Nathan’s jobbed GOAT Joey Chestnut, but he’ll always have Ole Miss and the ‘Grove Bowl Games’
The Grove Bowl Games could be the last hot-dog-eating contest of consequence for a while for GOAT Joey Chestnut.
Chestnut, nicknamed ‘Jaws,’ has won the annual July 4th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition every year since 2016. He has 16 all-time wins.
However, Major League Eating announced Tuesday Chestnut is banned from defending his title this year due to a sponsor conflict. Chestnut reportedly agreed to a deal with Impossible Foods last year.
Impossible Foods makes plant-based hot dogs.
“It would be like Michael Jordan saying to Nike, ‘I’m going to represent Adidas, too,’” MLE event organizer George Shea told ESPN.
Chestnut owns the Top 10 performances in the history of the Nathan’s competition. He downed a record 76 hot dogs and buns in 2021. Chestnut housed 62 last year.
“I love competing in that event,” Chestnut said in a statement. “I love celebrating America with my fans … and I’ve been training to defend my title.
“Sadly, this is the decision Nathan’s and Major League Eating are making, and it will deprive the great fans of the holiday’s usual joy and entertainment.”
Ole Miss went in a markedly different direction this year for its annual end-of-spring-football event.
Now-fifth-year head coach Lane Kiffin — mostly in an effort to avoid player injuries — opted against the usual team-wide, game-like scrimmage.
The Rebels instead rolled out a festival-like afternoon with carnival games for fans inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Chestnut and his hot dogs were among the draws, as were slam-dunk and tug-of-war contests and a 7-on-7 flag football game.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Dylan Raiola injury
Nebraska QB will play vs. USC
- 2
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 3New
SEC changes course
Alcohol sales at SEC Championship Game
- 4
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
- 5Trending
Dan Lanning
Oregon coach getting NFL buzz
Chestnut helped Blue team get a win in breezing through 20 hot dogs in 90 seconds. Third-year starting quarterback Jaxson Dart and Red team were victorious on the overall day, however.
“I saw a message request (on ‘X’, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter), and I was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s really Lane Kiffin,” Chestnut said previously, when asked how his ‘Guest of Honor’ duties came about.
“I was like, ‘Yeah, I can shovel around some things and be free (for the Games).”
North of 10,000 fans showed up to cheer on Chestnut and the Rebels.
“I really felt this way as a young kid with NBA basketball and going down to the front row for warm ups and being like, ‘Wow, these guys are way bigger and more impressive in person,’” Kiffin said, in describing his first-hand account of Chestnut’s skills.
“I felt like it was like that. Unless you’re close up, it’s a whole ‘nother animal.”
Chestnut got his start in competitive eating back in 2005 when he was a student at San Jose State. He won a title eating 6.3 pounds of deep-fried asparagus in 11.5 minutes.
“For everybody out there, don’t quit the first time,” Kiffin said back in April. “Joey lost his first eating competition. He lost a lobster competition and stayed with it.
“So, like Michael Jordan didn’t make varsity and he got cut, Joey Chestnut lost the eating competition.”
