Kobayashi Didn't Beat Joey Chestnut In Hot Dog Eating Competition

Sure, Takeru Kobayashi may have been banned from Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Competition, but people were still comparing the champion eater to Nathan's champ Joey Chestnut.

Chestnut, who ate 68 hot dogs Wednesday, won Nathan's competition. Meanwhile, Takeru Kobayashi was over at the first annual Crif's Dog Classic in Brooklyn. Officials originally reported that Kobayashi ate 68.5 dogs, meaning he beat Chestnut by half a dog.

Last night, however, CNN reported that officials miscounted. Kobayashi only ate 58.5 hot dogs, 9.5 dogs less than Chestnut. "Each plate had six hot dogs," Dan Rollman, president of RecordSetter, said. "Kobayashi was given 10 plates, and left 1.5 dogs on the final plate, resulting in a revised count of 58.5 hot dogs."

Of course, Kobayashi took the announcement graciously. "It is not by any means, easy to swallow... so from the beginning, my goal was 55. When I was told I ate 68.5, I was elated... and of course with a number falling to 58.5 after being revised, there is disappointment," he said. "Still, I did my best and trust the judges have done their job correctly. I ate over my goal and I am satisfied with my performance in these conditions."