Conference kaosws::canada

    Ben has been regularly beating Lewis (except for one or two races)
    since 1984. The American oress tends to ignore this.
    
    Scooter

Congrats to all you folks up north!

Allen

.0> Carl (Big Mouth) Lewis
    
    I haven't read and memorized every word of "journalism" written
    and spoken on the subject, but I've gotten the impression that Carl
    Lewis has been pretty low key in his public pronouncements, few
    and short as they've been.  I think it's the American (Big Mouth)
    press that's been acting like a jerk.
    
    The king is dead (and probably was last year) -- long live the king.    

    Mark

.3>>but I've gotten the impression that CarlLewis has been pretty low key in his
.3>>public pronouncements, few and short as they've been.  

I was in the UK at the time that Carl Pukis spoke so 'low key' about his loss
to Ben Johnson, where Johnson set the world record at 9.83 seconds for the
100 metre.  The Carl Putris interview was broadcast on the BBC, during which
the Great Carol said, "No one can run that fast...someone had to have taken
some substances...even a gold medal winner".  Ben Johnson won the gold at that
meet, so I guess the only way Carl figured he could have been beaten was
through the miracle of chemicals.

It's unfortunate that this athlete (Lewis) has begun to believe the media
hype about himself - he is good, but someone is better.

Pat

    	The biggest problem all good athletes have is with the media.
    10 years ago, these two runners, Ben and Carl, were unknowns and
    unknown to each other. Each tried their hardest to excell at what
    they do and become better every time out. Unfortunately, at some
    point in time the media discovered one the other or both of them,
    and needed some good news to sell papers, comercial time etc. What
    could be better than playing one individual off against the other.
    We saw a similar run with the Canadian and American figure skaters
    during the Calgary Winter Olympics.
    	Neither gentleman at this point wishes to draw back from his
    exposure, and so must stick by their guns. I find both athletes
    to be obnoxious, rude, poor ambassadors for either country and lacking
    in the finer points of sportsmanship in general. Both of these guys
    drive around in expensive cars, and live lavishly and neither has
    probably put any effort into promoting their sport with youngsters
    but instead have taken the view that they will milk us, the media
    and all others for all they can for their own selfish means.
    	So what, he did it in 9.79 instead of 9.99, big deal,
    2/100 ths of a second faster than the other guy. Maybe his shoelace
    flashed past the electric eye before the other guys because his
    shoelaces are longer. At the levels of speed that differentiate
    all the athletes up at the top 10 pole positions, it's nothing to
    them. 10th place is as good as gold, it just means you were 5/100
    ths of a second slower than the gold medal winner. As far as all
    us couch potatoes are concerned these people can run circles around
    us and outswim our speedboats down at the marina. We are impressed
    with speed yes, but we are more impressed with true sporting athletes.

Re: .5  KAOM25::TOMKINS

Ah, yes!  Great pearls of wisdom from the inimitable toothless wonder
who can beat both Ben and Carl in a 100 metre dash for the can when
his major dump is overdue.

Ben Johnson has had a speech impediment from birth and 'appears' sullen
only to prevent stuttering, unlike Carl's mental stutter.

Ben said he won the gold for his mother, and Canada.  A rather unselfish
act.

Ben has been to a number of hospitals and in particular childrens hospitals
on goodwill tours to publicize the Canadian Olympic Team, sports, and
to boost morale.  He knows from whence he came - when he first came to
Canada, he was ridiculed for his stutter and awkwardness, and was thought
to be 'slow' witted.  I haven't seen vengeance in his manner, but I have
in Carl Lewis.

What I have seen of Ben, before and after the Olympics, has convinced me
that he is an inspiration for those of us who aspire to achieve against
physical and public adversity.  Here's a guy who lost two races before
the Olympics, without making excuses (did you here that from Carl Lewis)
and went on to win the gold in record time without rancor, when most of
us thought he was going to blow it.  Right???

