Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Donovan Bailey: Toronto Mike'd #1002

Episode Date: February 22, 2022

In this 1002nd episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike is joined by Donovan Bailey and Jason Portuondo from the Donovan Bailey Running Things podcast. They discuss Donovan's sprint career with a keen focus on his 100m Gold Medal and World Record at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, his 4x100m Gold, his 150m race against Michael Johnson at SkyDome and the fact he's yet to be inducted into the Order of Canada. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Canna Cabana, StickerYou, Ridley Funeral Home and Patrons like you.

Welcome to episode 1002 of Toronto Mic'd. Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery. A fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times and brewing amazing beer. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA. StickerU.com. Create custom stickers, labels, tattoos, and decals for your home and your business. Palma Pasta. Enjoy the taste of fresh homemade Italian pasta and entrees.

From Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. Ridley Funeral Home, pillars of the community since 1921. And Canna Cabana, the lowest prices on cannabis, guaranteed over 100 stores across the country. Learn more at cannacabana.com. Joining me this week

from the Donovan Bailey Running Things podcast is Donovan Bailey and Jason Portuando. Welcome, guys. Man, DB, you hear the tunes my man's got? Hey man, listen, I'm a little upset His podcast is already done Why are you upset? Tell us Well, first of all

I'm a cool mother effer You can say fucker on this show No, but I'm a real cool dude And I'm like, man This is kind of cool Is this more cooler than mine? Well, let me show you. He's already out-stepped us.

Yeah. Look, guys, I had a head start, okay? All right. I need a head start when I'm racing Donovan Bailey here. True, true. Let me shout out local rapper producer Ill Vibe. Ill Vibe composed that theme song way back when, so about 10 years ago,

and it's been my theme song since episode one. But thank you, Illy, for that. What number is this again, Mike? 1,002.

Not 1,002. He's a little ahead. But we're a little late because 1,000, we didn't even make the top 1,000. That's what I'm saying. You did.

You'd think that you'd call on episode one. Let's look at it this way,000. That's what I'm saying. You did. You'd think that you'd call on episode one. Let's look at it this way, DB. It's a fresh start. When you get to 1,000, you roll it back, right? Yeah, you're right. This is episode two. We're doing okay.

Yeah, yes. So a little background. Now, you guys did appear on episode 1,000 because you were kind enough to record something for that. So thank you so much for being on episode 1,000. We just literally, just to let the people know, the FOTMs listening at home, we just finished recording episode five of season two

of Donovan Bailey running things. How did you guys like hook up for that? I know Donovan Bailey, we're going to get into that. People know Donovan, but like, how did you two hook up? Because you guys have tremendous chemistry. Well, I can start. I mean, one. Yes, you should.

Well, I mean, actually. I'm just your wingman. Actually, frankly, you would be starting. I'd be anchoring. Well, one, I think Jason, for those of, well, I don't know who the hell would be living on the rock who wouldn't know the name Jason Portwounder. Jason will obviously give you his resume as how many, you know, the media.

Gold medals? None. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. And this is my first show. Yeah. So let's go with that. But one of the things I've always found is that I can have dialogue. Jason's obviously interviewed me over the many, many years that he's been on media. Right. journalists who's always allowed me to get deeper than whatever the cliche, stupid questions might be that some people who don't dig deep enough, uh, dig deep,

deep enough to ask. So Jason has always known that I'm way more than just a guy who hop out of the blocks and run in a straight line. So it's very obvious that, that with all the interviews over the years, uh, that Jason is one of those people that I could go to and have a conversation. Or when he called and said, hey, jump on my show, whether it was on radio or TV, why don't you come on with me? I was always

available for that. So when this opportunity came up, I certainly gave Mr. Jason Portuando a call and I said, Hey man, we have an opportunity here to work together. Uh, let's get out and knock it out of the park. And, and,

and Jason has been nothing but gold since that phone call. You can keep going. I was enjoying this. Listen, I was going to say, uh, Jason, that's high praise.

Okay. It is. You know what? And the best thing about DB is that, you know, for everything he has done as a person, as an athlete, as an icon, the only label I care about is friend, family. And that's the way I see this guy.

I mean, our relationship started out on a professional level and then it got even higher to now a family level. So yeah, we go way back and this is just fun with family. So as I warned you, so Jason, I texted you a little warning that this episode's a little Donovan heavy. That's okay. But I do want to shout you out early here because I first met you when you were a guest

on Peter Gross's Down the Stretch. So pre-pandemic, we were doing that in the basement and that's when I first met you. And then it turns out i would tune in to see like a a big horse race on tsn and then i'd see you with laura dyken and laura dyken also an fotm but of course famously in the toronto mic universe here laura's dad lives across the street so you maybe tell us maybe right off the top before we dive into donovan's illustrious career uh tell me

like where will we see you these days man about town first of all mr dyken is now my favorite dyken laura laura you're now you're now second laura by the way so let's just clear that up right exactly shout out to roman first of all but yeah you know you can find me you know whether i'm you know hanging out with donovan or you can find me on TSN doing my thing there weekly at the racetrack. We have our own channel now where you can keep an eye on me. I'm all over the place. I mean, so just. But you specialize in horse racing?

I do everything. Oh, I'm a big, big fan. And once it gets in your blood, you know what? I love racing, period, whether it's two legs or four. There's a difference, people. Horsepower is horsepower, right? Because I mentioned Peter Gross, you four. There's a difference, people. Horsepower is horsepower, right? Because I mentioned Peter Gross, you know, he's a good FOTM here.

Mike Wilner at TMLX5 at Palmas Kitchen. More on Palmas Kitchen in a moment because I got a special treat for you too. But Mike Wilner gave full credit to Peter Gross for kick-starting his career in media. Is it possible that lightning struck twice and that Peter Gross, for kickstarting his career in media. Is it possible that lightning struck twice and that Peter Gross had anything to do with your great career in media? 100%.

