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© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.Ex-champ Kobayashi arrested at New York hot dog event
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vajra
I doubt NYPD will serve him Hotdogs in jail, he might share two slices of bread and a piece of ham with a mouse .
some14some
10~20cm high Tsunami causes no damage to four time Champion Chestnut !
combinibento
So they wanted an exclusive contract with him and he balked. Fair enough. But why isn't he appearing in these "contests sanctioned by other groups" that he values so much? Sounds like he was holding out for other contests that never materialized, and in the process ended up missing out on the Nathan's one. Sucks to be him. Hope his contract lawyers are well-versed in criminal law. LOL.
ilcub76
Cops in the US don't mess around, compared to the J-Cops. If he is convicted on these charges, he may not be able to enter the US -- ever.
paulinusa
Saw the event, hilarious. Lots of hot dog trash talk against Kobayashi by Joey Chestnut. By the way, as for the dispute with Kobayashi's contract, he obtained a visa and is living in N.Y. Evidently Major League Eating helped sponser his visa and wanted to control where and when he competes. That's why he rufused to enter the contest. I think they need Kobayashi because Chestnut didn't have enough competition.
whiskeysour
Contracts on eating contests !!! Very stupid !!! yOu NeEd a LaWyEr to eat at an hotdog eating contest ????
caffeinebuzz
dunno about the first comment, he may very well receive some hotdogs in prison.
TumbleDry
What is such event and guys giving out to humanity? Is there a research team behind the guys to develop new technology to eat faster or things like that?
Some people are talking about a decadent society and I agree this is one of the sign.
Klein2
Eating contests. I was going to write something about freedom to reach the peak of one's performance and find the best of the best in the true Olympian spirit.
But seriously. This is a hot dog eating contest. I can't dredge up too much sympathy for the guy. If it is a job, he needs to play by the rules. If he is just playing, then why is he getting arrested?
Publicity stunt? Yeah Probably. If he had won, it would not have made the news. If he had lost it would not have made the news.
I think the was just being a ham for the press.
MrDog
I can uncerstand passion in some sports, football, rugby, ice hockey, basketball, even baseball which sends me to sleep. But, this is an EATING CONTEST. Grow up and get a life you man-child!
my2sense
Insane... here it is.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACO6rYK5dhM
As usual I am ashamed of American aggression.
MrDog
Idiot
Thank you for that. None of us realised that "sports" and other events are about money. I think we've all learned something today.
fussagaijin
I seriously doubt he will do any time. Probaly just a fine, while he plans his next gluttony rebellion...Viva la revolution!
KyokoSmile
hahahahaha! I'm with Kobayashi on this one, the man really has some guts..wrestled the N.Y. cops and everything LOL!! Go Kobayashi!
Laguna
My God. Do your realize that there was a 50% chance it would have been called "Handwerker's Famous"?
nisegaijin
So what did he do wrong?
cnc
shouldn't the organizers if the event be sued for bias against fair sportsmanship. It was them that were in cahoots with Kobayashi's managers and not allowing him to enter the competition freely. that ofcourse all becomes moot if Kobayashi's contract with his sponsors hasn't expired yet.
cleo
Maybe they should hold the next event in starving Africa. But instead of a contest to see how many hot dogs one person can eat, make it how many people one hot dog can feed.
I'm with young master Pearce - it's gross.
KyokoSmile
cleo at 09:19 AM JST - 5th July
Maybe they should hold the next event in starving Africa. But instead of a contest to see how many hot dogs one person can eat, make it how many people one hot dog can feed.
I'm with young master Pearce - it's gross.
I have to agree with you, cleo...I'd love to see that one too.
mushroomcloud
kobayashi is one dog eating idiot.
chuckers
He was charged with 2 misdemeanors (resisting arrest and interfering with police officers) and a violation (trespass on the stage.)
