Joey Chestnut defended his title as the champion hot dog eater at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York.

But it was a win without greatness because the former champ, Takeru Kobayashi did not compete. Chestnut took the crown in 2007  from Kobayashi, a six-time winner and never relinquished it.

Chew cam captures Chestnut’s word record of 68 hot dogs and buns

The men pushed each other to historic heights, culminating in 2009 when Chestnut consumed 68 hot dogs and buns.  This year, Chestnut who had predicted a new record, had to make due with a total of only 54.

Kobayashi in contract dispute with Major League Eating

Kobayashi’s absence became a discussion point among fans more than a week ago when it was reported that he was in a contract dispute with the sanctioning body of competitive eating, Major League Eating (MLE).

When people say it’s not about the money, you know it’s about the money. Chestnut’s competitive eating career reportedly pays him nearly $150,000 a year and it’s climbing.

Kobayashi came on the scene and took circuit by storm. Before he started competing at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, the winners were consuming fewer than 30 hot dogs and buns.

Kobayashi set a record of more than 50 in his first year and ramped it up from there. When Chestnut wrested the crown from Kobayashi he consumed 66 dogs and buns and never looked back.

First ever Chew-Off, in 2008, Chestnut won in over-time

Just prior to the start of the contest, the ESPN cameras caught glimpse of Kobayashi in the crowd. He was there but not on the stage. It’s unclear who he was rooting for.

Today’s competitors tried to keep up for the first few minutes and their consumption per minute was not far off Chestnut’s pace. But by the half-way mark, Chestnut’s training and experience took over.

His nearest competitor, a man known as Eater-X, reached a total of 45, with the third place finisher, Pat Bertoletti consuming 37 hot dogs and buns.

Competitive eating champions exercise their jaw with gum chewing and other exercises. They work with doctors to prepare their stomachs for the influx of food.

Chestnut reportedly starts expanding his stomach a month prior to the Nathan’s contest, by drinking massive amounts of liquids.

Used with permission of the author.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

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