ILS1
07-04-2007, 08:58 AM
Even Vegas has chimed in. They have Chestnut as the favorite. It will on live on ESPN @ 11 a.m. today!!!
NEW YORK -- They stood toe to toe, eye to eye, and -- most importantly -- jaw to injured jaw.
Six-time defending champion Takeru Kobayashi, still unable to open his mouth wide enough for a typical teeth cleaning, joined favorite Joey Chestnut at a Tuesday weigh-in before their Fourth of July hot dog eating showdown in Coney Island.
The Japanese title holder declared himself ready to gorge, dismissing suggestions by skeptics that his stiff jaw was nothing more than hot dog head games aimed at rattling world record holder Chestnut.
"I don't care what they think," the 29-year-old said through an interpreter. "I just want to battle tomorrow."
Since going public with his ailment last month, Kobayashi underwent treatment by a specialist and a chiropractor. Event organizers said he also had a wisdom tooth extracted June 26 to relieve what they described as "jaw-thritis."
Commander-in-'Beef'
Takeru Kobayashi set a world record last year at the Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest, only to see Joey Chestnut shatter his mark by eating 59½ earlier this year. Kobayashi will try to hold off Chestnut at Nathan's on Wednesday.
Kobayashi's winning marks since 2001 Year Hot dogs eaten
2006 53¾
2005 49
2004 53½
2003 44½
2002 50½
2001 50
The slender Kobayashi weighed in at 154 pounds. Chestnut, 23, came in at 215 pounds and added his voice to those unsure what to expect from the champion. "Kobayashi is the underdog," he said, "and he's claiming an illness."
The two are among 17 contestants preparing for Wednesday's eat-off, where the winner must consume the most HDBs (hot dogs and buns). Last month, Chestnut eclipsed Kobayashi's mark of 53¾ in 12 minutes by inhaling 59½.
Urged by photographers to open wide on Tuesday, Kobayashi displayed less than a full range of mandible motion.
That could be good news for Chestnut, 23, who's favored to end Kobayashi's record run as holder of the mustard yellow belt presented each Fourth of July outside Nathan's Famous. Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced the pair before they stepped on the scales and engaged in a stare down at City Hall Park.
"Many times ... in the annals of sports, the eyes of the world have turned to our great city to watch worthy adversaries square off," said Bloomberg, tongue in cheek. "What comes to mind is Ali and Frazier, the Yankees and the Mets, the Post and the Daily News."
And, this year, Kobayashi and Chestnut.
:D :D
NEW YORK -- They stood toe to toe, eye to eye, and -- most importantly -- jaw to injured jaw.
Six-time defending champion Takeru Kobayashi, still unable to open his mouth wide enough for a typical teeth cleaning, joined favorite Joey Chestnut at a Tuesday weigh-in before their Fourth of July hot dog eating showdown in Coney Island.
The Japanese title holder declared himself ready to gorge, dismissing suggestions by skeptics that his stiff jaw was nothing more than hot dog head games aimed at rattling world record holder Chestnut.
"I don't care what they think," the 29-year-old said through an interpreter. "I just want to battle tomorrow."
Since going public with his ailment last month, Kobayashi underwent treatment by a specialist and a chiropractor. Event organizers said he also had a wisdom tooth extracted June 26 to relieve what they described as "jaw-thritis."
Commander-in-'Beef'
Takeru Kobayashi set a world record last year at the Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest, only to see Joey Chestnut shatter his mark by eating 59½ earlier this year. Kobayashi will try to hold off Chestnut at Nathan's on Wednesday.
Kobayashi's winning marks since 2001 Year Hot dogs eaten
2006 53¾
2005 49
2004 53½
2003 44½
2002 50½
2001 50
The slender Kobayashi weighed in at 154 pounds. Chestnut, 23, came in at 215 pounds and added his voice to those unsure what to expect from the champion. "Kobayashi is the underdog," he said, "and he's claiming an illness."
The two are among 17 contestants preparing for Wednesday's eat-off, where the winner must consume the most HDBs (hot dogs and buns). Last month, Chestnut eclipsed Kobayashi's mark of 53¾ in 12 minutes by inhaling 59½.
Urged by photographers to open wide on Tuesday, Kobayashi displayed less than a full range of mandible motion.
That could be good news for Chestnut, 23, who's favored to end Kobayashi's record run as holder of the mustard yellow belt presented each Fourth of July outside Nathan's Famous. Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced the pair before they stepped on the scales and engaged in a stare down at City Hall Park.
"Many times ... in the annals of sports, the eyes of the world have turned to our great city to watch worthy adversaries square off," said Bloomberg, tongue in cheek. "What comes to mind is Ali and Frazier, the Yankees and the Mets, the Post and the Daily News."
And, this year, Kobayashi and Chestnut.
:D :D