Latest news with #'sFamousFourthofJuly
New York Post
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Joey Chestnut reveals his absurd goal for Nathan's hot dog eating contest return
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Though in the case of Joey Chestnut, it may be that absence makes the heart grow hungrier. Chestnut is returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating competition after a dispute relating to a sponsorship deal the famed eater had with a plant-based brand Impossible Foods led him to be barred from last year's competition on the Coney Island boardwalk. Major League Eating and Chestnut announced Monday morning that they thawed out the footlong-sized beef and that the sport's biggest star would be back for this year's contest, taking place in just over two weeks. Joey Chestnut is making his return to the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest this year, with a lofty goal. Paul Martinka 'I guess we learned from our mistakes maybe,' Chestnut said in an interview with TMZ. 'Last year, both sides kind of dug in our heels. I was working with a company they didn't think I should be working with and I said, 'no it wasn't against any part of our old agreements.' We just kind of met in the middle [this year] and I think when communication breaks down, bad things happen. 'We started talking again and we got it figured out.' The Post confirmed last week that the two sides were having conversations over a potential reunion and that other brand deals were not going to be a factor in talks. Chestnut also hinted at that factor in a statement released on Monday morning as part of his post on social media announcing his return to the Nathan's contest. The famed eater admitted to TMZ that it was 'tough' having to watch from the sidelines last year and that 'it kind of sucked that it wasn't my choice' not to be there. Joey Chestnut during the weigh-in ceremony ahead of the 2023 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island. REUTERS 'It kind of makes you hungry,' he said. 'You kind of have to go without something in order to know how much you appreciate it and I'm definitely hungry for this year. Two and a half weeks, I'm going to be putting down some hot dogs.' With Chestnut's return, the competition may be shaking in their buns as the man nicknamed 'Jaws' declared he would be going into the competition looking to 'drop the hammer' and eying to hit the 80-dog mark. It ate a Nathan's record 76 in 2023. Patrick Bertoletti won last year's event in Chestnut's absence by eating 58 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
Winnipeg Free Press
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Joey ‘Jaws' Chestnut to return to Coney Island hotdog eating contest after contract dispute
The champ is coming back to chomp. Competitive eater Joey 'Jaws' Chestnut announced Monday he will return to compete in this year's Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest after skipping last year's gastronomic battle for the coveted Mustard Belt. 'This event means the world to me,' Chestnut, 41, said in a message posted on X. 'It's a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.' It will mark the 20th appearance for the Indiana eater at the Coney Island contest. Last year, Major League Eating event organizer George Shea said Chestnut, who has won the 10-minute eat-a-thon 16 times, would not be participating due to a contract dispute. Chestnut had struck a deal with a competing brand, the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods. In a phone interview Monday, the competitive eater made it clear he never appeared in any commercials for the company's vegan hot dogs and that Nathan's is the only hot dog company he has worked with. But Chestnut acknowledged he 'should have made that more clear with Nathan's.' 'There was a little bit of communication that we could have improved on last year,' he said. 'And I, yeah, I think we figured it out. It took a little bit of finessing.' Chestnut is still working with Impossible Foods and said 'clarifications' have been made to his respective contracts. Richard Shea, president of Major League Eating, said he did not want to rehash what happened last year because he found it 'dispiriting,' but said he's happy 'everything is resolved' now. 'I think it's the return of the greatest competitive eater of all time to the biggest competitive eating event of all time. So I don't think it gets much bigger in any sport,' Shea said. 'I mean, this guy is the greatest performer we've ever seen in Coney Island and in competitive eating.' Chestnut said he heard from fans over the past year who wanted him to return to the Coney Island event, which is broadcast live on ESPN and even shown overseas. Last year, he opted to compete against soldiers in Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas, in a 5-minute hot dog eating contest. Back in New York, Patrick Bertoletti gobbled up 58 hot dogs to win his first men's title while defending champion Miki Sudo won her 10th title in the women's division, downing a record 51 links. Chestnut holds the world record of eating 76 hot dogs. 'Over the last year, I ran into a lot of people who said that it wasn't the same without me. And I told many people that I was going to work really hard to make sure I got back there,' Chestnut said. 'And I'm really happy that Nathan's and Major League Eating, we were able all to figure it out.' Chestnut said he been prepping for the big event and has a couple practice sessions left before the July Fourth holiday. 'My body's in tune right now,' he said, explaining how he has to build tolerance for consuming so many hot dogs and 'get all those muscles used to working together.' He likened the process to boxer getting in practice rounds before a big fight. Chestnut made it clear his business relationship with Impossible Foods does not mean he has become a vegan, an assumption he said some fans made last year. Chestnut said he was surprised by the 'weird blowback' he received about it, explaining he eats a plant-based diet during his recovery from competitive eating events. 'I love meat. I'm going to continue to eat meat. But when I recover from a contest, I have to eat super clean in order to get my body to try to get back to normal,' he said. 'I can't eat pounds of meat every day.'
