Former hot dog champion in trouble (From Haringey Independent)

Former hot dog champion in trouble

9:23am Tuesday 26th June 2007

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Takeru Kobayashi, the former world champion hot dog eater and highest ranked eater in the world, is reportedly suffering with arthritis in his jaw.

The Japanese competitor, who has eaten 57 cow brains in 15 minutes, may be forced to pull out of the next hot dog championships, and his chance to reclaim the title on July 4, after suffering acute pain during training.

Apparently he now can’t open his mouth more than an inch or so.

So how does he earn a crust now? I’ve never heard of the normal-sized-portions-eaten-slowly competition. And it’s not as if the years of training I am sure Kobayashi has endured to become such a master of his trade provide many transferable skills.

I guess it’s what you call an occupational hazard.

So it got me thinking what occupational hazards a journalist can encounter. There are many I am sure, but becoming someone who can turn another persons misfortune into a flippant humorous story is up there among the best of them.