Richard; I and Ben expect a written apology from you, forthwith.  We also
want a note from your mother indicating that she has chastised you for
this unwarranted outburst.  Now, go to your room!

Dashedly yours,

Pat_who_could_do_worse_to_Richard_if_he_provokes_me

    It has just been announced that Ben Johnson was stripped of his
    gold medal and banned from the Seoul Olympics after failing the
    required drug test (traces of steroids where found).  Ben's coach
    states that it's either an error or sabotage.  I hope that this
    is true but have doubts that it can be proven.
    
    The biggest impact of this event is the shock and dismay felt by
    most Canadians who were shot into such a gloriest moment with Ben
    only to have a dream turn into a nightmare.  It really isn't the
    miniscule time differences that is the issue here (re .5) but the
    sensation that we, as Canadians, can `go for gold'.
    
    The image thatwe carry is one of `nice to be here but not expected to
    do much'.  We are the U.N peacekeepers, the ones to help people out of
    hostile countries, the docile people.  We hadn't won a medal yet until
    Ben got his gold.  I'm sure that he inspired others that they also can
    do as well.  Within hours, we picked up another 3 medals.
    
    The only other time that I felt this disappointment in our attitude
    is when I'm at the Museum of Aviation and stare at the nose piece
    of the Avro Arrow, one of a few prototype fighter aircrafts built
    in the 50's that would have propelled us as the supreme masters
    of the sky (it was so advanced that it would still be a formidable
    aircraft today).  Instead, the prototypes were destroyed and sold
    as scrapped metal, the plans destroyed and the frustrated scientists
    went south to work for NASA.  All this because of pressure on the
    Prime Minister from the Eisenhower administration.
    
    Sorry for deviating from the topic.
    
    Eric_tired_of_being_a_nice_Canadian
    
    

    So, now that we all had a chance to get over the shock, what does
    this matter mean to Big-Ben. The Canadian Amature T+F association
    said that he is banned for life and that the Canadian gov't will
    not sponsor anymore trips (etc..) I think that everybody is getting
    out of hand! 
    
    Sure if he did knowingly take the drugs then he deserves all of
    this and more...but Ben hasn't even had a chance to talk yet, let's
    wait and see.
    
    Ron

    
    I couldn't understand all the uproar this unfortunate incident
    has caused and it seems to me that people are a little selfish expecting
    one lone human being to be 100% perfect when it just isn't possible.
    
    I guess I am an outsider looking on because I am originally from
    England and as yet we take sports seriously but not that seriously.
    
    

    On TV this AM before heading to work, (and seeing Bay lincoln Mercury
    go up in smoke), Ben's sister was being interviewed. During the
    interview, the anchor asked her a question during which the suggestin
    that the profile of the steroid trace indicated that there had been
    'long term use' (how long? didn't say)... to which Ben's sister
    replied that the Canadian Olympic committee or whoever tested them
    BEFORE they went to Seoul, and Ben passed that test. She then posed
    the question - do you think our testing methods are less accurate
    or rigidly controlled than the IOC? this after several Canadian
    experts who had been involved in testing described how stringent
    the test criteria are.
    
    Maybe grasping at straws, but seems worth looking into...
    
    Scooter

    	Some people are missing the point. Not all athletes were tested
    prior to departure for Seoul and the Olympic games. Testing performed
    in Canada was done on a random basis, that is to say that athletes
    from various sports were chosen at random for testing. Some got
    caught as their regime of use did not coincide with their test period
    and others slipped through by virtue of not being tested while others
    actually do not resort to drugs for enhancing their performance.
        It is interesting to note that a largeer group of athletes has
    been put under the microscope recently at the games and a further
    7 or 8 athletes are going for the "B" test.
    	What is also interesting to note is that another group of athletes
    have started to drop out of the various competitions or wait for
    a later competition citing minor injuries or illness. Some are even
    heading home.
    	No, Ben Johnson was not the only user of drugs that enhance
    ones ability, there were many others.
    	The main point I am making here is that a large group of athletes
    from various countries, including Canada did not, will not get the
    GOLD, SILVER or BRONZE medals, simply because they do not partake
    in the drug performance enhancing programs. It is these athletes,
    these true Olympians who are deserved of the honour of the games.
    It is these people who truly are the best that they can be. It is
    these people for whom the Olympic moto shines, FASTER, HIGHER,
    STRONGER.