One article I read stated that MLE was going to keep him from competing in any other competitions they don't sanction for at least a year. His main source of income is from these eating contests. If he isn't allowed to compete, he won't be allowed to keep himself fed, in a manner of speaking.
gaijinfo
Dude wanted to have his "hot dog" and eat it to. He could have participated had he signed the contract, but that would have restricted his participation in other events, as HE mentioned on his blog.
No different than an exclusivity agreement with any employer. He made a choice not to sign the contract, then acted like he was being punished. He even wore that silly "free Kobi" t-shirt.
No other sport would let you switch leagues per your convenience, as he wanted to do. Sorry, Kobi.
Zenny11
Agree Food-eating contests are gross andf a waste of good food.
Said that tried "Nathans Famous" when they still had a Shop close to me(didn't last long) don't see what the fuzz is about their food.
noborito
Pull that crap in Tokyo and you would be arrested too. So stop complaining. He went there with the attitude that he was Japanese and didn't need to follow the rules. Lock him up then deport him. It's our National Holiday. As for brutality, the police seemed to be taking great care not to hurt him. I see deportation in your future. That would be after you spend several thousand dollars on lawyers in our system.
Darren White
Eating competitions are disgusting and this guy is childish. Resisting arrest with the yank cops, he's lucky he wasn't tazered.
gaijinfo
Just noticed this was in the crime section.
One point for JT.
Kwaabish
He can do fine in other contests everywhere else. Japanese media can also feed him (money) too.
Bogi
Ha, this is pretty funny. We need stories like this on on Monday morning.
ironchef
Free Kobi!!
bobbafett
I see a Will Farrel, Ben Stiller, and Owen Wilson movie on the horizon.
moonbeams
You know, my respect for this guy has gone through the roof. He did the right thing.
islandview
He did this as a publicity stunt, it was totally planned even down to his TShirt.
Perhaps even the security/police were tipped off in advance that he would try something like this.
He only did it to get attention. If he not done anything, he would not be in the news because he was not part of the competition.
His time in the spotlight as a champion eater is over.
He should be freed from jail, and then freed from USA by taking him to the airport and sending him back to Japan with an immigration order that he can never enter the USA again for more of his terroristic tactics (he is charged with resisting arrest, trespass and obstructing governmental administration).
ratpack
Man these hot dog eating contests (or any eating contests for that matter)are just pathetic. How about the courts sentence this idiot to community service for 1 year in a starving country.
vulcan
He wants to be an independent agent hot dog eater and come and go to events as he pleases, what's wrong with that?
Badsey
This is the type of drama that can make you sick in the stomache yet sell the tickets and get butts in the seats. =You want a war --> You got a war: Chestnut - Kobayashi Dog-Out! 2011. I am going to embarrass you this time Chestnut.
proudnippon
Eating sport is ridiculous. what a foolish thing
prinzjay
This is a problem with ALOT J-people in the US or elsewhere...they think they are subject to laws only in Japan and they think they can act up and they think local foreign cops wont care. Guess what J-people....the US and most western countries actually enforce the laws and arrest people. Kobyashi clearly was one of those J-people, who was thinking he could be a fool in the US and not suffer any consequences for his behavior. I have seen this countless times in LA. Deport him back to Japan.
TokyoGas
There must be a fair amount of money involved if there is an association which can decide which contests the people can enter.
hrd1231
He is an awsome athlete. I hope this silly action doesn't tarnish his iconic status.
kyoken
In times when the world is struggling to provide enough food for all humans the event alone crosses the border of selfishness and decadence.
ReformedBasher
Maybe he can get a job with Sea Sheperd
Agreed. If it was small scale, a local event and done in fun, I'd say it was harmless. But for things to reach this level of all around stupidity, I'd say give him some jail time. Let him blog about that too.
I'd rather be mediocre at something sensible and beneficial to others, than grand world champion hot dog eater - 6 times?! Once I could understand as joke perhaps.