And you know, like, I look up to a lot of people. I look up to everybody with my height, but Peter Gross is actually a guy that I look down at, believe it or not. But I do look up to him where it matters worse just because, yeah, Peter's a little bit shorter than I am. He was integral in terms of my broadcasting career. I was at the racetrack and I happened to run into Peter and told him what I wanted to do and he brought me aboard at 680 News. And that was my first step into the industry. I was still in

school at Seneca at the time. And yeah, I mean, it wasn't the conventional route to get to where I am today. But some people say if you have a plan B means you're not focusing on plan A. But I don't know about that. Because my plan B, it worked out okay. So you've had a great career in media. And it's all due to the wonderful Peter Gross

is what I'm hearing. Yep. All up to you, Peter. All up to you. And getting that foot in the door. And then, yeah, eventually meeting the legendary one. And yeah, so, Hey,

this is, this is gravy for me. Okay. So in case we don't get back to this right off the top, people should be subscribing to Donovan Bailey running things and it's available wherever you get your podcasts. And once a week, there's fresh takes from you two on what's going on in sports.

I mean, we talked NBA all-star weekend we talked uh about the winter olympics you know there's it gets heavy at times and uh yeah well you know like i said i mean it's it's it's very important for us to to dive into well i think that if we could just live in this uh this utopia where we're talking about good news every day, that would be incredible. But unfortunately, yes, we try to make light of the life that we live every day. But certainly, it does become heavy depending on what's going on around us and and in every in every episode i think that we try to we try to you know give you know a valued honest opinion on uh on everything i mean

you know obviously uh it's sports heavy but but but certainly uh you know cultural music whatever it is i mean we we're to dive into any one of those things, any one of these topics that's relevant to what's going on with us. So people, get out there and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Donovan Bailey, Running Things. Beautiful blend, Mike, of just reality and escape at the same time. We don't want to ignore the hot topics. Right.

Right? I mean, life is what you make it, is what we like to say. And for me, with this show, it's a perfect mix because I get a chance to talk sports, lifestyle, music, entertainment. But then you hit the hard topics as well, where you bring it back to reality. So it's a nice mix. Now you're going to get a chance to talk Donovan Bailey. Oh. I'm right here.

He's right here. And don't worry, I'm going to interject with my shot here and there just to bring him back down to reality. You know, if it wasn't clear to FOTMs, another reason to subscribe to Donovan Bailey Running Things is it records in the TMDS studio. It's part of the family here. That is studio. It's part of the family here. That is right.

We support members of the family here. It's the day after family day, but it still applies. Okay, so Donovan, how old were you when you emigrated to Canada? Well, I first came to Canada when I was seven, so I didn't immigrate then. I mean, my parents were already living in Oakville, so I would come up and spend uh summers or um christmas uh but then i'd go back to boarding school in jamaica and they felt that at that age when you're when you're under 10 we'll say um pre-teen uh they feel that the um

they felt that the the british education system um is. So I was in Jamaica. I moved permanently to Canada when I was 11 turning 12, where I went, so I moved here permanently to come and do my thing. Do my thing in Oakville. Well, what I love about your superhero origin story is that, correct me, and you will will but it sounds like you know being the fastest man in the world wasn't even on your like radar that wasn't like on your your hit list of goals when you're a teenager well and again jason will tell you this um listen

sports wasn't on my radar i mean we we can talk about dreams. I'm one of those very fortunate boys that I was a mama's boy. And my dad, I would say my dad became my best friend when I was in my 20s. But before my 20s, my dad ruled the nest with a tight fist. So academics was number one. And that's ultimately what most Jamaicans, I know that. I know that some people don't realize that, but most Jamaicans and most Caribbean people, actually most African people, most black people I know,

they're quite focused on their kids making it in academics. So yeah, I was kids making it in academics. So, yeah, I was a sprinter in Jamaica. Okay. So I was actually, so, you know, when I was 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, I was actually one of the fastest kids on the island of Jamaica. And, you know, even I competed at boys champs uh which uh you know for all the people don't know uh and jason can you know give you the history but um boys champs is is uh well it's now

it's now called champs but it is the biggest high school track meet uh in the world where you have where if you go to boys well well, it's now called Champs because it's now has both boys and girls. But if you go to Champs in Jamaica, every year you will see future Olympic champions, not future Olympians. You'll see future Olympic champions. So I was very fortunate that I was a sprinter

from the country. I grew up in Manchester. I grew up on a farm. I went to boarding school at a place called Knox College High. And I competed for Knox where I ran the 100 meters and I ran the relay. So I was actually an athlete from then. Sometimes I listen to people tell my story and apparently I fell out of the sky and landed in Atlanta. That's why you're, no, that's why you're here.

That's exactly the way it happened. Because Donovan, when I announced you were coming on Toronto Mic, right away, a gentleman named Brendan tweeted at me and said, hey, that guy was my day camp counselor. Yes. Yes. Oh. Yes. Oh, my God. I can't believe. Listen. So my first job.

So my first job in Canada. My first job in Canada. I was 13. And I was apparently too aggressive as a coach. So they wouldn't let me coach like the six-year-olds. So I was actually coaching the 13-year-olds. Wow. While I was actually coaching the 13-year-olds. Wow. While I was 13.

So this was at Bronte Summer Camp. I know that. It's like we're like Oakville and, yeah, I camped there once. So it's still around. Absolutely. So it's the Bronte Summer Camp.

Right. And that was my first job. Wow. Getting $10 a day. Oh my God. So Brendan remembers you. That's wild. Brendan, what up, man?

Yes. That was some of the greatest and most innocent times when you look back at life right now. I was just there trying to teach kids. I guess I was coaching. I mean, that's, you know. Coaching. Whatever. Okay. So not just a running thing no it wasn't no no no no pun yeah exactly you were running things since you were 13 okay no but i i

was i was uh yeah i was we were just coaching and and kind of guiding guiding you know kids uh yeah but it was i was a day camp counselor. That is wild. That's wild. Yeah, that's awesome. And then I hear like, and I just heard you reference this on the fifth episode of Running Things, but you were a basketball player at Sheridan College, right? Right. Well, I mean, I still consider myself a basketball player, so don't say were. I played last night.

Don't get his head any bigger when it comes to basketball, please. I played last night, Mike. Oh, here we go. And I'll be playing next week. Here comes the stat line. Oh, no, no. The stat line is terrible, actually, in basketball. Well, professionally.

Yeah, you know what? I love basketball. I think that I fell in love with basketball probably when I was 12, 13 years old. with basketball probably when I was 12, 13 years old. And the great thing about the game itself is that the friends that I have today are the friends that I started playing basketball with when I was 12, 13 years old. Even Jason or Sherman and any of these guys.

