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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2007 | ODD NEWS | WWW.KANSAN.COM THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN | 21
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Takeru Kobayashi shoves hot dogs in his mouth during last year's Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition in New York. Kobayashi, the six-time champion of the annual Fourth of July contest, may be sidelined by an arthritic jaw.
Injured jaw may sideline hot dog champ Kobayashi says he may sit out Fourth of July contest in N.Y.
TOKYO — The competitive eating world is already chewing on this bit of breaking news: The champ may not be able to chomp.
Takeru Kobayashi of Japan, the sixtime champion of the annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, may be sidelined for next week's event by an arthritic jaw.
Last year, the 165-pound Kobayashi won his sixth straight Yellow Mustard Belt at the Independence Day competition in Coney Island, N.Y., by devouring a then-world record 53 3/4 frankfurters in 12 minutes.
That mark was smashed earlier this month by Joey Chestnut of San Jose,
Calif., who gobbled up 59 1/2 hot dogs and buns at the Southwest Regional Hot Dog Eating Championship at the Arizona Mills Mall in suburban Tempe, Ariz., _ one of the qualifying events for Coney Island.
Chestnut nearly beat Kobayashi in 2006, downing 52 hot dogs and buns at the contest, which is sponsored by Nathan's Famous Inc.
But Kobayashi, 29, may not be able to defend his title. Earlier this week, he said on his Web site that his "jaw has abandoned the frontline" during his training.
"Already I can't open my jaws more than just a little bit" he wrote. "There's
no pain only if I open my mouth about enough for one finger. More than that is painful and I can't open it."
A specialist diagnosed him with arthritis of the jaw, he wrote.
"To tell the truth, I'm desperate about healing completely before the July 4 contest," he said, adding that he had begun receiving treatment at a hospital and from a chiropractor.
On Tuesday, his United Food Fighters Organization said on his Web site that Kobayashi has found a doctor he can trust and was "creating an environment in which he can dedicate himself to healing"
KANSANCLASSIFIEDS
Associated Press
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Gator pulls golfer into pond
VENICE, Fla. — A man who lost his ball in a golf course pond nearly lost a limb when a nearly 11-foot alligator latched on to his arm and pulled him in the water, authorities said.
The alligator latched on to Burger's right forearm and pulled him in the pond, said Gary Morse, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Burger used his left arm to beat the reptile until it freed him.
"I saw him reach down to get his ball and he yelled for help," said Janet Pallo, who was playing the fifth hole and ran over to drive the man to the clubhouse.
Bruce Burger, 50, was trying to retrieve his ball Monday from a pond on the sixth hole at the Lake Venice Golf Club.
Burger, from Lenoir City, Tenn., was taken to a hospital but was not seriously injured, Morse said Tuesday.
It took seven Fish and Wildlife officers an hour to trap the one-yed alligator, which measured 10 feet, 11 inches, Morse said.
The pond at the sixth hole has a "Beware of Alligator" sign.
"Unfortunately, that's part of Florida," course general manager Rod Parry said. "There's wildlife in these ponds."
Associated Press