Poor Ben Johnson. The discredited Olympic 100 gold medal winner not only generated the most notorious doping scandal in Olympic history, suffered Carl Lewis' sabotage, and now appears to be a front-runner in the 'Worst Canadian Ever' race. The competition will be no run in the park, however.
According to the Vancouver Sun The Beaver,a Canadian Magazine, is holding a competition for the infamous title.
Bucking the hagiographic trend of ranking Canada's greatest people and places, the country's top history magazine has eschewed customary Canuck kindness by inviting its readers to nominate candidates for the title of "worst Canadian" of all time.
Ben Johnson, who merely squirted Winny into his gluts, is up there with politicians who sent Arcadians off to die.
Among those tapped by The Beaver for expert contributions to the list of rogues is Calgary historian and humorist Will Ferguson, author of the irreverent 1999 bestseller Bastards and Boneheads: Canada's Glorious Leaders Past and Present...
He refused to divulge details about his planned nominee. But he did mention disgraced sprinter Ben Johnson "humiliated Canada" at the 1988 Olympics by testing positive for steroids, and called Charles Lawrence -- the 18th-century governor of Nova Scotia who orchestrated the expulsion of the Acadians -- "an example of someone who has had a huge negative impact" on the country's history.
Johnson's competition from the starting line appears to be a fine group: murderers, racists, and crooked politicians.
Convicted Canadian killers, including Clifford Olson, Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, have already earned spots near the top of the standings in The Beaver's running totals, said Morrison.
Politics is supplying some of the most "popular" nominees so far, she added. Former premiers Richard Hatfield of New Brunswick and Bill Vander Zalm of B.C. are two of the leading choices. So, too, is Louis Riel.
Several other names frequently mentioned are controversial sports figures -- including Johnson, the late Harold Ballard, owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, tough-talking hockey coach/commentator Don Cherry, and former player agent/ex-convict Alan Eagleson.
Emily Murphy, a leading campaigner for women's rights in the 1920s who harboured racist views, has been nominated by some readers, said Morrison.
Hey, the entire exercise of naming 'The Worst Canadian Ever' is fun and silly. Wonder if anyone asked Johnson if he enjoys the joke?
Morrison acknowledged the quest to identify the worst person from Canada's past is "very subjective. We're intending this to be light and informative."
The Beaver will publish the results in its August issue. Canadians can register their choices at www.thebeaver.ca.
Looks like the gun sounded and the race is on. May the worst man or woman win.
Man, the b*tch set me up.
Posted by: Marion Berry | 05/07/2007 at 12:29