Another promising 30 for 30 on tap for tonight (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET). It’ll be interesting to hear Ben Johnson’s version.
From ESPN:
ESPN Films’ 30 for 30, presented by Buick Verano, will premiere 9.79*on ESPN/ESPN HD on Tuesday, October 9, at 8 p.m. ET. A selection at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, 9.79* is directed by Daniel Gordon and examines the unforgettable showdown between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis in the men’s 100m final at the 1988 Olympic games as well as the steroids scandal that followed. Grantland.com will debut two features related to 9.79* including a Bill Simmons’ “The B.S. Report” podcast with Malcolm Gladwell, and a first-hand account of the event by Grantland writer Charlie Pierce who attended the race in Seoul. The trailer for 9.79* can be viewed at the newly redesigned 30 for 30 site (espn.com/30for30/).
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Also, Newsday’s Neil Best writes about the strange day he had following Johnson in the aftermath of the scandal.
I was assigned to meet his plane at LaGuardia, which I did, along with many other journalists. I then was assigned to follow him to JFK for his flight home to Canada, which I did, along with many other journalists. At JFK we weren’t sure whether he was going home to suburban Toronto or first flying to Montreal. The two departing gates were next to each other, and the flight times were within a few minutes of each other.
Some reporters guessed one, some the other. I followed most of the Canadian journalists and guessed Toronto and had no idea whether I was right until I was seated and the plane was about to pull away from the gate. At the last possible minute, Johnson came on board, accompanied by security guards, and sat in the front row.When we arrived in Toronto, the customs agent inquired as to my purpose in visiting Canada. “I’m following Ben Johnson,” I said. “How long do you expect to be here?” he said. “I’m not sure; maybe 10 or 15 minutes,” I said.