.9>  people are a little selfish expecting
  >  one lone human being to be 100% perfect when it just isn't possible.
    
    Poor baby.  He only (allegedly) used repeatedly a drug banned by
    the committee whose policies and procedures have been well publicised
    and enforced by action for some time.  That's not one lone human
    being failing to be 100% perfect -- that's one lone human being
    with flagrant disregard for the rules, hoping he won't get caught.
    
    
.9>  I guess I am an outsider looking on because I am originally from
  >  England and as yet we take sports seriously but not that seriously.
    
    If you overlook the people killed in soccer riots, that is...
    
    
    There are only two defenses for the "banned drugs" charges that
    I have any sympathy with:
    
    1)  The tests were wrong.  (I believe Ben got retested with the same
    	results.)
    
    2)	I was taking some non-banned medicine for a medical condition,
    	and the doctor didn't tell me it contained a banned substance.
    
    In the latter situation (not proposed at this point in Ben's case)
    the person would be a victim of circumstances, not of malice, but
    certainly not of the Olympic committee.  For them to allow a person
    to compete just because the person said "It's not my fault!" would
    open the door for everyone to use the same defense -- even those
    who would be lying.
    
    Rules are rules.  Some are flexible, some are not.  This one should
    not be flexible.  If Ben did, indeed, flagrantly disregard this
    rule, he deserves to pay the price.  If he did not do it, but somehow
    was victimised by the system, the system needs to be changed.
    
    I feel sorry he did this, and hope he can put his life together
    afterwards.
    
    Mark

    	He should have known that when you got a big race comming up,
    you should use Preparation "S" to help reduce or eliminate traces of
    steroids. Didn't George Brett go through the same thing during the
    world series??? 
    
    Glenn 

At first I figured:

#1 he was either wronged, i.e., he was duped into drinking something that
contained Steroids (so his doctor asserts), or..

#2 he was (is) a dope (pun fully intended) knowing full-well that he would
test positive "when" he won a medal (assuming the tests are accurate).

I didn't hear that the tests indicated long-term usage.  That's interesting,
and if true than there's no argument either way, as #2 above would fully
apply.

Unless he's cleared -  though I can't at this time imagine how - it's a
tough break for you folks up North, eh?  I mean that sincerely.

Kip

	It's not the response of the Canadian Olympic Committee, or
the lack of one by Ben Johnson, or gloating of opponents that saddens
me, but the lack of compassion and the sudden condemnation of a man
they have never met nor know.

	The International Olympic Committee is not a court of law,
the testing apparatus is just that - apparatus which casts no judgement.
The results from the test indicate that the sample attributed to Ben
Johnson contained a banned substance - it does not indicate dose rate
or dose interval, just dose.  The comment that the dose profile indicates
prolonged usage is prejudicial and based on non-clinical hearsay.

	And yet, many noters and people out there in the real world feel
justified to assume Johnson's guilt and condemn him.  He has no recourse
in law - he's guilty with no means to prove himself innocent.

	Until the man states that he knowingly took the substance before
the race, I will continue to give him the benefit of moral support.  We
would wish to be treated in kind, why is it that some among us cannot
rise above rancor and gloat.

Pat

        I agree with some of what you say: even if he did it,
        it's no reason to denigrate the man.  Those who do that must
        have an inferiority complex anyways, and most of us feel sorry
        for Johnson.  But the proof remains strong against him, if you've
        you've seen how they do the testing, with lawyers and coaches.
        Sure, there's always the possibility that someone switched
        the bottle, and so on.  We'll see what he has to say.
        
