A year ago former champion Takeru Kobayashi tried to rush the stage at the 2010 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest and was subsequently arrested. Kobayashi has been locked in a contract dispute with Major League Eating for over a year now, which resulted in his exclusion from last year's contest and is likely going to keep him out of this year's contest.
However, that won't stop Kobayashi from attempting to make a splash anyway. While the 2011 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest goes on at Coney Island, Kobayashi will be on the roof of Manhattan bar 230 FIFTH unofficially competing via satellite. As the contest starts he will compete against the participants eating the same Nathan's Famous hot dogs and buns and attempt to defeat them. Although Major League Eating has stated they will not acknowledge whether he wins or loses, a Kobayashi victory would likely raise the stakes on his rivalry with San Jose resident Joey Chestnut.
The competition has gotten at least a little interesting for Kobayashi as Jose Cuervo has said that if Kobayashi wins they will offer him an all expenses paid trip to its historic Tequila distillery, La Rojena, located in the heart of Mexico's Tequila region. Additionally, Cuervo will immortalize him with a customized bottle of Especial Gold that dons his image on the label.
Joey Chestnut had an amusing response to Jose Cuervo's press release:
Another reason I won't drink their gut-rot tequila http://t.co/0c1avJiless than a minute ago via Twitter for Android 
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Joey Chestnut
joeyjaws