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joey 'Jaws' Chestnut to return to Coney Island hotdog eating contest after contract dispute
The champ is coming back to chomp. Competitive eater Joey 'Jaws' Chestnut announced Monday he will return to compete in this year's Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest after skipping last year's gastronomic battle for the coveted Mustard Belt. 'This event means the world to me,' Chestnut, 41, said in a message posted on X. 'It's a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.' It will mark the 20th appearance for the Indiana eater at the Coney Island contest. Last year, Major League Eating event organizer George Shea said Chestnut, who has won the 10-minute eat-a-thon 16 times, would not be participating due to a contract dispute. Chestnut had struck a deal with a competing brand, the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods. In a phone interview Monday, the competitive eater made it clear he never appeared in any commercials for the company's vegan hot dogs and that Nathan's is the only hot dog company he has worked with. But Chestnut acknowledged he 'should have made that more clear with Nathan's." 'There was a little bit of communication that we could have improved on last year,' he said. 'And I, yeah, I think we figured it out. It took a little bit of finessing.' Chestnut is still working with Impossible Foods and said 'clarifications' have been made to his respective contracts. Richard Shea, president of Major League Eating, said he did not want to rehash what happened last year because he found it 'dispiriting,' but said he's happy 'everything is resolved' now. 'I think it's the return of the greatest competitive eater of all time to the biggest competitive eating event of all time. So I don't think it gets much bigger in any sport,' Shea said. 'I mean, this guy is the greatest performer we've ever seen in Coney Island and in competitive eating.' Chestnut said he heard from fans over the past year who wanted him to return to the Coney Island event, which is broadcast live on ESPN and even shown overseas. Last year, he opted to compete against soldiers in Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas, in a 5-minute hot dog eating contest. Back in New York, Patrick Bertoletti gobbled up 58 hot dogs to win his first men's title while defending champion Miki Sudo won her 10th title in the women's division, downing a record 51 links. Chestnut holds the world record of eating 76 hot dogs. 'Over the last year, I ran into a lot of people who said that it wasn't the same without me. And I told many people that I was going to work really hard to make sure I got back there,' Chestnut said. 'And I'm really happy that Nathan's and Major League Eating, we were able all to figure it out.' Chestnut said he been prepping for the big event and has a couple practice sessions left before the July Fourth holiday. 'My body's in tune right now,' he said, explaining how he has to build tolerance for consuming so many hot dogs and 'get all those muscles used to working together.' He likened the process to boxer getting in practice rounds before a big fight. Chestnut made it clear his business relationship with Impossible Foods does not mean he has become a vegan, an assumption he said some fans made last year. Chestnut said he was surprised by the 'weird blowback' he received about it, explaining he eats a plant-based diet during his recovery from competitive eating events. 'I love meat. I'm going to continue to eat meat. But when I recover from a contest, I have to eat super clean in order to get my body to try to get back to normal,' he said. 'I can't eat pounds of meat every day.'
