The recent canine information from Coney Island is difficult to swallow.
Joey Chestnut, perennial winner of the annual July 4th Nathan’s Sizzling Canine Consuming Competitors, is out of this yr’s beef barf over a deal he made to signify a distinct wiener model, The Publish has realized.
And never simply any model, however Impossible Foods, which lately launched a vegan frankfurter impostor produced from vegetation.
California-born Chestnut has won it 16 times, together with yearly since 2016. He wolfed a world’s file 76 canine and buns in 2021 and stored his title with a paltry 62 down the hatch final yr.
He was anticipated to as soon as once more take his traditional spot for the recent canine contest on the stage on the nook of Stillwell and Surf avenues — one block from the well-known Boardwalk and a Coney Island custom since 1916 — till the surprising meals battle.
A rep for Main League Consuming (MLE), which Nathan’s sanctions to run the occasion, mentioned the organizers bent over backwards to satisfy Chestnut’s numerous calls for. They even agreed to let him take part in a rival Labor Day dog-eating fest to be taped for TV so long as no sizzling canine model was talked about.
However they mentioned they drew the road on letting Chestnut pitch for a distinct sizzling canine model.
A supply mentioned Chestnut was paid $200,000 to look within the Nathan’s contest final yr, and was supplied a $1.2 million, four-year contract going ahead.
“The 2 sides may nonetheless come to a decision earlier than July 4, but it surely is dependent upon Joey,” an insider mentioned.
“He’s the Michael Jordan of aggressive consuming. However think about if Michael Jordan mentioned to Nike, ‘I really like being the face of Nike however I wish to do commercials for Adidas too,” the supply mentioned.
If Chestnut’s out for good, main sportsbook Bovada named Geoffrey Esper, who got here in second final yr for consuming 49 sizzling canine, as this yr’s favourite at -225 odds.
MLE mentioned in a press release: “We’re devastated to be taught that Joey Chestnut has chosen to signify a rival model that sells plant-based sizzling canine moderately than competing within the 2024 Nathan’s Well-known Fourth of July Sizzling Canine Consuming Contest.
“MLE and Nathan’s went to nice lengths in latest months to accommodate Joey and his
administration workforce, agreeing to the looks charge and permitting Joey to compete in a rival,
unbranded sizzling canine consuming contest on Labor Day.
“For almost 20 years we have now labored underneath the identical primary sizzling canine exclusivity provisions. Nonetheless, plainly Joey and his managers have prioritized a brand new partnership with a distinct model over our long-time relationship.
The organizers did depart the door open for Chestnut to as soon as once more compete for Nathan’s championship belt.
“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’s not representing a rival model.”
Neither Chestnut nor his brokers would instantly remark. Not possible Meals didn’t reply both.