Joey Chestnut Banned From Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
Imagine the NBA banned Michael Jordan from competing because he signed a sponsorship with a European basketball league. Tom Brady had a deal with the XFL. You get the idea. Well, we are seeing something like that unfold in front of our eyes, as the GEOAT (Greatest Eater of All Time) Joey Chestnut has been banned from the annual Fourth of July Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest as he recently agreed to a deal with a competitor in the field of dogs.
Who could Joey Chestnut possibly have signed a deal with that would get him banned? Impossible Foods.
That’s right. I know this news is hard to swallow, but Chesntut has a sponsorship with a vegan food company. Impossible Foods recently launched their own version of the glorious glizzys Americans demolish during the summertime. Chestnut has won this event 16(!) times, including a winning streak dating all the way back to 2016. Apparently, Chestnut was offered $200,000 last year to compete from MLE (Major League Eating) and a four-year deal at around $1.2 million, according to the New York Post, but could not get past his new dog on the leash.
This is an all-time travesty for those who enjoy watching those who are at the top of their sport compete. The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest is a yearly tradition dating back to 1972, and to see the best to ever do it be banned from the event is a shame. However, there are rumors Joey Chestnut will be competing in a Labor Day hot dog eating event to be aired on Netflix. So if you are into the folks sliding meat down their throat (pause), you might just have to wait a bit longer to see Chestnut compete.
