04/26/24
October 05, 2010
Ben Johnson, about to launch his autobiography, is interviewed:: Usain Bolt, however, is spared any insinuations. "I've not got any bad thing to say about Bolt. I'm happy for him. If I was born 22 years later it would've been great to race him. And I don't think he would have beaten me." Johnson laughs, suggesting he could have run faster than Bolt's 9.58 if he had raced on modern tracks – and free of steroid abuse.
I'm the complete opposite end of the spectrum from you, hincandenza ... I'm champin' at the proverbial bit to get my mitts on this one. I'm not exactly sure, in the end of days, where Ben will rank in the annals of sport legends, but far less notable figures have had much more ado about their falls from grace. This is long overdue. I'm hoping that the time has given some perspective to it all.
posted by Spitztengle at 09:39 PM on October 05, 2010
It was like finding out Santa Claus isn't real. I can't forgive him. Every subsequent moment of sport watching that involved any kind of "holy sh*t, did I really just see that?" has been tainted for me by the '88 Olympic final. Peraps a consquence of my age than particularly of Ben's actions, but even so... son of a bitch ruined Christmas.
posted by JJ at 06:01 AM on October 06, 2010
It was like finding out Santa Claus isn't real.
What you talkin' 'bout, JJ ?
posted by tommybiden at 08:32 AM on October 06, 2010
What's the difference between modern tracks and 1988 circa tracks?
posted by jc at 12:07 PM on October 06, 2010
I'd like to know that too - if it is more than 2/10ths of a second then Big Ben may have a point. It seems like a difference that would be measurable.
posted by rumple at 12:34 PM on October 06, 2010
Ben is borderline retarded and basically does anything he can to make any money off his ancient infamy. I bet he's been peddling this book for a long time and now has found someone to buy it. It is ghostwritten, I would bet my life.
I would not pay attention to his take on things in any way.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:43 PM on October 06, 2010
He's still got two legs... what's stopping him? Ugh... there are few things more pathetic in sports than aging/retired athletes claiming they'd totally be better than these modern whippersnappers if only ____, ____ and also ___...
Blech. Unless he's the first athlete in history to try to make the case that he took steroids because they'd intentionally make him slower and weaker, so as to not completely blow away and embarass the competition?!?