Kobayashi Appears in Court Over Hot Dog Spat

(NewsCore) - Legendary scoffer Takeru "The Tsunami" Kobayashi will turn his attentions to pizza after landing up in a New York court Thursday for rushing the stage at this year’s Nathan's hotdog eating contest, TMZ reported.

Kobayashi, 32 -- who was six times champion between 2001 and 2006 -- appeared in a Brooklyn courtroom Thursday accused of resisting arrest, trespassing and obstructing governmental administration during the July 4 spat on Coney Island.

He was not participating in the event due to a contract dispute but he showed up anyway. Cops carted Kobayashi away after he made a bid to get on stage.

Joey “Jaws” Chestnut guzzled his way to a fourth consecutive championship in Kobayashi's absence, wolfing down 54 dogs in 10 minutes.

The former champ had moral support for his court date Thursday from a handful of female fans who gathered outside the court wearing t-shirts and waving banners reading: “Free Kobi.”

They were not to be denied, as inside a judge agreed to let Kobayashi off without further punishment so long as the New York-based eating champ stays out of trouble for six months, according to the celebrity website.

Speaking afterwards through a Japanese translator, Kobayashi said he had "no regrets" over the incident that came in the "midst of excitement."