We are all left to wonder, is it a case of a fierce competitor refusing to yield to injury (sort of like Willis Reed in the 1970 NBA Finals), or a clever bit of manipulative gamesmanship?

Those are the questions surrounding the most important challenge of the entire competitive eating calendar -- the famous Nathan's hot dog chomping contest at Coney Island on July 4th.

Takeru Kobayashi, the Babe Ruth of hot dog eating (and the Babe himself was known to be able to wolf down a few), reportedly has a severe jaw malady, actually jaw arthritis, that could impair his chewing. But now we have word that Kobayashi definitely will be in Brooklyn to defend his title.

This year's showdown between the Japanese defending champion, who's just 5-feet-6 and 160 pounds, and American mastication hero, the taller and heavier Joey Chestnut, is much anticipated because, although Kobayashi set a new world record last Independence Day with 53.75 wieners, Chestnut raised the bar with more than 59 dogs in a qualifier in Tempe, Ariz.

If you've never seen one of these things, here's what you've been missing.