        I also refer you to the case of Alex Watson, the Australian
        pentathlete who was disqualified for testing positive to
        excessive amounts of caffeine, presumably taken from tablets.
        He's built a fair case against someone, and now both the IOC 
        and Pentathlon Federation are looking into it.  We'll see if 
        Johnson can do the same.
        

    
    Give me a break... the chances are 99.9% the guy was a long-term
    steroids abuser - check out Pat Rushton's note with chuckling about
    Lewis and his manager claiming Johnson must have used drugs at the
    world championships. 
       
    The latest reports indicate that he was taking steroids for over
    a year, Sports Illustrated has said the last time was very
    close to the race (less than a week before).
    
    The test equipment is extremely accurate and the procedures and
    re-testing would seem to show that the results are fool-proof. The
    sabotage excuse has been all but ruled out by the senstivity of
    the test.
             
    Sure, wait 'til all the information is in, but for now - if nothing
    changes - I'll say this: Ben Johnson is nothing but a greedy jerk,
    a guy that embarassed and let down all of Canada. He's a disgrace
    to the country and to the Olympic spirit.                        
    
    Mike.
    
    
                                   
    changes      

	In my humble opinion the disgrace is hypocrisy, and on a big
	scale - the entire sports establishment.  

	Money has changed the system we have entrusted with sports ethics.

	Now the fox is guarding the chicken coop.

      	The truth coming out of this scandal is, the pretense that 
	"drug tests prevent abuse" IS KNOWN TO BE FALSE BY IOC, 
	COUNTRY GOVERNMENTS, SPORTS BODIES, SUPPORT PROFESSIONS 
	LIKE DOCTORS AND TRAINERS, AND ATHLETES.  
	
	Authorities have not addressed sports drugs in a responsible 
	way, and it is out of control.  Drug taking is a tactical
	move, the penalties just a risk to take into account against 
	the money to gain, and everyone involved knows it. 

	Some controls they could put in:

	- IOC to penalize countries whose athletes test positive.
	  (cut back on size of contingent, give out some
	  "negative" medals for drug abuse!)  Require explanations
	  and followup from these countries.  Make public IOC
	  ongoing strategy, the weaknesses and plans to fix them.

	  Require ongoing committee level input from member countries
	  to update the program.

	- Country level controls program, asking professional
	  groups to update their standards, so serious professional 
	  penalties/fines apply to violators.  Doctors and trainers
	  should have AT LEAST as much to worry about as the athlete.
	  The professional programs should include reports that
	  are filed at the country government level, and be part of
	  any competency audit that may be done by the professional
	  association.  Banning the substances except by prescription will
	  help pin things down -- after all, most of them are suspected
	  carcinogens, and all have some health risk.  Then criminal
	  penalties can apply.

 	- national sports group to have serious programs against drug 
	  use.  Involving continual testing with signed statements
	  by athletes in their programs that they are not using drugs, 
	  and by doctors and trainers similarly.  All procedures 
	  kept on file and status reported to government sports 
	  ministry regularly (annually?)  Regulations covering
	  penalties for the filing of false statements at both the
	  association and government levels.

	- Athletes who want to keep their sport clean, (and don't
	  want to be beaten by drug users) can file complaints with 
	  assocations, which the association must document and 
	  follow up on.   Identity of complainants
	  not made public.  Associations will have to lose 
	  grant money from their governments if haven't appropriately
	  followed up on complaints filed.

	- if scandals do break in the future, then there is a
	  framework of responsibility in place.  You can show
	  where somebody wasn't doing their job, and reaction 
	  can be fast and effective.

	Why this bothers me:  I have young children, who are
interested in Olympics and national heroes, and that whole wonderful
part of being a youngster.   I am ashamed about what they are seeing!
Come on, we can do better than this!

    Although I am not condoning any actions that any athletes have taken
    with regards to drugs, I do not agree with the bashers who are so
    sure that it was done for greed only. 
    