I mean, what you have is, I think it's still a game where, you know, regardless of your skill set, you can get in there and everyone knows their role and you do it. I mean, you know, I love basketball and probably will continue to play that as long as I can walk. Do you ever invite Jason to play with you

in this game you're playing these days? I will invite Jason. He's invited me to bring his water when he's tired, bring him a towel. Yes, of course. No, that's okay. I understand. Okay, so it's when he's tired, bring him a towel. Yes, of course. No, that's okay.

I understand. Okay. So it's kind of like Will Smith and I'm Jeffrey. Oh no. So Donovan. No, that, you know,

that's bullshit. No problem. No problem. It's okay. I got you. You're my boy, man. You're my brethren.

It's all right. This is your chance to make sure we correct this for the record. Cause there are people who listen to Toronto Mike episodes and literally go to Wikipedia right away to correct any information that makes its way to Wikipedia. So shout out to Rosie Gray TO who loves to do that. What I understand, Donovan, and you're here to make sure we get this right,

in 1990 you're 23 years old and a stockbroker? Yes. 22. My birthday is in December. So I always correct people. What year was that, Mike? 1990. Oh, way before my time.

Of course, you were. Nice. So you're a stock... I'm just soaking this in right now, but you're a stockbroker, and it sounds like there's a Canadian track and field championship in 1990. And you realize that most of the men who are competing are guys you beat in high school.

Yeah, Glenn Roy was competing, actually. So to be specific, Glenn Roy was competing, I think Sheridan Baptiste, and a couple of the guys that were local here in Toronto. And the track meet was actually at Etobicoke. It's at Olympic Stadium in Etobicoke. Centennial Park? Yes, sorry, Centennial Park. It's still there. And I actually went to watch.

I actually did not go. That day, I went there because my friend Hopeton Taylor had just come back from University of Minnesota. He's a triple jumper. And my other friend, Andre Metivier, these are both fellas that I kick it with today. Metivier, that sounds trinny. Yes, absolutely. And so Andre was a long jumper. He's actually a principal now at a school,

and Hopeton actually came and watched the Super Bowl at my house. So I went to go watch them compete. That's it. And I got there, and I'm like, I can beat these guys. And that's really, it started with I can beat these guys, and I borrowed some spikes, and I just kind of took my clothes off, which is... Where are we going with this?

Dude, I mean, I... You took your clothes off and put where are we going with this dude i mean i took your clothes out and put on some spikes hey just yeah i know i know that sounds kind of crazy uh yeah and and i went i went uh i lied about being part of a track club which clearly i was not and and i got in the race and i won that's's an unbelievable story. It's that stadium at Centennial Park. That's called Esther Shiner, right? Am I at the right place? I don't know.

I'm trying to remember. There's only one stadium there. It's Centennial Stadium. Michael Parr was right across the road. I'm at the old location. So before they moved. I'm last graduating class from like, it was like Dundas and Bloor. Oh yes, you're right. It did

move around a couple times. I know, I'm right. I was there. Because Polkock's rival was my school, St. Martin's. So I totally know what you're talking about. City boys. Okay, so Donovan, there's a gentleman that, there's somebody who you trained with in the States,

right? Like where does this gentleman, who is this gentleman and when does he come into play somebody who who said he could make you uh a world champion oh that dan path i mean okay dan path that's it dan path is my coach i mean and i think that sometimes you have uh athletes who retire and and and and then uh they talk about their former coach so dan is uh so I met Dan in 1991. Okay. So after going and winning that one race, I thought that I could just,

you know, try this thing. So let's try a thing. So let's try a thing. And in 1991, I had, we had a relay camp. So I'd made,

like funny enough, I went, I made the national team in Canada the next year. And this is with a very, with minimum training. This is my training was playing basketball when I wanted to. Right. It was probably at the club seven days a week.

Um, doing a lot of things that we'll say young men in their twenties to, um, getting a lot of exercise that way. Right. Uh, and, um,

and, and, and and and we're talking track still we're certainly talking does he wear spikes yes yes we're talking speed and endurance okay we were talking a lot of that and um so i made the national team in 1991 i met we had, we had a relay camp in Baton Rouge. Glenn Roy was training with Dan, and Dan took a liking to me. So it wasn't even until, I think it was two years later in 1993 in Stuttgart, where Dan said, hey, you need to take this seriously. But Dan took a liking to me because our conversation was kind of like, so he thought that I was not the normal guys that were there.

I was not the guy lifting weights. I was not the guy in the gym. I was not the guy running with technique. I was just the guy that put some pair of spikes on and ran a man down and beat him. I wasn't, so it wasn't, there was no conventional training when I met Dan in 1991. So I met him then,

and of course Dan eventually became my coach and took me to obviously the heights that I did. And he's still my coach today. I mean, Dan, you know, Dan's birthday was January 10th, and so, you know, Dan birthday was january 10th and and uh and and so you know dan is still the one of the greatest men in the world today that i can call it's much like jason i can discuss any topic that's happening in the world uh dan and i today can discuss um sports

lifestyle history like anything and he's just one of those guys who I've always connected with cerebrally. And he's always allowed me to be me. And obviously always allowed, and always get the greatest out of me. So Dan to this very day is still my coach. So I guess what I'm what i'm what i'm saying to you about my consistency is just like my relationship with jason uh the consistency

that i like is that i always respect relationships with people that's going to challenge you to be your better self so i mean the way i hear that story, Dan sees this natural talent, like you're oozing with natural talent because you've got, I'm guessing you had like terrible form and you were just like, but you're fast as lightning and he sees that with a little,

you know, with training and you commit yourself to this discipline. You could be the fastest man in the world. Yeah, sort of. And I think that there was also, I mean, again, maybe it's, and I always say this, the love that my mother gave me and that certain the love that my dad gave me later, I think that Dan has always said about my level of confidence

because ultimately for me, I was always taught as a kid that I could do whatever the hell I want and no one should stop me. And, you know, if someone gets in your way, you know, go around them, go under them, go over them. And if they're still standing there, go right the hell through them, you know, to get whatever you need to get. So, yeah, I mean, Dan saw that not only was I a natural talent,

