AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Kobayashi lost to Chestnut the past two years and all he got was this lousy (now ironic) t-shirt.

The 2010 Nathan's Famous July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest suffered a huge blow, and no, we're not talking about the vuvuzela ban. Richard Shea, president of Major League Eating, released a statement that six-time holder of the Yellow Belt Takeru Kobayashi won't be participating in this year's event. While the official word was "contract negotiations have reached an impasse," we're hoping that Japan's finest can find a way to work out his dispute before the contest starts. Maybe the International Federation of Competitive Eating is refusing to cover his jaw insurance, or he feels the event's co-sponsorship with Pepto-Bismol is tarnishing the image of the game. Three-time champion Joey Chestnut says he'll be raedy with or without the Japanese eating machine. "I'll smile if he shows up," Chestnut said. "And I'll be prepared." That said, if Kobayashi remains a spectator, here's how the rest of the field of contenders stacks up:


1. Joey Chestnut
The 26-year-old defending champion beat his own world record last year by consuming 68 hot dog and buns in 10 minutes, and is the only competitor to defeat Kobayashi in Nathan's Hot Dog Eating competition. Definitely the frontrunner to repeat.

2. Joey Chestnut
A native of Vallejo, CA he out-scarfed No. 4 ranked Pat Bertoletti in the PIZZA HUT CHOW-Lenge. His two-slices-in-1o-second first bite is probably the deadliest opening move in the game.

3. Joey Christian Chestnut
This San Jose State engineering student holds a plethora of world records in competitive eating, including pork ribs and chicken wings. His unofficial record for drinking a gallon of milk? 40 seconds.

4. Joey "Jaws" Chestnut
A 6-foot-tall , 218-pound metabolic wonder, Chestnut can down 380 shrimp wontons in eight minutes. That's more than 15 pounds of meat and dumpling dough.

5. Sonya Thom ... just kidding, Joey Chestnut
Who were you expecting, Badlands Booker or Cookie Jarvis?