Former champion Takeru Kobayashi (R) and reigning champion Joey Chestnut look on at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest official weigh-in ceremony July 2, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Posted: Thursday, 02 July 2009 5:13PM
Competitors Weigh-In for Nathan's 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- "In this contest it's wiener takes all," New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at the official weigh-in for the annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest.
Former champion Takeru Kobayashi and reigning champion Joey Chestnut were both on hand at the official weigh-in ceremony in Herald Square Thursday.
Chestnut says he feels like he could pull off another win this year and is shooting to wolf down 70 dogs Saturday at the 94th annual hot dog eating contest at Coney Island.
Chestnut defeated arch rival Kobayashi of Japan in an overtime battle last year by consuming 64 hot dogs.
Kobayashi says he feels good after recovering from a recent jaw injury.
Competitor 400-pound Eric "Badlands" Booker of Selden told 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck his strategy to get the win this weekend. "I try to block everything out, I try not to think about the crowd or competitors next to me."
If you want to see who wins the coveted yellow mustard belt, the competition kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the original Nathan's hot dog stand on the corner of Stillwell and Surf Avenues.
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