DenDon
biggest cringe was not Kobayashi but the idiots in the crowd chanting "USA USA" whilst he was arrested
paulinusa
Maybe he saw lots of future $ in America instead of Japan. I saw a youtube video of a Japanese competitive eating show where Kobayashi LOST to someone else, so he could have been looking for greener pastures.
xpompey8
Poor Kobayashi, he lost his coveted titled 4 years ago and now he's been arrested for crashing the event that made who he is/was.
all4faj
He never even got his just deserts
Badge213
Major League Eating MLE? Who's the commissioner? Ronald McDonalds?
Tahoochi
Nice drama. Sounds like the WWE (Professional Wrestling) and Hot Dog eating have joined forces!
jpesquire
FREE KOBAYASHI!!!!!
crazygaijin
Guess he's in a pickle now, he'll have to mustard the strength to ketchup to Joey Chesnut and retake his title.
Foggia
Eating sports are a disgusting thing on many levels.
Klein2
"Major League Eating MLE? Who's the commissioner? Ronald McDonalds?"
No. Apparently it is Don King. And Kobayashi is Muhammad Ali. See how much the world cares about this now? The BBC and NY Times have it, with videos and other nonsense. Apparently someone said Kobayashi wasn't man enough to yadayadayada, which prompted Kobayashi to go berserk. You know, the usual boxing trash talk.
It just goes to show you, sports are for kids. When adults play them, the showmanship is far less important than the actual skill involved. Kobayashi gave up 20 thousand dollars of chump change for much bigger fish, including rematches, grudge matches, exhibitions, book contracts, etc.
IronBeard
What a ridiculous 'sport'. Binging and purging being encouraged by the media...
Roppongi
Well he got charged with:"with resisting arrest, trespass and obstructing governmental administration" X4 crimes, NY police don't play around.....well they definately locked him up, finger printed him, and booked him, with a permanent arrest record (32-year-old Kobayashi )...... and if they push it he can get a felony charges...
jj1980
He got what he deserved. It doesn't matter if he is Japanese or not. He acted very stupid and childish, and look where it got him. LOL
..... you know....I could go for a corn dog right about now.
goddog
The Tsunami has fallen from grace. He should do his own events and get Johnies to sponsor him. Could have the Morning Musume girls dress up as hot dogs and stuff...would be pretty cool. Could have lots of those pretty boys running around as back up, and an appearance or two by one of the SMAP guys illegally parking his car on a screen in the back or one of them taking off their clothes in Central Park would be a plus. And change hot-dogs to the real thing...Sabretts Dirty Water Dogs with the works. Not this Nathans crap. They suck. A sabrett with the works would make this a real event. Tsunami-san, if you read this, get in touch with me and I will help sponsor you too.
Wakarimasen
Food eating contests are a sign of how dumbed down our culture has become. Same as that awful show on Discovery - Man vs Food. And the tough way the cops handled this poor deluded "speed eater" was also out of line. although I did like the typically Japanese way of protest - just hang onto something and make a face.....
djuice
It's a dog eat dog world, so Kobayashi will just have to start his own hot dog eating federation for those who want to be free eaters. Frankly (pun) eating mystery meat is kind of strange in the first place. I had a school teacher in Health that told us that we shouldn't eat anything with words on the label that we couldn't pronounce. I immediately began working on my vocabulary so I could have more food choices.
Hurtado
haha this guy is a legend, hopefully he will be free to compete next year and beat the record!
michaelqtodd
68 dogs in 10 minutes by Chestnut last year. Is that a World Record? Think about that a bit. I for one doubt if I could do 3 in ten minutes
ratpack
Did you see him bouncing up and down as he pointed up to the stage....I think this guy is under the impression that he is in the same class as Mike Tyson. I think he forgets that he eats hot dogs. He would be fun at the baseball!!! Hey dude can i a dozen hot dogs....and dont go anywhere we'll be ordering again in a a few seconds.
america2010
That was a disgrace, let the man go.....he should have been allowed to participate.
BigInJapan
I am so said that a prime sportsman like him had to endure such disgrace.
