Hot dogs -- Eating hot dogs on the 4th of July -- what is more American than that? Competition is what America is about every day.

The former hot dog speed-eating champion of the world, Takeru Kobayashi, was he hot dogging it on the 4th of July? Or was he barking like a lonesome dog who has lost his bone? He is Japanese, but was he being as American as one can get, standing on principles on the 4th of July?

The gentleman was arrested at an event that he once dominated. He was the six-time champion. The event -- the speed hot dog eating competition on the 4th of July at Coney Island, New York City, USA. He did not compete this year, because of a contract dispute. At the end of the competition, right after the winner was announced, Mr Kobayashi tried to get on the stage to make a statement, and was dragged off to the slammer. See the video.

I won't mention the name of the winner because as a speed eating champ, he is no Mr. Kobayashi.

Mr Kobayashi  must have thought that speed eating is a sport, and that the speed-eating body, Major League Eating, is a federation of sportsmen. Lordy! The speed eating event at Coney Island on the 4th of July! That should have been a hint that this "sport" is nothing but a carnival side show -- a summer amusement!

Backup. Aren't all "sports" no more than carnival sideshows?

Mr Kobayashi has his fans. As he tried to get up on stage the crowd chanted: "Let him eat!"

'Tsunami' (the name he is called) -- The great 'Tsunami' resisted police attempts to eject him from the stage. Like a protester, insisting on making a point, Mr Kobayashi grabbed on to stuff, as the police pulled him away. The man was grabbing on for the sake of principles? He has been charged with resisting arrest, trespass and obstructing governmental administration. He is guilty of not understanding the system.

Mr Kobayashi has said that he refused to sign a contract with Major League Eating, because the contract offered would prevent him from entering speed eating competitions run by other federations. And? Did he think for a minute that competition is about determining who is the best in the world at any given sport or ability or skill? No. Competition is about rules, following the rules of the people who sponsor the competition. It is never about the best in the world. It is about the best in the game.

And not only that, worst of all -- the boy forgot he was just a toy.