Japanese gluttony champion Takeru Kobayashi is facing a New York judge today following his arrest over the July 4th weekend for crashing the eating contest where he was once king.
A judge in Brooklyn court said Thursday that the case will purged from Kobayashi's record if he stays out of trouble for six months.
The slim, boyish 32-year-old champ arrived at court in a dark suit --a stark contrast to his jail attire, a black T-shirt bearing the message "Free Kobi'' in green letters.
A contract dispute had kept him out of the annual Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, but he showed up anyway.
"I was there as a spectator just to cheer on my buddies,'' he said through an interpreter last month. Fans chanted for him, and "in the heat of it, I jumped on the stage, hoping they would let me eat.''
His attorney, Mario D. Romano, said his client was waved up onstage after spectators began chanting ``Let him eat!'' "Shortly after he got on the stage, he was grabbed from behind by officers,'' Romano said.
Kobayashi had been charged with obstruction of governmental administration, resisting arrest, trespassing and disorderly conduct.
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Kobayashi, who lives in New York, had refused to sign a contract with Major League Eating, the fast food equivalent of the NFL. On his Japanese-language blog, he said he wanted to be free to enter contests sanctioned by other groups.
Joey "Jaws'' Chestnut, of San Jose, Calif., won by downing 54 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
After witnessing the drama, Chestnut said, "I feel bad for him.''
Chestnut claimed the mustard-yellow champion's belt and a $20,000 purse but was disappointed with his own performance. The 26-year-old was aiming for a record 70 dogs in 10 minutes. Last year, he ate 68 dogs, four more than Kobayashi.
Major League Eating had called Kobayashi's actions "inappropriate and unfortunate.''
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