Tag: Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Joey Chestnut not officially banned from 2024 Nathan’s hot dog contest, despite reports

Joey Chestnut has put MLE in a real pickle, is being a total weenie.

Is it possible to celebrate America without the greatest athlete of all time front and center? This may be the future of our nation thanks to a …(sigh) beef between hot dog eating GOAT Joey Chestnut and Major League Eating (MLE).

Early reports from the New York Post suggested the MLE had banned Chestnut from participating in this year’s Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest — i.e. the event that kicks off your Independence Day with gurgitory greatness. This would be a massive deal.

Chestnut has ascended beyond Michael Jordan status, a champion with no rival. He’s taken home the mustard yellow belt 16 of the last 17 years, emerging as the beef-stained face of competitive eating by hammering down 60 to 70 hot dogs in a 10 minute span and allowing the world to see the limits of peak human performance.

The reason for the alleged ban? Chestnut’s partnership with Impossible Foods, the plant-based meat replacement that made the legendary athlete spokesman for its new vegan hot dogs. Per reports, Chestnut refused to eat the classic Nathan’s offerings and instead wanted to swap in his Impossible franks instead — a trade that could create a clear imbalance between the defending champion and the rest of the field.

Per the New York Post, MLE representatives addressed the issue in a statement:

We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest

…

For nearly two decades we have worked under the same basic hot dog exclusivity provisions. However, it seems that Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with a different brand over our long-time relationship.

Joey Chestnut is an American hero. We would love nothing more than to have him at the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. We hope he returns when he is not representing a rival brand.

Later, however, MLE executive Richard Shea — brother to the man behind the most electrifying introductions in pro sports — refuted those statements.

Also brought to light in the Post’s report? The fact Chestnut made $200,000 per Nathan’s appearance before even getting to his official winnings ($10,000 for each belt). MLE reportedly offered to bump that in a four-year, $1.2 million contract offer, but was rebuffed by Chestnut’s partnership with Impossible.

This wouldn’t be the first high profile conflict to mar the Fourth of July’s greatest spectacle. Takeru Kobayashi’s refusal to sign an exclusive contract with the league kept the six-time champion out of the competition starting in 2010. Losing Chestnut would open the door for Geoffrey Esper and Patrick Bertoletti to break his string of victories.

There’s still time for the two sides to reach a compromise. We’ll see if MLE caves to the demands of its biggest star or if, somehow, we’ll have an Independence Day without Joey Chestnut’s bun-splattered greatness for the first time in two decades.

Joey Chestnut ate nearly 18,000 calories worth of hot dogs in 10 minutes

Needless to say, six dozen hot dogs is not part of a balanced daily diet.

After a long delay, then a frustrating cancellation and surprising un-cancellation, Joey Chestnut retained his mustard yellow belt by winning the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. But the stormy weather and whiplash of storm-related uncertainty clearly took its toll on competitive eating’s G.O.A.T. Instead of firing down 10 days worth of calories in 10 minutes, Chestnut’s 62 hot dogs — his lowest mark since 2015 when he was dethroned by Matt Stonie — only made up nine days of his recommended caloric intake.

That’s right, in front of a reduced crowd, Chestnut scarfed down at least 17,920 calories, per Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs’ official nutritional information and assuming the dogs consumed at the greatest eating throwdown in the universe are the company’s smallest offering. Here’s the breakdown of exactly what he put in his body — and the daily percentage of what he’s supposed to put in there based on the FDA’s guidelines for a 2,000-calorie diet, where available.

Calories: 17,920 (896 percent of daily recommended value)
Sodium: 48,980 mg (20,408 percent)
Total Fat: 1,116 g (17,169 percent)
Saturated fat: 372 g (18,600 percent)
Trans fat: 62 g (28,182 percent)
Total Carbs: 1,490 g (4,960 percent)
Dietary Fiber: 62 g (248 percent)
Sugars: 124 g
Protein: 620 g
Cholesterol: 1,860 mg

So yeah, probably not great for his body. But healthier than the 72 dogs he put down in 2017, so it’s possible he’s feeling a little bit better tonight than he typically does after a long day at Coney Island.