Chicago Tribune
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Joey Chestnut to return to Coney Island for hot dog eating contest after contract dispute
The champ is coming back to chomp. Competitive eater Joey 'Jaws' Chestnut announced Monday he will return to compete in this year's Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest after skipping last year's gastronomic battle for the coveted Mustard Belt. 'This event means the world to me,' Chestnut, 41, said in a message posted on X. 'It's a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.' It will mark the 20th appearance for the Indiana eater at the Coney Island contest. Last year, Major League Eating event organizer George Shea said Chestnut, who has won the 10-minute eat-a-thon 16 times, would not be participating due to a contract dispute. Chestnut had struck a deal with a competing brand, the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods. In a phone interview Monday, the competitive eater made it clear he never appeared in any commercials for the company's vegan hot dogs and that Nathan's is the only hot dog company he has worked with. But Chestnut acknowledged he 'should have made that more clear with Nathan's.' 'There was a little bit of communication that we could have improved on last year,' he said. 'And I, yeah, I think we figured it out. It took a little bit of finessing.' Chestnut is still working with Impossible Foods and said 'clarifications' have been made to his respective contracts. Richard Shea, president of Major League Eating, said he did not want to rehash what happened last year because he found it 'dispiriting,' but said he's happy 'everything is resolved' now. 'I think it's the return of the greatest competitive eater of all time to the biggest competitive eating event of all time. So I don't think it gets much bigger in any sport,' Shea said. 'I mean, this guy is the greatest performer we've ever seen in Coney Island and in competitive eating.' Chestnut said he heard from fans over the past year who wanted him to return to the Coney Island event, which is broadcast live on ESPN and even shown overseas. Last year, he opted to compete against soldiers in Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas, in a 5-minute hot dog eating contest. Back in New York, Patrick Bertoletti gobbled up 58 hot dogs to win his first men's title while defending champion Miki Sudo won her 10th title in the women's division, downing a record 51 links. Chestnut holds the world record of eating 76 hot dogs. 'Over the last year, I ran into a lot of people who said that it wasn't the same without me. And I told many people that I was going to work really hard to make sure I got back there,' Chestnut said. 'And I'm really happy that Nathan's and Major League Eating, we were able all to figure it out.' Chestnut said he been prepping for the big event and has a couple practice sessions left before the July Fourth holiday. 'My body's in tune right now,' he said, explaining how he has to build tolerance for consuming so many hot dogs and 'get all those muscles used to working together.' He likened the process to boxer getting in practice rounds before a big fight. Chestnut made it clear his business relationship with Impossible Foods does not mean he has become a vegan, an assumption he said some fans made last year. Chestnut said he was surprised by the 'weird blowback' he received about it, explaining he eats a plant-based diet during his recovery from competitive eating events. 'I love meat. I'm going to continue to eat meat. But when I recover from a contest, I have to eat super clean in order to get my body to try to get back to normal,' he said. 'I can't eat pounds of meat every day.'
Toronto Star
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Joey ‘Jaws' Chestnut to return to Coney Island hotdog eating contest after contract dispute
The champ is coming back to chomp. Competitive eater Joey 'Jaws' Chestnut announced Monday he will return to compete in this year's Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest after skipping last year's gastronomic battle for the coveted Mustard Belt. 'This event means the world to me,' Chestnut, 41, said in a message posted on X. 'It's a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.' It will mark the 20th appearance for the Indiana eater at the Coney Island contest. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Last year, Major League Eating event organizer George Shea said Chestnut, who has won the 10-minute eat-a-thon 16 times, would not be participating due to a contract dispute. Chestnut had struck a deal with a competing brand, the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods. In a phone interview Monday, the competitive eater made it clear he never appeared in any commercials for the company's vegan hot dogs and that Nathan's is the only hot dog company he has worked with. But Chestnut acknowledged he 'should have made that more clear with Nathan's.' 'There was a little bit of communication that we could have improved on last year,' he said. 'And I, yeah, I think we figured it out. It took a little bit of finessing.' Chestnut is still working with Impossible Foods and said 'clarifications' have been made to his respective contracts. Richard Shea, president of Major League Eating, said he did not want to rehash what happened last year because he found it 'dispiriting,' but said he's happy 'everything is resolved' now. 'I think it's the return of the greatest competitive eater of all time to the biggest competitive eating event of all time. So I don't think it gets much bigger in any sport,' Shea said. 'I mean, this guy is the greatest performer we've ever seen in Coney Island and in competitive eating.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Chestnut said he heard from fans over the past year who wanted him to return to the Coney Island event, which is broadcast live on ESPN and even shown overseas. Last year, he opted to compete against soldiers in Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas, in a 5-minute hot dog eating contest. Back in New York, Patrick Bertoletti gobbled up 58 hot dogs to win his first men's title while defending champion Miki Sudo won her 10th title in the women's division, downing a record 51 links. Chestnut holds the world record of eating 76 hot dogs. 'Over the last year, I ran into a lot of people who said that it wasn't the same without me. And I told many people that I was going to work really hard to make sure I got back there,' Chestnut said. 'And I'm really happy that Nathan's and Major League Eating, we were able all to figure it out.' Chestnut said he been prepping for the big event and has a couple practice sessions left before the July Fourth holiday. 'My body's in tune right now,' he said, explaining how he has to build tolerance for consuming so many hot dogs and 'get all those muscles used to working together.' He likened the process to boxer getting in practice rounds before a big fight. Chestnut made it clear his business relationship with Impossible Foods does not mean he has become a vegan, an assumption he said some fans made last year. Chestnut said he was surprised by the 'weird blowback' he received about it, explaining he eats a plant-based diet during his recovery from competitive eating events. 'I love meat. I'm going to continue to eat meat. But when I recover from a contest, I have to eat super clean in order to get my body to try to get back to normal,' he said. 'I can't eat pounds of meat every day.'