but that my confidence was at the next level. And I also realized then that, and this is instilled in me, and I try to instill it in as many people as possible. I mean, obviously, I start with my kids, but all the people that I speak to around the world. You know, no with my God-given talent that I would be something special. So clearly I was, you know, I'm always very thankful for that. Always appreciate it to be blessed to be in a position where this great man saw something and, you know, he nurtured it and molded it, um, and taught me how to be a better man. Now he saw it in you, but you, you obviously had to buy in, like you had to, uh, get your ass to, uh, LSU and, uh, and commit. Right. And once you did,

it sounds like results came awfully quickly. Like, uh, what I read was like three months of training and you shaved three-tenths of a second off your 100-meter time. You were a tiger? Yes, I was. See, Mike, you're teaching me. You're going to learn a lot today. Well, listen, Mike, this is awesome

because you've done some work. Oh, yeah, always, always. I'll tell you what I did. I moved. So there was a series of events that happened that allowed me to be just pissed off at the entire system here. And I'm going to and I have a book coming out that we're going to detail all these things and with the stories. But in 1992, I tore my quadriceps.

So I didn't make that. So I was on the national team. So I did not go to Barcelona. So I watched Barcelona from my home in Oakville with guys on the team that I'd never lost to. Right. 1993. I was in Germany at the World Championships. So I was a top three sprinter.

So I think I was the second fastest guy, the third fastest guy in the country. And again, I'm doing this with no training. Well, the training I suggested. Yeah, because this is before the LSU three months training. Right. So I was doing this with no training, right? Well, the training I suggested. Yeah, because this is before the LSU three months training. Right, so I was doing this with no training. And so in 1993, I got very frustrated because I'd made the team to run the 100 to 200 and the relay.

So what ended up happening was one of my teammates, we'll address that in the book, he went to Flagstaff. to he went to um flag staff so he went to to altitude ran a windy time that windy time was posted uh and and and so he got to run the 100 meters then my coach then the coach at the time said to me hey listen why don't you rest for the 200 because you're going to run the relay so all of that happened relay came along and they said donovan well we are you're not going to run the relay because you know these other guys seem to be running better than you and i'm like i was a

little upset uh i believe that i picked up a tv at that time and throw it someplace very far um but and and and and and this was where dan and i cemented our relationships 1993 in stuttgart where dan said um when you want to take this seriously you need to come and train with me so march of the so i kind of uh you know i had businesses here um that there's just things that i had going on in toronto that i had to sell businesses, rent out my house, do all those things for me to leave to go to Baton Rouge. So I finally did everything and left to go to Baton Rouge in March of 1994.

And so I went and it was the very first time that I got into formal training. So I got Dan and I was the very first time that I got into formal training. So I got Dan and I, the very first conversation that Dan and I had was, we were walking around the track and he said, listen, if you're trying to get a shortcut, there's a lot of people that are taking drugs, a lot of people that are doing all these things, and if you're one of those guys trying to get to that place and get to that place using shortcuts with drugs or whatever it is, this is the wrong place.

And I just remembered smiling and hugging him. And that was the only time we ever had that conversation. And we just kept walking. And he said, okay, practice starts tomorrow. And really, that was it. So I landed there March 4th, started training. And, you know, there's silly stories about Dan putting me to lift weights with a couple of the ladies. And they were outlifting me and laughing at me.

And, of course, I mean, as a man, you know, I go back and start lifting at night and lifting when they're not there. So I had to outlift them. And then he put me with the other guys. But anyways, it was quite good. So yeah, then I got to Baton Rouge in March, and yeah, I think by June of 1994, I was ranked eighth in the world. Wow. Now listen, I want to thank you on behalf of Canadians. Every Canadian, I want to thank you on behalf of Canadians. Okay.

Every Canadian, I want to thank you for not taking any shortcuts, man. But here's the thing just quickly, Mike, I was going to say, does, does that conversation maybe not change if you know your competitors are doing

something to get that advantage, to get that edge? How do you stay on that side of the equation when you potentially know the others and did you know yeah i think that i didn't care i think that if you if you if you if you if you both have an opportunity to speak to dan i i he'll always say to me that i've had this innate ability to compartmentalize things and uh it's only the latter part of of my of my career where i started looking at guys who are blatantly doping and and uh and again i'll address that in my book too guys who are blatantly doping and the other problem that i had also was i was i had some training partners that they spent

their entire time focused on people that were doping when i start like in in 1994 i didn't care i was like okay let me get this straight um i'm gonna be competing against the top guys in the world uh lero berrell mike marsh carl lewis linford christie frankie fredericks auto bolden like all of these guys these are the top guys on the planet right and i just and i'm like okay so I was, every practice, I kind of chipped away at being a better, being a stronger and better sprinter. My head was already in the game. So psychologically, I did not need a sports psychologist.

I knew that I was good. I mean, and I knew I was good based solely upon the fact that I ran at champs. I ran in Jamaica when I was 11 years old in front of a full stadium of 50,000 people. So, I mean, if you don't get used to, you know, people, you know, whatever. If you don't get used to performing under the spotlight immediately, then it's never going to happen.

So when I got to LSU and when I got to start training and when I knew that I was going to be competing against the best people, yeah, it didn't matter me so to your point Jason I didn't care I knew there were people that were dirty and it's funny enough um you know I always tell Glenn Ross Glenn Ross my train was my training partner uh you know still my boy and I always just say though man every time I drape the dirty guys, man, they're looking at your face and they're trying to figure out what the hell's going on with you. And I always seem to think it was always hilarious

because if I'm looking at a man's eyes and he's mesmerized, he's trying to figure out what the hell's going on with me, I'm like, uh-huh, another one, another one, man, another one. So whatever you're taking, my boy, be careful. And no matter what, mentally, I've got you now. So me looking in that guy's face allowed me to know that I can own him in any race. Wow. Now, Donovan, I got to take you back here, sure, back in 93, 94.

But did you appreciate at that time like how devastating it was for this country's psyche what happened to Ben Johnson in 88? So, because Ben, we all watched. I was watching. You were watching right there, Jason? Oh, yeah. Okay.

