posted July 05, 2010 12:05 AM         

Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest mayhem as sidelined ex-champ goes nuts

Who knew 54 hot dogs could cause so much agita.

Sidelined hot dog titan Takeru Kobayashi went berserk yesterday, storming the stage after a contract dispute kept him out of the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating competition.

The 128-pound former champ got steamed while watching from the crowd as archrival Joey (Jaws) Chestnut took home the mustard yellow belt for the fourth year in a row.

Wearing a "Free Kobi" T-shirt, Kobayashi tried to force his way on to the stage at Coney Island during the awards ceremony, struggling with cops who finally arrested him and slapped on the cuffs.

"It's unprofessional and unsavory and, frankly, rather frustrating," said contest organizer Richard Shea.

Kobayashi, 32, was charged with obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and trespassing.

The dietary dynamo was barred from competing this year after refusing to sign a contract that he claimed took away his freedom to eat in other tourneys.

Event organizers said the contract was unchanged from previous years. They said they did not understand why he balked now. Fans were, understandably, disappointed.

"He's trying to upstage Joey," said Vincent Oliveri of Marine Park, whose wife Kobayashi climbed over in his dash for the stage. "He should have just competed and signed the contract."

Reps for the ex-time champ - dubbed "The Tsunami" for his unique ability to inhale hot dogs at stomach-churning speeds - said he had been hoping to find a way to compete.

"He just wanted a chance to eat and break the record and prove that he was the real champion," said his manager, Yuki Nagura."Unfortunately, he was unable to reach an agreement with the organizers."

Kobayashi's absence left little competition for Chestnut, 26. Chomping 54 dogs in 10 minutes, Chestnut finished nine dogs ahead of his nearest competitor.

The Japanese titan redefined the world of competitive eating in 2000 when he swept in to shatter the then-world record of 25 dogs by ingesting a gut-wrenching 50 hot dogs.

He went on to win the next five titles, raising the record bite-by-bite each year.

But in 2007, The Tsunami finally met his match and relinquished the belt to Chestnut.

The pair has since been locked in a death-battle for tube steak supremacy, with Kobayashi finishing a close second every year, culminating in Chestnut's record-setting performance last year of 68 dogs.

Chestnut admitted this year's 54-dog finish didn't quite cut the mustard.

"If somebody there was a little bit closer pushing me, I would have definitely given blood to win," he said.

He hoped this wouldn't be the last he sees of his archnemesis.

"It's kind of sad, but I have a lot of respect for him. He's a great eater," Chestnut said.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/07/04/2010-07-04_joey_jaws_chestnut_wins_nathans_july_fourth_hot_dog_eating_contest.html#ixzz0smFwc8c8

posted July 05, 2010 12:07 AM         

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