have a favorite i just hope it is more competitive than it has been in years past… which i think x and deep dish will step it up this year and bring the average up, nothing against any eater at the table just those guys are freaks and everyone knows it…. (i mean that in a good way) good luck to everyone and see you next year at coney…

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