Like Kramer at Joe’s Fruit Stand, the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest to Joey Chestnut:
First things first: I’m not ruling out that this is a marketing stunt. No one talks about the 4th of July Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest outside of the 10 minutes that it’s on TV on the 4th of July. You know what would get people talking about it when it’s still four weeks away?? Banning the 16-time champ. Not allowing the guy who has won 8 straight contests to participate. So now you’ve generated a little controversy, a little conversation, it’s a trending topic on Twitter with millions of interactions, etc. Again, not ruling it out.
Second things second: If this isn’t a stunt, and they are actually banning Chestnut, then just cancel the whole competition. Joey Chestnut IS the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Watching that man shove dozens of dozens of glizzys down his gullet on America’s birthday is what this country is all about. Even though the founding fathers could not have conceived of a hot dog or a hot dog eating contest, I don’t think they’d be shocked at all that a hot dog eating contest is how we celebrate breaking away from the tyranny of England. No one, and The Rock mean, NO ONE, is going to give a s*** about this contest if Joey Chestnut isn’t in it.
I guess this all stems from some endorsement deal that Chestnut signed with Impossible Meat, and plant based hot dog company*. Get over yourself, Nathan’s. If I’m Impossible Meat, I find a location on Coney Island and start my own eating competition on the 4th of July. Invite all of the other competitive eaters that were going to appear at Nathan’s. If they have a chance to go gut-to-gut with Joey Chestnut and prove they can beat the best, I guarantee you they’ll jump ship from the Nathan’s competition. Before you know it no one is watching the Nathan’s contest and the company folds 6 months later. All because they were angry that Joey Chestnut took some free money. Sad!
*I go back and forth on this part of the story. The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest is Americana. Signing an endorsement deal with a vegan hot dog feels kind of un-American. But taking the highest offer for a sponsorship deal regardless of what company you’re backing IS very American. Tough one.
PS: I think my favorite all time Joey Chestnut moment at this contest is when he put some protestor in a choke hold AND kept shoving hot dogs down his throat.
You’re going to ban this guy from the contest? Get lost.
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