983. Hand up as he crosses the finish line. Gold medal. And then over the next few days, of course, it all comes tumbling down and we find out uh he was taking uh steroids performance enhancing drugs like like donovan you your decision that you're not taking a shortcut you're gonna do this clean uh like how much does the whole ben johnson

1988 the fiasco impact that that decision well i'm gonna tell you how i mean how it impacted me personally one i was just a fan in 1988 i wasn't competing i was a huge fan of ben i was a huge fan of molly and mark and i mean the whole crew i mean because these guys were dominating so you know obviously uh it it it that i mean you know you hate to see uh the, your favorite guy, the person that you're cheering for all the time happens. But it did. It did. And ultimately, I mean, I speak a lot about, you know, the relationship I have with my parents. Now, you know, in context, you know, when my father and I had the conversation about the birds and bees, he just said, listen, I'll kill you if, if someone shows up,

you're pregnant. And, and, and, and, and, and secondly, he said,

if you ever went out and did something stupid that the police ever has to come to my house, I'll kill you. And I'm saying to you that this is, this is the Jamaican way, by the way, people, he had no intention of killing me.

That's just, I'm glad you, you, you clarified that. You scared some people. I didn't scare anybody. I mean, there's anyone out there. I mean, that's been threatened by their parents,

especially a boy with his dad, every single person. I mean, it hasn't happened, but every single person has. But I'm saying this so that you understand where my mindset's coming from. One, I think that I was always someone who was loyal to my mother and father and those were the people that i was respecting and carrying their name and and my parents also had they also had a community foundation in oakville so they were a pillar of the community so when i decided so so obviously i think that the uh the entire country was disappointed with ben um and and what happened uh certainly with the dubbing inquiry where uh you know there was you know the legal uh infiltration and and unloading of documents

that kind of showed uh all the people that were involved. And, and I think that in some ways Ben was a victim of all that too. So, so I also want to qualify that because sometimes when I have conversations and I mentioned Ben, people think that I don't like Ben. I don't know Ben, but I think that he was a victim because there's a whole lot of people that were making a lot of money.

But you do admit that you are responsible as an athlete for what you put in your book. 100%. I mean, but Jason and I talk about that all the time now. mean we talked about that with uh with uh um the russian yeah yeah yeah absolutely camilla uh you know yeah we but we talk about that with with anyone i mean at the end of the day if when you when you sign on to to represent your country you you you you you sign a contract uh you know i didn't sign mine but you sign a contract. You know, I didn't sign mine, but you sign a contract.

Social contract. Yeah, but you sign, yeah, absolutely. Well, you have to have massive social responsibility and you sign a contract that you are gonna represent best as you can. You're not gonna take drugs. You're not gonna do all these things, right? You actually sign a physical contract.

And so, you know, with the fiasco in 1988, when it was my turn to start competing uh there's a lot of things that um there's a lot of things uh and there's a lot of things and a lot of relationships that i never had because i knew that there was a few people that surround ben they were not going to be part of my crew. Even with the Canadian Olympic Committee and Athletics Canada, there were several people, again, that were involved with them. My crew was very small. It consisted of Dan Paff and consisted of Mark Lindsay. That's my entire crew, right? And no one was going to infiltrate that. And so so i i simply ran you know my business or my brand as if it were a business right from day one so uh i knew that there was a massive responsibility that was bigger than

me it was bigger than track right all right i mean jason well you guys are both sports guys so you'll understand that you know as a black guy running track under the shadow of what had happened, it's very important for me, you know, to walk the straight and narrow, to do things the right way, to speak out. And, you know, and even from back then, I was speaking about racism. I was speaking about opportunities for non-racialized group. You know, I was using my platform while breaking world records and while doing things and you know what it pissed off a lot of people it pissed off a lot of people because I did I made things look easy uh you know a farm boy from Manchester come to Oakville breaking world records winning world championships and telling people about themselves and that pissed off a lot

of people and to this day there's some people that that say oh we don't like donovan and i'm like well for what reason well i don't know you know you know so we're gonna get to that right so so i'm saying yeah but i'm saying to you that i'm someone who called out coaches who were messing with athletes uh you know i'm someone who you know you who were messing with athletes. You know, I'm someone who, you know, if someone, and obviously I had my media challenges sometimes too when the mic put in my face when I'm hot. But again, for me, it went back to the confidence that my parents had in me and the fact is at all times I was representing them

and also clearly I'm representing my country, but I'm also going to be my authentic self. Now let's get you to Atlanta in 96 here. So you're only the second. This is happening. I have the date here actually. April 22nd, 1995. You become only the second Canadian

to legally run under 10 seconds. And that first Canadian, by the way, is Ben Johnson second Canadian to legally run under 10 seconds. And that first Canadian, by the way, is Ben Johnson because his 9.95, I guess, is the Canadian record at that time. No, it wasn't. They had taken it from him. So that's gone already. Okay. So you ran 9.99 seconds

in April 1995. Yes, Baton Rouge. Yes. And then you do get the record to yourself because you run 991 at the national

championships in 95 well actually well funny enough in 1994 the Canadian record was 10.03 and that was

Bruni's record right Bruni Seren yeah so Bruni had ran and but I was on a mission in 1994 that I was gonna bury everybody unfortunately Bruni had ran, but I was on a mission in 1994 that I was going to bury everybody.

Unfortunately, Bruni was also collateral damage. And so, sorry, it was 10.02. And so in 1994, when I just went to meet with Dan and started training there there i ran under 10 10 so i ran 10 0 uh i think i ran 10 oh like 15 times so it's like 03 03 04 05 like so i ran a i ran a whole slew of times so uh the canadian record uh was 10.02 in 1995 i'd ran indoors just to kind of I just ran indoors because for me in the indoors there's always been

you know the consolation prize and it's just to break the monotony of fall training so I opened the season in Baton Rouge in April

with 9.99 which that day was the Canadian record yes and then you in July so July you run the 9.91, which that day was the Kenina record. Yes, and then you, in July. So July you'd run the 9.91 at the national championships. At the national championships, yes. Okay, so now you're going off

to the world championships in Gothenburg, and you win. You win the, I swear on my own show, sure. You win the fucking title in 9.97 seconds, and you anchor Canada to the four by 100 meter gold so this is like the timing is impeccable man your timing is great here because here you are putting it all together in 1995 and

in 1996 the olympic games are in atlanta georgia it's all coming together man well yeah listen 95 i think was well 94 was a pivot of the year because it was just for me to get comfortable amongst, I mean, again, this is the individual sport. So think about the first year that Tiger Woods came on or the first year that Bolt came on or Michael Phelps. I mean, it's the year that I came and I got comfortable amongst the best people. And so, you know, 94, I was comfortable.