BurakuminDes
Kobayashi is a Japanese hero who excels in the Japanese obsession with eating. I believe it is a disgrace that a professional hot-dog eater can be wrongfully detained by the United States. All he wanted to do was eat hot-dogs as fast as humanly possible - since when is that a crime? Smells of an American anti-Japan conspiracy to me... He would be best advised to use the defence "But - eating hot-dogs is Japanese culture!"
MistWizard
The crime here is that a person or group with enough money can buy the rights to a contest and prevent people from participating on a whim. This is all about money and its disgusting in the extreme and sad that so few of you are even commenting on it. A Fourth of July tradition has been appropriated so that some fat cat can get his power trip. Meanwhile, people want to see Kobayashi do his thing, and never mind its such a useless skill; he is famous and you are you.
MistWizard
Sorry, should have said its all about money AND power above. It should be the rats requiring exclusive contracts visiting prison, not Kobayashi. Its not like he was some nobody who stormed the stage.
bicultural
I don't doubt for a second that "Kobi" knew exactly what would happen : he'd make a scene, the cameras would be on him, he'd get arrested, he'd get another 15 minutes of fame, and he'll be back next year for a revenge match, and he'll continue making a living as a professional "eater."
BurakuminDes
All Japanese - and concerned gaijin - should get down to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo tomorrow and picket the joint demanding "The Tsunami's" release!
dolphingirl
So he basically got arrested for jumping on stage? Why were there police barricade at a hot dog eating contest anyway? Very strange.
TokyoGas
You what would have been great if Kobayashi and his friends brought a bag of hot dogs and buns and then he started eating at the same time as the contest. That would have been good for a laugh.
Zenny11
Tokyogas.
Too try, would have been fun if he participated outside the barrier and won. And would have made a good statement.
Zenny11
try = true
Badsey
This is like banning Babe Ruth from baseball. I never thought competitive eating would come to politics -but here we are and it seems the best are being locked out of their sport.
No wonder why the eating stats are on the down. How do you expect these people to eat with all this pressure? -I would rather starve than succumb to these criminals and what this sport has become.
prinzjay
No matter what the situation...Kobayashi had no right to crash the competition and fight with the police. I hope the authorites throw the book at him and deport him. The US doesnt need anymore jerks from foreign countries acting up like that. He didnt want to sign a contract....he doesnt get to play. Thats the rules.
prinzjay
An article by the New York Post gave more details and eye witness statements:
"I saw Kobayashi trying to push his way through the police," a witness said. "He got to the top step, almost to the stage, but he didn't get onstage."
The muscle men put Kobayashi in a headlock and dragged him backstage. It wasn't immediately clear what Kobayashi wanted to do onstage.
"I thought he was going to congratulate Chestnut as he was lifting up his belt," one man said.
But a female witness disagreed, and chimed in: "For all I know, he was going up there to punch him out."
prinzjay
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/kobayashi_arrested_as_chestnut_nabs_gjRYsMPKZYNakHVd2aGmwO?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=
ritalynn
This whole thing just screams publicity stunt. The fact is, MLE needs Kobayashi. Nobody cares about Chestnut and if they don't know it now, it was evident yesterday when the crowd took his side over theirs.
The fact is, the ratings are down when he's not there, and no one associates MLE with Chestnut, it's always Kobayashi.
Honestly? I think they called him and begged him to show up just so people would watch, hell many of the competitors said it was boring. And if not, I bet he get the contract he wants.
Pukey2
He should be shipped to Africa and made to do volunteer work to help starving children as punishment.
GG2141
Don't take it too seriously. I am sure it was carefully staged by the ever capable Maggie James.
Get busted. It's a night in jail and lifetime of infamy (in the competitive hot dog eating world, at least)
nightvision
TOKYOGAS: That is the most brilliant solution to this issue.
That will bring those proud-ass organizers back to reality; after all, competitive eating (no matter how weird that sounds) would not be as popular as it is now without that thin Japanese guy who can eat tons of hotdogs.
No matter how they put it, Kobayashi is the face of competitive eating.
PUKEY2: Competitive eating is not an issue of world hunger or starvation; it's like football and the scarcity of grassland. But Kobayashi serving as hunger ambassador would probably be an ironic but perhaps effective campaign.