Mother Nature, not Joey Chestnut, won the 2023 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

This may be devastating to Pepto Bismol’s stock price.

UPDATE: Because of the inclement weather, the 2023 men’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest was canceled, per ABC7 in New York. However, not long after the reported cancellation, ESPN announced that the contest was back on after a lengthy delay.

In the midst of a pandemic and the live sports desert that followed, the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest offered a glimmer of hope. The Fourth of July staple, broadcast annually from Coney Island, shifted indoors for a socially distanced version of the competition as COVID-19 changed lives across the world.

Joey Chestnut did what Joey Chestnut does, eating a truly ludicrous amount of pork and bread and celebrating America in an extremely American way.

But on Tuesday three years later, the weather in New York did what a global pandemic could not: It canceled the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, which won’t be held on Independence Day for the first time since 1978. In the end, Mother Nature won.

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While the cancellation doesn’t leave much competitive intrigue — Chestnut has effectively lapped his rivals in general and Miki Sudo claimed the women’s belt minutes before the weather stoppage — it’s still a bummer. Across the country, a pre-cookout tradition involves watching dedicated men and women house hot dogs, watching 15 minutes of pro cornhole or slippery stairs or whatever else ESPN2 has planned for the day and then heading out to celebrate the nation with friends and family.

In 2023, raging thunderstorms instead forced the world to watch the ESPYs nomination show; the network’s answer to, “Is there anything more pointless and boring than the ESPYs?” After an hour-long delay, the New York Police Department reportedly pulled the plug on the event in the name of public safety.

So, in summation, dang. The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest has woven itself into the fabric of the Fourth of July. It’s an entertaining rest stop on a day-long journey of cookouts, pool time and fireworks. But nature cut a four-decade tradition off with torrential downpours and lightning that made the whole event even more of a safety hazard than it already was (for contestants, at least).

On the plus side, we know when the next contest will be; 366 days from now.

MORE:

The men’s 2023 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest went into a weather delay, and everyone was furious

The weather is ruining one of our greatest pastimes.

Fans of the Fourth of July tradition of eating far too many hot dogs than one would think is humanly possible had to wait a little bit longer this year. The 2023 edition of the event found itself in an all-too familiar sports predicament: a lightning delay.

Joey Chesnut, the odds-on favorite to take home his 16th championship, and other competitors had to wait off-stage as rain and thunder ravaged the iconic Coney Island location.

MORE: 52 Major League Eating records that belong to Joey Chestnut

Viewers were absolutely devastated at having to wait to see hot dog buns dunked in various forms of liquid, but at least the jokes online were top-notch.

UPDATE: Because of the inclement weather, the 2023 men’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest was canceled, per ABC7 in New York. However, not long after the reported cancellation, ESPN announced that the contest was back on after a lengthy delay.

Why the 2023 men’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest was delayed

We’ll all have to wait a little longer to watch Joey Chestnut chase title No. 16.

You can officially no longer complain that competitive eating isn’t a real sport as the start of the 2023 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest was delayed by lightning.

UPDATE: Because of the inclement weather, the 2023 men’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest was canceled, per ABC7 in New York. However, not long after the reported cancellation, ESPN announced that the contest was back on after a lengthy delay.

Instead of fans tuning in to see the legend Joey Chestnut loosening his gullet has he prepared to continue his long legacy of hot dog supremacy, ESPN instead aired an ESPY nominations special with the weather alert popping yellow in the corner.

Miki Sudo took the women’s title earlier on Tuesday morning, winning her ninth pink belt and her ninth straight when competing (she missed 2021’s competition after giving birth).

It is unclear how long the delay will last, but Chesnut is eyeing his 16th championship.

MORE: 

Elizabeth ‘Glizzy Lizzy’ Salgado has the best Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest nickname, and the internet loved it

The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest rookie has the best nickname of the bunch.

