Kobayashi always wins. Has for the last four or so years. This was supposed to be Joey Chestnut's year. He broke the champ's record for hot dog eating earlier in the year and heading into The Nathan's contest. The big event of the year he had Kobayashi's number. This was going to be it.

    Then Kobayashi, perhaps smelling defeat came down with arthritis of the jaw and pulled out of the contest. He claims his injury is legit but many have their doubts. Chestnut while practically a shoe in for the gold will not claim the one thing that has eluded him so far, a win over Kobayashi.

    Chestnut, a student at San Jose state is 23 years old, 6ft tall and weighs in at a hefty 230 pounds. He holds records for...

• Asparagus: 8.6 pounds Tempura Deep Fried Asparagus Spears/ Stockton Asparagus Fest / 10 minutes/ Apr. 28, 2007

• Chicken Wings, 12 minutes: 7.5 lbs Buffalo Chicken Wings / 12 minutes/ May 21, 2007

• Chicken Wings, Long form: 182 chicken wings / 30 minutes

• Grilled Cheese Sandwiches: 47 grilled cheese sandwiches / 10 Minutes/ June 10, 2006

• Gyoza: 212 chicken and vegetable gyoza/Nisei Week / 10 minutes/Aug. 19, 2006

• Horseshoe Sandwiches: 6 lbs, 5 oz horseshoe sandwiches / 12 minutes

• Hot Dogs: 59.5 Nathan's Hot Dogs and Buns / 12 minutes/ June 2, 2007

• Pork Ribs: 8.4 pounds pork rib meat/ Chinook Winds Casino / 12 minutes/ July 16, 2006

• Pork, Pulled: 9 Pounds, 6 Ounces Smoked, Pulled Pork/ Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs / 10 Minutes/ Sept. 16, 2006

• Waffles: 18.5 Waffles (8 oz.)/ Waffle House / 10 Minutes, 23 seconds/ Sept. 3, 2006

    Chestnut trains by eating chili fries. He can pack down 4 lbs in a minute. That's gross. I wonder why I think that this is any grosser then the other stuff that he's done. Chili Fries are gnarly though. Out of all that stuff up there I think that the asparagus is the worst. That's a true test of his skill. Joey Chestnut is the man. He is for sure going to win this year's Nathan's contest.



    It really sucks though that he won't get to get up into the champ's business. Maybe this will work out with like Chestnut winning this year and Kobayashi coming back next year, a triumphant return from arthritis to challenge the NEW KING of eating JOEY CHESTNUT! See, he even has it so that if and prolly when, he loses that match he already has an excuse. The arthritis. It's good booking.

    This years contest is good but I think that the real show is going to be next year. Not to say that you should miss this Wed's edition. It's a intrigal part of the longer storyline. This is gonna be fun. What I have down below for you is a little video of our boy Joey breaking the weiner record. It's kinda gross. I figure he'll die young.