The surprising ban of Joey Chestnut from the Nathan’s Sizzling Canine Consuming Contest this yr has despatched his competitors right into a frenzy, with many backing the 16-time champion.
That included Geoff Esper, the 2023 runner-up to Chestnut, who instructed TMZ Sports activities that the 2024 contest winner could have an asterisk subsequent to their title as a result of the reigning champion gained’t be capable to compete.
“100% there’s gonna be an enormous asterisk on that,” Esper mentioned. “Like two or three years in the past, I mentioned, ‘Nicely, even when I do win it as a result of Joey’s not there, there’s gonna be an asterisk.’ I’ll admit that to anyone.”
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Joey Chestnut, proper, and Geoff Esper eat burritos in the course of the World Burrito Consuming Contest on the Beer Backyard in Deer District in Milwaukee on April 6, 2023. (IMAGN)
Esper’s response simply exhibits the respect the aggressive consuming group has for Chestnut, who’s reportedly being barred after signing a cope with Not possible Meals, a rival of Nathan’s that just lately launched a vegan wiener, per the New York Submit.
It’s additionally price noting that the gang current at Coney Island for the festivities, in addition to these watching from house, watch the occasion as a result of Chestnut is competing.
“I don’t know what it’s going to be like this yr with out him there,” Esper defined. “I used to be there the yr he misplaced to Matt Stonie, and that was loopy. I feel it’s going to be a completely completely different contest. He’s normally the final one launched, he comes out, it’s an enormous present, and now we have time to prepare. I don’t know what they’re planning.”
JOEY CHESTNUT BREAKS SILENCE AFTER LEARNING HE CANNOT COMPETE IN 2024 HOT DOG EATING CONTEST
The one caveat to no Chestnut within the discipline? The competition is completely up for grabs, and Esper believes it might come all the way down to the wire.
“I feel it is perhaps much more thrilling this yr due to how shut the 4 of us are to the successful quantity,” he defined. “The successful quantity just isn’t going to be within the 70s, however it would possibly come all the way down to the final second.”
Esper added that he can be extra nervous than regular this yr.
Main League Consuming launched a press release concerning Chestnut being barred from the competition.
“We’re devastated to study that Joey Chestnut has chosen to symbolize a rival model that sells plant-based scorching canines fairly than competing within the 2024 Nathan’s Well-known Fourth of July Sizzling Canine Consuming Contest,” the MLE mentioned in a press release.
Joey Chestnut stuffs his mouth in the course of the Nathan’s Well-known scorching canine consuming contest, July 4, 2019, in New York’s Coney Island. (AP Picture/Sarah Stier, File)
MLE additionally famous that it allowed Chestnut to take part in a contest that rivals Nathan’s on Labor Day, and it is going to be broadcast on Netflix. Chestnut was reported to have acquired $200,000 for showing in final yr’s competitors, and was provided a four-year, $1.2 million deal.
Nonetheless, he determined to advertise Not possible Meals as an alternative.
“MLE and Nathan’s went to nice lengths to accommodate Joey and his administration group, agreeing to the looks payment and permitting Joey to compete in a rival, unbranded scorching canine consuming contest on Labor Day,” the league continued.
“Joey Chestnut is an American hero. We might love nothing greater than to have him on the Nathan’s Well-known Worldwide Sizzling Canine Consuming Contest. We hope he returns when he isn’t representing a rival model.”
Not possible Meals chimed in.
Aggressive eater Joey Chestnut poses together with his mustard yellow championship belt throughout a sport between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Ball State Cardinals at Sanford Stadium on Sept. 9, 2023, in Athens, Georgia. (Brandon Sloter/Picture Of Sport/Getty Photos)
“We love Joey and help him in any contest he chooses,” the corporate mentioned. “It is OK to experiment with a brand new canine. Meat eaters should not need to be unique to only one wiener.”
Chestnut, who ate 62 scorching canines, together with the buns, final yr to defend his title, would later break his silence on the matter.
“I used to be gutted to study from the media that after 19 years Im [sic] banned from the Nathan’s July 4th Sizzling Canine Consuming Contest,” Chestnut wrote. “I like competing in that occasion, I like celebrating America with my followers throughout this nice nation on the 4th and I’ve been coaching to defend my title.
“To set the report straight, I wouldn’t have a contract with MLE or Nathans they usually want to change the foundations from previous years because it pertains to different companions I can work with. That is apparently the idea on which I’m being banned, and it doesn’t influence the July 4th occasion.
“Sadly, that is the choice Nathan’s and Main League Consuming are making, and it’ll deprive the good followers of the vacation’s regular pleasure and leisure. To my followers, I like you and recognize you. Relaxation assured that you just’ll see me eat once more quickly!! STAY HUNGRY!”
Joey Chestnut attends a weigh-in ceremony earlier than the Nathan’s Well-known scorching canine consuming contest, July 3, 2023, in New York. (AP Picture/John Minchillo)
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Chestnut is taken into account the best of all time in aggressive consuming, as he holds quite a few different world data within the sport. He has gained each Nathan’s contest since 2007, aside from one, which Esper talked about with the Stonie upset in 2015.
Chestnut holds the world report with 76 scorching canines and buns consumed, which got here in 2021.
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