DAILY DIRT: Hot dog! Chestnut, Kobyashi set for showdown on Netflix

War of words continues between Chestnut, Major League Eating; New York mayor tells Nathan’s and MLE to “stop being such weenies”…. Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 983 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Fans of Joey Chestnut can relax. 

The Associated Press is reporting that the man with arguably the most famous appetite ever, Chestnut, will be putting his talents on display after all.

When organizers of Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest said last week that Chestnut wouldn’t compete this year because of a deal with a rival brand, Netflix swooped in and helped create a new hot dog-eating competition that will feature Chestnut and his “fiercest rival.”

Chestnut, a 16-time hot dog-eating champion, will square off with his one-time frequent Nathan’s competitor, Takeru Kobayashi, in a live Netflix special on Sept. 2. The two legends have not met face to face since 2009.

The contest, titled “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef,” will feature the two chowing down on all-beef hot dogs, likely in a nod to reports that Chestnut’s rival brand deal is with Impossible Foods, which makes plant-based hot dogs.

Major League Eating, the organization that oversees the Nathan’s contest, had earlier announced that Chestnut’s deal was an “exclusivity” issue, saying that it was his decision to step back from the competition he has participated in since 2005. 

“We love him. The fans love him,” said George Shea, a Major League Eating event organizer, adding: “He made the choice.”

Chestnut, 40, disputed that he made the decision, saying on social media that Nathan’s and Major League Eating made the decision, adding that it would “deprive fans of the holiday’s usual joy and entertainment.”

He also wrote that fans could “rest assured” that they would see him eat again soon, adding: “STAY HUNGRY!”

Impossible Foods has not confirmed a formal relationship with Chestnut, but he said in a statement that the company supports his choice to compete in any competition, adding “Meat eaters shouldn’t have to be exclusive to just one wiener.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams joined the social media conversation, urging Nathan’s and Major League Eating to “stop being such weenies.”

2. Did you know (Part 41)

• That the top three songs on the Billboard Hot 100 40 years ago today were: “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper, “The Reflex” by Duran Duran and “Let’s Heat It For The Boy” by Deniece Williams.
• That Meat Loaf was considered for a role in “Animal House” before it was awarded to John Belushi. 
• That Ric Flair and John Cena are tied for the most professional world championship reigns (recognized by the WWE) with 16.
• That sharks get a warning when Chuck Norris is on the beach.
• That the Indiana Fever’s 91-83 victory over the Chicago Sky last Sunday was the WNBA’s most-watched game in 23 years, CBS has announced. The game featured 2024 first overall pick Caitlin Clark of the Fever and No. 7 overall pick Angel Reese of the Sky. The contest averaged 2.25 million viewers, with a high of 3 million viewers.

3. There were some excellent entries in this week’s Great Plate Debate, both via email and text, plus random spottings by our crack Daily Dirt staff across West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri.

Although none of the license plates were able to unearth current medal winners, these were the best received over the past seven days:

• BTR SWT 1
• GOOSE 74
• MRS BG 10
• Q JEEP 4
• WYNBUG
• BE HAP E 2
• VOLS 17
• GRN NAN 1
• FINK X 2
• DOWN
• QY BEAR 1

… and the medal winners remain:

Gold medal: U DRUNK

Silver medal: CO XIST

Bronze medal:  US-MALE

Steve Thought O’ The Day — It was 60 years, right about this time of the year, that the Cardinals traded journeyman starter Ernie Broglio to the Cubs for a young outfielder named Lou Brock. The rest, as they say, is history.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Lou Brock took the very first at-bat when young Bobby Gough began playing Strat-O-Matic Baseball in 1980.