And then 95, I was headhunting. You know, 95 it was open the seas with the Canadian record. I think that, you know, well, actually, one of the things that you guys should check out if you ever have an opportunity. Yeah. In 1994, I went to the Penn Relays, and the Penn, we Relays, we were running against the Nike team that had four studs, Andre Cason, John Regis,

Alapadia Deniken, and I forgot who the fourth person was. But they were favored. I called my buddy Reggie Jones, who's a long jumper, Michael Green from Jamaica, and I called Robert Esme. It flew him in. So this was Adidas.

This was the first shoe company versus shoe company at Penn Relays with fans hanging off the rafters. And I got the baton behind, and I walked the man. I walked the man, passed the man, and put my hand up at the line and that was the first time i think that's probably one of my favorite track moments ever ever but but i'm saying to you ahead of 96 94 no i'm saying that was yes yes he said one of us i said one of okay i'm saying to you i got i got i'm saying to you we our name wasn't even on the program. And so, I mean, you know. You're turning some heads there.

No, I think that they actually understood that I was serious because I started headhunting in 94. Again, you mentioned 95. 95, the World Championships, you know, to me, it was my level of comfort and confidence just because of the structure in which dan had me i understood what uh nutrition was i wasn't hitting the clubs you know i was eating properly therapy massages taking care of my body uh you know so i understood what all those things were so yeah i mean mean, you talk about timing. These were times that I wanted to,

I mean, again, I was fighting for something bigger than me. So I, in order for people to listen to me, I had to win and I had to set records and I had to be clean, drug free. And of course, I think some people just didn't like my confidence,

but to hell with them. But you need that swagger. I would think, I've never been the best at anything. I did win the W5H quiz championship in grade eight. I captained my team. W5H, we called it. That's pretty cool. That's about it, man.

I got a regional ribbon, like a gold medal ribbon for four by 100 meter. I was. Stick with the W5. Okay. Stick with the W5. I'm coming for you. I've been for competition. You were there.

You need, you know, for me to get to a thousand podcast episodes, I needed a little swagger, you know. You need to have that swagger. You got to believe in yourself. I don't know anyone in this world who is successful, who does not have an edge. I'm never, ever concerned with a kid's personality. There's going to be shy kids. Sure.

And, you know, there's going to be whatever. I mean, but I'm saying to you that, like, even on our podcast, one of the amazing things is, I mean, obviously, I played golf with Jason before. I mean, you've got clubs in your hand, and everybody, none of us are Tiger Woods, and none of of us going to go to the senior tour, but I think that everyone has to have that swagger, even if the game is going to crush you. But I'm saying to you that even at the podcast, I am the one learning because although, you know, I'm the public, I'm the global public person in the Hall of Fame and all of that stuff. Jason is the professional media person.

So every time I see how professional he is, as soon as a mic goes in his face or as soon as a mic is there and that next level comes. Yeah, or a mic or a tron mic. I don't know about that. Is there any other? No. This is it. yeah or a mic or to run i don't know about that is there any other no right but i'm saying to you that i'm saying to you that that that when i speak to people there is no reason whatsoever for you to not have swagger and for you to not have confidence it has nothing to do with your personality by the way and and and and i think that you must in order for you to be successful if you're studying for an

exam study i mean my dad used to tell me this when I was like seven years old. He said, study as if you've already gotten an A. You know, I mean, you have to prepare yourself that way. And you have to talk. Not only do you have to do the work, but you have to talk yourself into that success. So, yeah, I mean, I don't, you know, I like to be around successful people. I like to be around people who are confident in what they're doing because what that allows me to do is to be a better person in whatever the hell I'm doing.

Now, one interesting footnote on your way to Atlanta before I play Don Whitman's amazing call. I'm going to play it in a moment. But the one interesting footnote I find, and there's probably more than one, but the one I took note of is the 50- 50 meter indoor competition in reno nevada this is 96 okay you you ran that race uh 5.56 seconds and uh is that still the world record it was that's a world record as of today it's still the world record. I mean, I would have, funny enough, I would have gotten that record.

I missed that record. So the world record was 5.61 before I broke it. And I think it was the week or two weeks before in Hamilton, I ran 5.62. And it was a terrible start. So again, like I said before, I was headhunting. I was headhunting that whole, I was like, man, records are gone. People are gone. Burying everybody.

And you're on your way to, this is 96, so Atlanta's coming because Atlanta's in July. Right. And you're not even an indoor guy, but you run this 50 meter in 5.56 seconds. I just think it's amazing that the record could last this long. Well, listen, it's an homage to hard work. And these are all things that I still thank Dan for, and some of my training partners, but Dan and Mark Lindsay for sure,

because these were the guys that every single day, you know, I was, I was on the grind and, and Dan was challenging me intellectually on the track. And Mark was, you know, man,

he was, he was breaking down my body, massaging, soft tissue specialists, nutrition, telling me what to eat. You know, I never really had bad eating habits, but I'm saying to you that,

you know, I never really had bad eating habits, but I'm saying to you that, you know, these records and titles is homage to all of the people that helped me along the way. Okay, I want to look at you, Jason, and look at you, Donovan, because I'm going to play the Don Whitman call here and I want to watch the reaction here. But let's listen. This time they do get away.

Now it's Donovan Bailey trying to pick up runners. Donovan Bailey is putting on a surge. Adam Golden in the lead. Here comes Bailey. He's got it. 984, a world record for Donovan Bailey and a gold medal. Donovan Bailey through the heats and into the semifinal indicated that he was ready.

He had the power down the stretch to overtake other runners. He did not get his great start, but it was improved over what we saw from him earlier. And over the final 50 meters, it was out of olden. And Frankie Fredericks, that he caught at the finish line. And clearly, unlike the women's final, I got chills, man. I got chills. They're multiplying. You know what?

I'm about to lose control as well because I'm just sitting here, and as much as Donovan is a friend, he's a brother, a family member, right now I'm like a little kid in a candy shop. This is cool for me. I'm just taking it all in as now a fan of the man so you guys do your thing i'm enjoying this are you so and i didn't have to even pay to get in here before i go to donovan for the real talk uh jason are you like me man you're back on that couch back in what july 27th 1996 staring at the tv because and there was a false start right so there was three

and they right that's they changed the rules. The rules of track and field today were changed because of what happened in my race. So today, it's one and done, right? One and done, yeah.