Sarge
Instead of eating til he burst, Kobayashi just got busted, ha ha!
WMD
Hate to be anywhere in the vicinity of these guys after the contest! They could cause a hurricane in their own right I'm sure!
Raymasaki
Got arrested for just Jumping onstage? Give me a Break. hopefully the JP News will mention many people thought it was unfair. why didnt he perform this Year? enter the Hotdog eating contest?
lemur
Some great comments here, especially those from djuice, cleo, crazygaijin, and gaijinfo.
Personally, I thought the most interesting part of the article was that the first winner, Irishman Jim Mullen, won with a record of 13 hot dogs. I would say 'only 13' but that's twice as many as I could ever eat in ten minutes. 13 is still in the realm of a man with an appetite, but 64, 68, 70? That just boggles the mind.
Sarge
"instead of a contest to see how many hot dogs a person can eat, make it how many people one hot dog can feed"
One hot dog with mustard and sauerkraut can feed one Sarge.
Let's make it a contest to see how many people can come up with ways to feed themselves without depending on handouts from others.
Sarge
Hey, Kobayashi only crashed the Nathan's contest because he was hungry! And the cops wouldn't let him eat! How cruel!
SuperLib
The US should put a curfew on all Japanese Hot Dog eaters in the US to keep the public safe.
ritalynn
That's what I don't get either. he just got onstage. He didn't attack anyone, he didn't say anything, he just got on the stage. I could understand if this was just anyone off the street but it's Kobayashi, it's not as if they didn't know he was.
As for why he didn't compete, MLE wanted him to sigh a contract that would prevent him from entering any contest that wasn't sanctioned by them. Since that would cut into his livelihood plus most of their contests are in the US and he probably does these things all ove the world, that would hurt him in the long run.
Since no one would even know who they were without him, and he fact that I doubt that anyone would even be talking about this contest if he hadn't showed up, I say give him what he wants.
kp123
Hope the judge or DA's throw out the case. Kobayashi may have grievances but needs to be careful in the future as he can potentially be subject to deportation for a misdemeanor and could be placed in detention until such time he is. But, I doubt he will face that prospect. Whether it's feasible for him to do or not, he might consult an attorney to file his grievance against MLE for restraint of trade or whatever reason for his argument.
paulinusa
News Flash: Kobayashi released from jail, says he ate only a bologana sandwich and a glass of milk.
ritalynn
Sounds to me like he just wanted to compete and they wanted to force him to follow their demands.
Some people think they did it on purpose so Chestnut would have a better chance of winning. I wouldn't put it past them, they want Chestnut to be the face of competitive eating, but no one knows who he is outside the sport.
arrestpaul
This is a contract dispute. Eating contests have become big business so agents and lawyers are now running the show. Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest is a registered trademark and part of a franchise of food eating contests. Only contracted "entertainers" are allowed to make an appearance on stage.
Kobayashi refused to sign a contract. His choice. Rushing the stage was a PR stunt. He got a little press coverage but his lawyers still have to negotiate a contract.
lostrune2
If they play this publicity right, Kobayashi may actually become even more popular beyond his sport. Laymen already know of the "Japanese guy" eating hotdogs; now they may remember the name and the face. If so, Kobayashi may command a hefty appearance fee to appear in contests and TV shows et al.
sfjp330
Regardless, Kobayashi is a Japanese citizen. Technically, if Kobayashi is convicted of misdemeanor crime in the U.S., he can be deported. If he leaves the U.S., legally, if govenment want to, they may not allow him back into the U.S. or may be put in a removal proceeding. Result is that he may not be able to enteer and complete in any U.S. events if govenment wants to stick to him. Remember, he is only a guest in the U.S. and should follow the U.S. laws. What a dumb move by Kobayashi.
lillia
awww....:x let him eat
Kevbodian
I guarantee you that Gyal Sone throws up after she eats those huge meals on TV.
Youdontknow
A contest for gluttony....what next?