ESPN's Next 30 For 30 Takes On Kobayashi-Chestnut Hot Dog Rivalry
Frazier-Ali. Palmer-Nicklaus. Kobayashi-Chestnut. Within the paragon of great personal sports rivalries, surely competitive eating's now decade-long duel for devouring dominance belongs near the top. The story of Japan's Takeru Kobayashi and America's Joey Chestnut will finally get the legitimatizing documentary it deserves when ESPN's celebrated 30 For 30 series spotlight the two champions in a new episode airing July 2.
In our next film, we dig into one of the biggest rivalries in sports: Kobayashi vs. Chestnut.
"The Good, The Bad, The Hungry" premieres July 2 on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/Iuuecb66DH
— 30 for 30 (@30for30) May 29, 2019
"The Good, The Bad, The Hungry" will debut July 2 at 8 p.m. Eastern, just two days before the annual July 4 Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest airs on ESPN2, and will also stream live on ESPN.com. A one-minute teaser for the episode highlights the lengths these competitors went to in preparation for their face-offs: Kobayashi faces off against a grizzly; Chestnut practices jaw exercises with a stress ball. The rivalry seems genuine. "I realized that I hate him," Chestnut says in a voice-over.
It should provide fascinating background for the annual hot-dog eating contest, where this year's over-under is set at 73.5.