This week's sign of the apocalypse, with apologies to SI, is the sudden appearance of a free agency dispute in the world of competitive eating.  As today is the July 4, we celebrate not only the 234th birthday birthday of the Republic, or more accurately the 234th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, but the annual  appearance of the Nathan's Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest.

For years, six in fact, the Contest was not just won, but dominated by a rather diminutive Japanese competitve eating legend Takeru Kobayashi.  He not only won six in a row, he throughlly dominated the competition.   In fact, his competitive eating skill is such an extraordinary ability, it has served as grounds for a US visa.  Then, in 2007, American Joey Chestnut wrested away the crown and has so far refused to give it up.  The men are not friendly rivals; in fact, they are not on speaking terms.

What is unusual today is Kobayashi is doing his imitation of Lebron James.  He has refused to sign a contract with Major League Eating (got to love the name) and has been refused entry to the competition until he does.  Kobayashi won't sign because it restricts his ability to enter competitions not sanctioned by MLE and, more importantly, prohibits him from directly entering into endorsement contracts for products, appearing in television or radio commercials, or appearing on television or radio shows in exchange for compensation.  MLE wants to control all endorsements and commercials so it can a) protect its event sponsors, and b) take a cut of all the endorsement income.  Not even Jerry Jones has tried this one yet.

It's commercials like this one, that MLE wants to take a cut of:





So, Kobayashi has come to New York and awaits on the sidelines, willing to waive his entire appearance fee, for a call that is not likely to come.  The fans of Hot Dog Eating, of which there are legions if ESPN's ratings are to be believed, can only hope that MLE comes to its senses.  A contest without the match-up of Chestnut and Kobayashi just isn't worth watching.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July and take a moment to remember our troops serving in harm's way to safeguard the freedoms that this day commemorates.