    I think the people of this country also bear a responsibility. Who
    was it that put all the expectations on the shoulders of the athletes.
    If Ben had not won the gold, everyone would have been on him for
    coming in second, or third or not placing. Think of the pressure
    on him to realize after two losses in Europe, poor results in
    preliminaries and the worry of "what if I let my country down".
    
    The same with the weightlifters we sent over, and many from other
    countries. They have to do well to keep their countries support
    and adulation. If they doubt themselves, well maybe there is something
    they can do about it.
    
    I don't doubt that Ben took steroids, whether he did it willingly
    I don't know. Maybe a coach was worried about his performance. Would
    you questions a preparation given you by a coach? There are lots
    of questions still unanswered. I say wait until the investigation
    by the CTFA is completed before continuing with the bashing.
    
    Roger

    If I were Ben and did not know about the steroids, I would sue the
    pants off whoever did it.  This is more than a lost of a medal or
    an embarrassment to the country and the sport, this is assault with
    intent to cause bodily harm (or even criminal negligence).  How
    would you feel that your liver may malfunction by your early 30's??
    
    Q.>  Why do you think McCoy and Williams scattered back to Canada?
         They say that they are down because of Ben.  I would have stayed
         there to keep face and try to win one for him.  Are they scared
         to win?
    
    Eric
    
    P.S.  Whatever happened to just running for the fun off it; like
    high school meets?  The IOC is becoming more lenient towards the
    "amateur" status.  If they would go the other way, we would see
    less of this (except, of course, from the Soviet Block -;)

        What I hate even more is the implication that those who don't
        get caught are Mr. Nice Guy inspired by God.  Better face it,
        many/most of the athletes in there will have been cheating,
        one way or the other.  It's just that they will have been smarter
        about stopping earlier, getting better/newer drugs, or newer
        tricks to change blood.
        
        That's why the list of forbidden substances grows each year:
        they find more and more countries (US, Eastern Bloc, and others) 
        find new ways of cheating the system.
        

    As a side note, my office mate (who is into sports news
    much more than myself) indicated that several NFL teams
    were interested in Ben as a player.  I beleive that teams
    picking up track stars as recievers has happened before,
    I don't think the drug status is considered to hurt his
    chances (he's learned his lesson).
    
    The rewards of victory?

    DEAR CUPID,
    
    As fars "the British not taking sports as seriously as that" I had
    to stay up and watch the BBC coverage of the whole debacle. I had
    to sit there and watch Ron Pickering (British broadcaster) self
    righteously spewing on and on about how Ben had "cheated" and deserved
    the worst punishment he could possibly receive for this horrendous
    afront to the Olympic movement. It made me physically ill.
    
    But now we find that Linford Christie whom PIckering proclaimed
    as a clean athlete whwn all this was going on has been tested and
    they have found traces of an illegal substance in his urine sample
    and also that of a British Judo bronze medal winner. I didn't see
    the chaste Mr. Pickering on the telly then.
    
    Strangely enough when they were trying to get Christie to do a Calvin
    Smith on Johnson he said that he felt truly sorry for Ben because
    he admired him and still felt that he was a great athlete. I was
    amazed at how quickly Johnson was sentenced hours before any official
    statement was made as to whether he realy had used the steroids
    or not. God I hope they crucify Charlie Francis.
    
    I have stand here and listen to people going on about how tthey
    thought Johnson ran the best 100 milligram race they ever saw or
    that he is the best runner on two drugs etc.. etc.. The nice thing
    about the Irish is that they take the Mickey about themselves too.
    The Irish newspapers have said that their athletes have been taking
    drugs as well but in their case its been Valium. Nice to see they
    can still see the lighter side of all of this
    
    I could sit here and bang out more frustration but I've got work
    to do.
    
    Maybe now the IOC will realy try and clean up and get some of those
    huge sponsors who pressure the Ben Johnsons and force the Carl Lewis'
    on us.
    
