Empires fall. Castles crumble.
If you can’t beat him, banish him.
Joey Chestnut has been dethroned, not because another mortal could best him in one of America’s great marketing and capitalistic enterprises, but because he dared to defy one of America’s great marketing and capitalistic enterprises by partaking in his own American marketing and capitalistic enterprise.
Chestnut, the 16-time champion — including the last eight consecutive — of the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest has been barred from this year’s competition.
The 40-year-old Californian, who has proven more efficient at eating 100% all-beef hot dogs than any human to ever walk the Earth, has an endorsement deal with Impossible Foods, which happens to produce a 0%-beef hot dog.