The annual tradition of watching competitive eaters absolutely destroy a plate (or multiple plates) of hot dogs continued this Fourth of July as Miki Sudo won her ninth title in the women’s division.

While Sudo chomped her way to 39.5 finished hot dogs, the nation’s attention was drawn to one of her competitors. Elizabeth Salgado of Keene, California — making her Fourth of July debut for the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest — captured the hearts of the internet with her incredible nickname: Glizzy Lizzy.

MORE: Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest: Every women’s winner since 2011

Glizzy, which has become popular slang for hot dogs in recent years, pairs perfectly with Salgado’s natural nickname.

Hot dog contest fans on the internet absolutely loved her nickname…

Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest: Every women’s winner since 2011

A look at the winners in the Nathan’s women’s hot dog eating contest.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2022 and has been updated.

Of course you know about all of the legends — mostly Joey Chestnut — who have won the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in this century.

But this is a reminder that since 2011, those winners have also included some absolutely incredible eaters who have taken home the title in the women’s hot dog eating contest.

It was that year that Major League Eating started up a separate contest in which the same rules applied — 10 contestants, 10 minutes, all you can eat hot dogs and buns.

So let’s run through those winners.

MORE: 

Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest announcers: Who’s calling it on ESPN in 2023?

Here’s who will be on the mic on ESPN for the July 4th tradition.

Get ready for another July 4 filled with hot dogs being crammed into professional eaters’ mouths.

The 2023 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is here, and that means we’ll see Joey Chestnut once again try to win another round of the annual competition in New York’s Coney Island, as will Miki Sudo or Michelle Lesco on the women’s side.

If you’re here, you’re probably wondering: Who is calling the contest on ESPN?

We have answers! Longtime SportsCenter anchor John Anderson will pair with Rich Shea, the president of Major League Eating, will be on the call, and Renee James will be reporting.

There you have it!

Why Kobayashi no longer competes in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Kobayashi hasn’t competed in the annual Fourth of July contest since 2009.

NOTE: This post is from 2022.

Once a staple of the annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest — from his record-setting debut in 2001 until his final competition over a decade ago —  Takeru Kobayashi has since faded from the consciousness of fans of the event (or people who watch because what else is on TV?).

It’s easy to assume that someone who has held over a dozen competitive eating records and once won the Nathan’s contest six consecutive times simply got tired of shoving damp buns and franks down his throat and that’s why he hasn’t participated for so long. But his absence from the contest since 2010 is actually a lot deeper.

According to a New York Times report, Kobayashi had a dispute with Major League Eating (MLE), the sanctioning body of the Nathan’s Famous contest and others, over the exclusivity of its contracts. They reportedly restricted MLE signees from earning money outside of MLE and competing in non-MLE events, and gave MLE “exclusive representative” rights to negotiate revenue opportunities — of which it would earn 20% — on behalf of its performers.

Kobayashi’s refusal to sign the contract in 2010 resulted in his not being able to participate in MLE contests, including the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July contest.

That didn’t stop him from showing up as a spectator in 2010, but that’s when things really got real. Apparently spurred by chants from those in attendance, Kobayashi jumped on stage, hoping officials would allow him to compete. Instead he was arrested, never to take a Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest stage again.

So there you have it. That’s why you haven’t seen or heard from Kobayashi for so long and probably shouldn’t expect to see him this Fourth of July. But hey, at least there’s still current world record holder Joey Chestnut to look forward to making you gag.

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12 ridiculous photos of Joey Chestnut jamming hot dogs into his face over the years

What an athlete.

NOTE: This post is from 2022.

Nothing says the 4th of July like watching a bunch of people jamming hot dogs into their mouths in front of thousands of screaming fans, am I right?

I’m talking, of course, about the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest which takes place every year on the Coney Island boardwalk in Brooklyn, New York.

And you can’t talk about this hot dog eating contest without bringing up the GOAT – Joey Chestnut. This legend is the favorite to win his 7th straight title on Monday. It would also be this 14th win in the last 15 years.

Let’s take a look back at some incredible photos of this incredible athlete in action.