    Really sad about the whole thing but disgusted by the vultures,
    
    Ted Egri.

    It seems to me that whenever something like this happens the media
    have an interesting way of reporting it. You hear bits and pieces
    every day but no newscaster ever seems to put them all together.
    
    For example bits and pieces I've heard this week "only once"...
    
    The initial effect of steroids is to cause swelling and tightening
    of the muscles, therefore taking them soon before an event would
    have a detrimental effect.
    
    After Ben's most recent injury one (or a few) of his corporate sponsors
    offered $1M CDN to the person/doctor who could restore Ben's health.
    
    In this Olympic event all three of the top runners plus one other
    runner (chosen at random) were required by IOC rules to submit to
    the urine test.
    
    During the warmup session before the race Ben's equipment bag was
    moved from its original position, this made him suspicious and
    therefore didn't drink out of his private water bottle. Later he
    apparently accepted a water bottle from a stranger, drank from it,
    and later complained (to his coach/trainer (?)) that the water tasted
    bitter. Upon returning to his hotel the coach/trainer noticed a
    yellow sludge in the bottom of the water bottle and proceded to
    rinse it out in sink without retaining any of sludge.
    
    Has anyone else heard the same info. or is it "news" to you?
    
    Just the facts,
    
    Jason...

    	From Oct 7 Toronto Star
        
   " ...Records of Sterling Drug Ltd show that Astaphan - who has previously
    denied prescribing anabolic steroids to any patient - has purchased
    stanozolol on numerous occasions"
    
    Mr. Associate Chief Justice Charles Dubin will head the Federal
    Inquiry into the use of drugs in sport.
    
    
    (DR. George Mario (Jamie) Astaphan is/was Ben's Doctor.)
    

    Now that the dust has settled, are all the facts out? If so can
    someone give me the Readers Digest version of what has happen to
    Ben, the doctor, other Canadian athletes, etc., etc. Being in Europe,
    the day to day news of Ben and his story weren't covered. Please
    bring me up to date on EVERYTHING. Thanks in advance.

    The government enquiry is currently ongoing. There will probably
    be very little of excitement to report until Ben and the Doc get
    called to testify.
    So far, the use of steroids appears to have been fairly rampant
    in every good athletes training program. Some of the Weight Lifters
    have even brought up the fact that they did a urine exchange with
    the coach or the coaches friend so they would pass the tests.
    More to come, stay tuned.

    
    BARCELONA, Spain: 
                    Ben Johnson would be welcome to compete in the 1992
    Olympic even though he was caught using steriods at the Games in Seoul,
    last Summer, the head of the International Olympic Committee said
    Sunday (April, 23rd).
    IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch said Johnson must be treated "like
    any other athlete",  despite being involved in the biggest sacandal in
    Olympic history.
    "Johnson was treated like any other athlete in Seoul when we suspended
    him," Samaranch said. "Now, we have to do the same... He must not get
    more sanctions because he is Johnson. This is not fair."
    The ..sprinter won the 100 meter gold medal on a bright September
    Saturday, with a world-record time of 9.79. The following Tuesday, the
    IOC announced that Johnson had tested positive for stanozolol, a banned
    steriod, and disqualified him from the Games and stripped him of the
    gold medal and the latest world-record clocking.
    
    
     

    I read in the International Herald Tribune that even though the
    Olympic Committee would allow Ben to participate in the 1992 Olymppics,
    the Canadian government said that he wouldn't be allowed to represent
    Canada. Does Ben still have Jamacian citzenship ie can he represent
    Jamacia in the '92 Olymics.
    
    I think that the Canadian gov't are taking quite a strong stand
    on this and I'm not sure if I agree with them n not allowing Ben
    to participate as a Canadian. Any comments on the governments latest
    stastement???
    
