Kobayashi's Injury and CE's Big Weekend

The rematch between Joey Chestnut and the Japanese champ, Takeru Kobayashi--the one that has been hyped since the closing minutes of last year's hot dog competition--may not happen this year. First, rumors were swirling that Kobayashi might not compete due to the recent passing of his mother. Then came word that the eating athlete had contracted some type of jaw arthritis. Though he seems determined to get better in time for the competitions, he admits that it hurts him to open his jaw more than a just a little bit, and likens the condition to tennis elbow.

The competitive eating community's reaction has been mixed about this announcement. While some have offered sympathy and concern for the star, others are speculating that it is a manufactured diversion, an excuse for Kobayashi not to beat Joey. Of course, this latter thinking is most likely the result of a shocked community. Though many people have been eagerly anticipating the championship that would bring the Mustard Yellow Belt back to the States, the thought that Joey would do it without a fight to the finish with Kobayashi at his side has everyone down.

This new comes on the tail end of what was a rather exciting weekend in competitive eating. Pat Philbin ("Pat from Moonachie") won the Molly Pitcher qualifier for the second year in a row, with 24 HDBs. Allen "The Shredder" Goldstein, who made it to the finals last year, was hot on his trail, but couldn't catch up enough to pull ahead for the win.

The Atlanta Zoo qualifier held a surprise for most fans when competitive eating bad boy Dale Boone won with 21 HDBs. Boone is a curious character, who was banned from the IFOCE and then reinstated. He spent time in India before returning to the states to continue his eating career. This will be his first trip to the big table since 2004.

On the west coast, Rich LeFevre finally won his qualifier in San Francisco. After being beaten out in two other qualifiers by Pat and Joey, despite putting up record numbers, this last qualifier must come as a relief to the 64-year-old eating pro. With his traveling and winning finally behind him, he can go into this final week with his mind at ease.

Back on the east coast, there was a departure from hot dogs, as handfuls of amateur and pro eaters competed with shoo fly pie (a heavy molasses-based pie with a crumb topping). The title for this sweet concoction once belonged to Tim "Eater X" Janus, but it was taken from him last year by "Humble" Bob Shoudt. This year, Bob would have to defer to Pat Bertoletti, who smashed the previous record of 9.25 pounds of pie by almost 2 pounds to win with an astounding 11.1 pounds.

And in what would certainly be the weirdest competition of the weekend (if not the year), several top eaters gobbled up pigs' feet in Rutherford, NJ. Arturo "The Natural" Rios won with 2.875 pounds of the cold trotters, and Erik "The Red" Denmark followed with 1.875 pounds for second place. Crazy Legs came in third with 1.187, and Pat Philbin--who was coerced up on stage--picked at a couple, somewhat unwillingly. Erik "The Red" described a foot as a "cold mass of bone, skin and chewy meat." Mmmm!

This week will bring a close to the Nathan's qualifiers, with three more official competitions.