Remember how flamboyant American runners were in the 80's? Carl Lewis sported trendy hair, tight shorts and sung in his own music video. Florence Joyner Griffith modeled, wore a Diana Ross weave and had manicured nails so long that they could easily cut a man's throat. No wonder Canadian runner Ben Johnson felt a need to get into trouble. It was probably the only way he could compete against his fellow athletes.

For those of you who don't know, Ben Johnson is Canada's most infamous runner. What did he do wrong? He got caught on numerous occasions using doping substances (steroids) to build up his speed and endurance as a runner. This fact was particularly hurtful after he broke a world record in 1988 only to have it stripped away a few days later. He went from being called "Benfastic" by the Toronto Star to being a national disgrace. Fast forward 10 years, his behavior was still under question for doping and a working relationship with Libyan leader Muammar Al-Gaddafi. Basically, he coached his son, which later led to him being robbed of all of his earnings. Sounds like a lot of trouble, huh? Well Ben Johnson's life has been full of it. Yet, in many ways, he still is a winner.

Ben Johnson is like the little engine that could. No matter what life throws his way (or he causes doing bad stuff), he keeps on trucking. What has he been up to lately? Johnson is now penning his memoirs. That's right! His book, "Seoul to Soul," is a tell-all about his life as a track star. We will get his version of the doping incidents and the use of steroids in the athletic world of running. So let's just say that this man is not down and out for the count. He's not going to fade into obscurity like so many people do who have very public failures. Johnson is going to continue to reach for the stars and flaunt the covers of every Canadian tabloid magazine.