    Alan

     Our governments current stance on the matter is written into law.
    This is not an abitrary enaction of the rules. BJ may not represent
    Canada for the rest of his life in any athletic event subject to
    review after a two year period of suspension by the then current
    ministry of sports.

    Johnson could run for Jamaica, unless there is an Olympic rule
    prohibiting changing countries (I don't think there is one).  But
    the ruling can be appealed by Johnson after two years.  I'm sure
    that under rigid testing conditions, he could be allowed to run
    again for Canada.  But then, after four years of no steroids, would
    he be an athlete who could qualify for the Olympics?
    
    Glenn

    Canada has agreed and is complying with the IOC ban of two years
    for any competition. 
    
    What Canada has done in addition is to make Ben ineligible for any
    government grants or funding for the remainder of his life. If Ben
    could qualify for the Canadian Olympic team in 92, he could participate
    for Canada....except that he would have to pay all of his own expenses
    including travel, accomodation, coaching, therapist, etc. He would
    not have access to any of the Canadian team facilities.
    
    Roger

    Perhaps then he will have access to better chemists (from the US
    or the USSR??)
    
    Jean
    

This note has Ben (pun fully intended) getting moldy lately.  You folks
aren't already snowed in up there by any chance, are you?

Didn't Ben Johnson recently confess to having taken steroids, and wasn't
he stripped of most if not all his previous medals/records from those years
when he _wasn't_ taking drugs to enhance his performance?  And didn't the
Canadians in general take a [unjustified] beating for past records by
having some of them stricken from the record book?

Anyone have the facts on this?

thnx,

Kip

< Note 118.34 by BETSY::WATSON "No_Mad" >
                     -< Ben Dover and take your medicine >-

No, yes, yes and yes.

... and yes.

    Who really cares.....a great waste of my tax money!

    I read in US TODAY (I think) the other day that there may be a race
    between Ben Johnson & Carl Lewis for a LARGE sum of money. Has any
    one heard of this?                         

    I heard that Ben Johnson has been reinstated. Any more info about this
    would be appreciated.
    
    Alan

    
    His first race will be in Hamilton in early January and he will
    be competing in the 50m.
    
    He is also scheduled to appear in Ottawa in late January and apparently
    has signed to appear in 13 meets during 1991.
    
    His practice times reported so far are where they expected him to
    be ie 7.7 vs his best of 7.24 for 70m
    
    Roger

    I understand that tomorrow night (in Hamilton) is the big night for BIG
    BEN. Any news about this that can be shared with us Canadians across
    the Pond?
    
    Alan

    Well, Big Ben has redeemed himself.
    
    2nd place in the 60 metres.
    
    1st - Counsel	5.75
    2nd - Johnson	5.77
    3rd			5.79
    
    Ben was not as quick of the blocks as he had been, but was obviously
    the fastes runner in the last half of the race ....
    
    Scooter

    Wasn't it 55 metres?
    
    Two things are being mentioned as contributing to Ben finishing second,
    one was the poor start, and the other was that Ben lunged for the wrong
    finish line (at 50 metres). There is some speculation that the two
    false starts may have thrown him. The crowd was really behind him
    though.
    
    Tom 

I understood the announcers to say "55 metres", too.

Interesting timing -- the day Ben Johnson comes back from his suspension for
drug use, Carl Lewis gets arrested for drunk driving.

Kinda makes you say, "Hmmmm..."

Mark

Apparently, there were two finish lines with photoelectric sensors.

One at 50 YARDS (not the true finish line) and,

One at 50 METRES (the real finish line).  Ben mistook the first one to
be the true finish line.

No doubt from watching the race on Friday, he's well on his way back!

Pat

    In a race this weekend, Johnson beat the Canadian indoor record, but
    still finished second in the race.  I believe the time was 5.74.  His
    coach says he should peak in September.
    
    Glenn

    Well, Donovan Bailey has finally redeemed us. With a gold medal with a
    world record time of 9.84, we can now put the Ben Jonson scandal behind
    us for good.
    
    I thank him.