Back in the day, you could use that to your advantage. Because I could have one and there's always another one and if the second one, if you get out the second one, then you're out.

But everyone, every athlete could get two false starts yeah i was like you mike i'm sitting there remember we're only we're only and i'm gonna jump get to this a bit in a moment i gotta hear from donovan here but eight years removed from ben johnson when we were all gathered we were all rooting for ben ben wins gold he's got he also had the world record gold medal and then we know what happened and here Donovan does it and I think it like restores this nation's faith in our track and field athletics like it was huge it was massive and you know what to be honest I wasn't the biggest of track athletes and you know in terms of the event itself I wasn't all in the track and field but

that's where it changed for me I mean mean, Ben kind of got the juices flowing. Sure. And then I was like, oh man. But then when Donovan does it, and I want to say he kind of pioneered the Usain Bolt type of effort, because Usain never starts well. Donovan didn't start well.

Not at all. He was a closer. Right. Right. That was Ben's strength was the starts. They said it was too fast. Right. I don't know.

Well. I don't care how you start in any sport. It's how you finish. It was too fast. Okay, Donovan, we're going to be quiet here. Just share with us whatever you can remember from that 9.84 second run on July 27th, 1996. Well, okay. So, you know, this was work for me um you know so i think that a lot of people see

the race and and so let me break down what just happened so uh we just listened to don whitman and and and funny enough it's almost like i get emotional i mean my father's passed away and and uh you know when my dad's birthday comes up, you know, I get a little emotional. I miss the guy because we had such an incredible relationship. Don Whitman was the best at what he did. I mean, what's incredible is that he lives every day through the voice and the races that he called. every day through the voice and the races that he called. Him and Jeff Gowan, these guys were the very, very best.

And I miss those two men. And we get to live, well, I mean, he gets to call my dance. You know, and it's refreshing, you know refreshing to hear. But the day itself was just, I guess I felt that it was another day at the office. I knew that I had to relax. I knew that it was for me to lose. I knew that I was ranked number one or one of the favorites going in.

Frankie had been consistent over that year, but, I mean, he was a square bullseye for me. And I knew that my top speed, just like Usain's after me, my top speed was way higher than anybody else that was competing in the power speed event, which is the 100 meters and the fastest, for the fastest human being on the planet. 43.6 kilometers an hour is the speed you hit during that race. Apparently. Apparently. Yeah, no, sorry, not apparently. That is for the kids.

That's factual. Yeah. How much of that was wind aided? Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero point.

You sure it has some big- ass fan behind you zero point yes there was there was there was one canadians are back there well well maybe jason yeah i'll tell you maybe because i gotta tell you in atlanta i mean in atlanta it's probably the closest that i mean obviously we had we had the summer o, but in Atlanta was the closest we could have ever come to a home game, right? Because all of my friends across Canada, plane, train, automobile, bus, bike, hitchhike, everyone made their way to Atlanta. I think there might have been one or two or three of my personal friends, who I'm still friends with today, that couldn't make it.

It was probably a work thing. People quit their jobs like, no, man, Bailey's going to Atlanta. We are not going to miss this. And I think that they all knew that my level of confidence and the fact is that I'm going in and I'm one of the favorites. And if I'm given an opportunity,'m not i will not disappoint um you know so it was a home game it

was so amazing to be on the track you know i mean the time aside the world record aside the most amazing thing for me to see was looking up in the audience of 80,000 people and littered all through the stadium was Canadian flags. And obviously, you know, obviously all my Jamaican, you know, compatriots, they mean obviously Michael Green was theamaican representative but uh we all know that you know as as loyal as as jamaicans are to their to their own they're gonna say yeah man you know yeah yeah i represent canada no i know but you know we know that uh we know say yard money no and and and also i'll translate so what he said there is even though he ran for Canada, we still know he's Jamaican born. Underneath the red and white jersey is a Jamaican underwear.

Yes. Yeah, sure. Whatever. And funny enough, I mean, yes. And by the way, in Atlanta, there was four Jamaicans in the race. It was myself, Linford Christie, Michael Green, and Otto Bolden. Funny enough, his mother is Jamaican. But he's Bolden. Funny enough, his mother is Jamaican. But he's Trini. So his quick question, before

Mike just played that, when would have been the last time you heard that race? Oh God, been a while. Because if I was you, I'd play it every day, I'm in the car. It'd be my ringtone. Exactly. You know what, I don't, maybe, funny enough, I don what? I don't, maybe, like, funny enough, I don't, I don't,

I never watched videos of myself training. It was always a feeling for me. And so Dan would watch things. So even that race, after, like, after that race was done, Dan and I got into an argument after. Because, I mean, we're talking about how, like, he and I basically started talking about how like he and i basically started talking about how horrible the first 30 meters was and i'm like yeah you know it was terrible

and we're and he goes to the middle was not bad i mean you know so i'm saying to you that that that that that as an athlete i was consistently thinking about how to improve so watching races and and listening to races was something i just didn't do while I was training. It was just, you know, it was just something. I like to train and then improve and take that thousands of a second off. Now, 984, this begs the question, Donovan, if you could get that start right, like, you know, how fast do you think you could have run in your career? So again, you have to ask my coach Dan that. So he said, based upon times that I was running in practice, he felt that had I got the start

that I was supposed to get in Atlanta, I would run somewhere between 9.65 and 9.71. Wow. And where does that time of 9.84 translate to today? When you put in all the analytics, obviously technology, shoes? What number do you think that represents today? Great, great question, Jason. So I spoke to Dan about this again. So we were talking about it maybe about a month and a half ago, and we were talking about the shoe technology and the track technology.

And all he said to me is 95 all day, every day wow that's all he said said nine five all day every day because he also knew that i mean i i didn't like the the diamond league for instance to me was always i always trained through them so it was always just fun uh and anyone will tell you that if the through in the diamond league i was just like i mean i was a free spirit and i'd go to a restaurant you know have a glass of wine you know you know you know you know what you're not supposed to do before you compete when i was doing a lot of that and and and so and so uh never works so when so whenever it is that it got to like the games i'd get serious but during the diamond league you know i was really just having fun, before we put a wrap on Atlanta, though,

because you have more than one gold medal. Where are your gold medals right now, Donovan? Save the deposit box. I thought you might wear them today. No, we tend not to wear those on Tuesdays. Well, look, you have multiple. So, please, this is worth the two minutes here. Let's listen to the other accomplishment there.

