Brooklyn NYC :Tim Janus, 2011 Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog

 
 
 
Brooklyn NYC :Tim Janus, From Afar In  2011 Nathan's Famous International 
Hot Dog Eating Contest 





 
 
 
 

 
 
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    *   _Viadeo_ 
(http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304584004576418010554563624.html#) 






 
 
 
 
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Bensonhurst Brooklyn NYC :The rivalry between legendary  hot dog eaters 
Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi is sizzling up again, with the  two famed 
gluttons coming to head for another July 4 face-off. But unlike year's  past, 
the duo won't be eating at the same table.

Chestnut, the reigning champ and hot dog victor every year since 2007, will 
 defend his Mustard Belt at the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog 
Eating  Contest in Brooklyn, N.Y on July 4.

Meanwhile, Kobayashi will show his stuff on a Manhattan rooftop as the  
Coney Island contest is broadcast behind him.

The strange stunt comes one year after Kobayashi skipped the Nathan's  
Famous competition over a contract dispute with Major League Eating -- the  
organization that hosts most of the world's preeminent eating contests.

But after the competition ended, the Japanese eater rushed the stage and  
was arrested. Charges against the man known as "The Tsunami" were later 
dropped  on the condition that Kobayashi stay out of legal trouble for six 
months, but  Kobayashi and MLE officials have been unable to reconcile their 
differences in  the time since.

Now an eater in exile, Kobayashi intends to put the hot dogs where his  
mouth is and prove he's still a top tier competitive eater in an unsanctioned  
exposition at 230 FIFTH, a rooftop bar.


"He's definitely at the stage where either you win, or you don't win,"  
said retired competitive eater Ed "Cookie" Jarvis. "And when you don't win, you 
 just become another guy."

Chestnut isn't only battling Kobayashi -- he's also battling the record  
books.

The California native recently claimed his body is built to consume 68 HDBs 
 (hot dogs and buns) in 10 minutes.

But the champ, known around the speed eating scene by the nickname "Jaws,"  
is reportedly aiming to shatter that 2009 record by putting away an 
astounding  75 HDBs.

"I strongly believe Joey will break the record of 68 this year," said Major 
 League Eating president George Shea.

All eyes are on Chestnut -- who is so widely considered to be the favorite  
that even sports bookies are putting faith in him.

But some insiders think 2011 might be the year when a seemingly unshakeable 
 stomach gets upset. 

The contest will feature China's first foray into competitive eating, with  
the world's most populous country sending three largely unknown 
challengers.  Competitive eaters are chewing up rumors of their abilities.

The level of skill at the Nathan's Famous competition has greatly improved, 
 as evidenced by the fact that perennial crowd favorites Eric "Badlands" 
Booker  and Crazy Legs Conti failed to qualify.

"It's a real sad day for the hardcore, old school fan," said Shea. "They  
didn't eat fewer. Other people ate more."

Some insiders think this could be the year when skilled eaters like Tim  
"Eater X" Janus or Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti -- the 2nd and 3rd place 
finishers  at last year's competition -- will earn the top slot.

"I am more committed and in better eating shape than I have ever been  
before," Bertoletti told AOL Weird News in the days before the  competition.

The playing field -- err... tablecloth -- is more level than it has been in 
 years, according to Jarvis.

"These guys are bringing their A game," he said. "It only takes one bad  
burp -- believe me, I've had it happen."


 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 




 
 
 
 




 
 
 






















Tim Janus, otherwise known as "Eater X," is one of the  top competitive 
eaters in the world and a competitor in Nathan's hot dog eating  contest at 
Coney Island. He stopped by the Wall Street Journal to explain his  strategy 
for downing dogs and to compete in a one-minute  eat-off.