Canada in lane six. The United States in lane four. And they're off. And it's up to Robert Esme to run the bend and make the clean exchange to Glenroy Gilbert. And he came flying out of the box. He did blast off. There goes Gilbert down the back straight.

Gilbert is in a battle with Tim Hart. And now the third exchange. Marsh and Rooney Surin. And Rooney Surin has the lead. He's going to hand off in front of what appeared to Donovan Bailey. A clean exchange, and Donovan Bailey is pouring it on. And it's going to be double gold Canada. Oh, if you're Canadian, you have to love Saturday nights in Georgia.

37-69 for Donovan Bailey and the Canadian relay team. As Bailey and the other three members, Robert Esme, Glenroy Gilbert and Brody Surin, will depart Atlanta with a gold medal 37-69 their time outside the Olympic and world record. But for this quartet, that is a Canadian record. What a run and the key may have been Robert Esme blasting off out of the starting blocks. They wanted that additional speed on the first leg. They got it from Robert Esme blasting off out of the starting blocks. They wanted that additional speed on the first leg. They got it from Robert Esme.

Bruni Surin ran a magnificent turn, and when he put the baton in the hands of Donovan Bailey with the lead, there was no way the 100-meter champion was going to be caught. Let's take a look at a replay as we isolate our camera. 37.69 seconds. Once again, and we're all watching that live, and we're all jumping out of our seats. What pride I felt as a Canadian when we finished first again.

Wow. And he's right, by the way, because the start, if there's a start, we all know, regardless of whatever track sport it is, the start is integral. It's not beyond and all, because Donovan always came from off the pace in one. But I'm saying the fact that he got the baton

from Bruni and was in the lead, oh man, it killed the drama. You know, it was over. It was over. Bruni,

you know what? He gave you the baton and raised his hand. He said it was done. And it was over It was over Bernie You know what He gave you the bat And raised his hand He said it was done And it was Well Listen Who was gonna beat you

At that point Well there's zero chance Of anybody But I'm saying to you that The great thing about our team I'll tell you about our team I'll break the race down In a second

Okay But I'm loving this I am loving this Yeah Jason you you having a good time 100 like i like i said a lot of f words come to mind with him not not that okay fast okay okay friend family but right now i'm just a fan i'm just a fan okay please donovan continue we're ready no i'm saying i'm saying to you that that i'm you that I'm trying to break down the makeup of our team. One of the things I did with the guys is I challenged them.

So whether they were pissed off at me or not, they had to beat me in the 100 meters. This allowed Glen Roy and Bruni and Robert and Carlton to train harder because they had to challenge me in the 100 meters. But when I was on the track for the relay, the confidence that these guys had was a next level man. And they feared nobody because I feared nobody. And that was the leadership that I wanted to have and to pass on to these guys. So, you know, being the first team in the history of the world to beat the U.S. at home in Atlanta,

in the relay, was a goal that I had. And I told them that. I said, you know, we're not here to, we're not playing with these guys, man. And they actually, they all knew that based upon what happened in the 100 meters. So I think that was amazing. You know, when you break down the race, though, the original four on the team, Carlton Chambers was actually the third fastest Canadian, I think. And, you know, I want to say him and Glenroy were really close. Carlton was going.

I'm glad you mentioned his name, by the way, because he's kind of forgotten one. But I always mention Carlton because I just want to make sure that everyone understands. So Carlton was, I mean, I actually have a photo at home that's framed and it was like the last supper. So it was Carlton, Bruni, Glenroy, myself, Becky, the lady who was hosting us at her villa in Buckhead. And that was the last supper before the start of the relay.

And so Carlton was going to lead off. But Carlton at University of Clemson had a very long season and certainly had some injury issues. And so we had to decide whether or not Carlton was going to continue on. And kudos to Carlton Chambers, I've got to tell you, because he could have lied and said that he was healthy because some athletes have done that before. Right. But we trained.

And Carlton, you saw that he had a long season. You saw that he had a slight hamstring tear. Robert was chomping at the bits. I mean, I don't know how much training Robert had done after he made the team. Because one of the things that Canadians on a whole has always done, you know, prior to me being, you know, the captain or the leader on the team, is that we always used to just, guys used to go make the team and don't train. It's like, oh my God, I made the team. I don't have to do anything now. I'm going to go and be a participant at the championships. And that was never going to fly with me. You know, so Robert was down. I mean, like, I think that when you break, Glenroy had sent me the breakdown, I think,

last year or the year before or a while back. So Robert was down a tenth. So although you see how the race is and Robert handed off the baton, Robert was actually, so we were down a tenth. John Drummond ran 10.35 in the first leg and Robert ran 10.47, I think. But Glenroy, I mean, oh man,

Glenroy, I mean, I've always pissed Glenroy off and he'll tell you this. I believe that Glenroy should have been one of the best sprinters in the world. The problem is that he got into his head every single time that he stepped in between the lines in the individual 100 meters. But, oh, man, put a baton in his hand. Oh, put a baton in his hand.

So Glen Roy brought us down from a tenth and put us up two tenths. So Glen Roy, on the backstretch in Atlanta, probably ran the fastest backstretch in history. I mean, I don't know I don't know who was done faster I mean I I probably should check uh and and and and uh and and handed off to Bruni uh you know Bruni I think that Bruni ran I want to say that Bruni ran 9.25 and and um and Mike Marsh ran uh 9.20 something like that it was It was 2.100, or 2.1000s anyways. Bruni maintained the lead. And when I got the stick, I mean, there was no chance.

You said 9? Or do you mean 10? No, 9. No, but it's a flying 100 meters. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're not starting to block. Because my leg was 8.6 seconds. Right, right.

Right. So I'm saying to you that that was the breakdown of the race itself. So I'm saying to you that that was the breakdown of the race itself. But again, I have always, I mean, whether these guys want to talk about it or not, you know, at some point they have to. And again, I'll put it in the book. I mean, I knew I challenged these guys to beat me. And I was going to be, and I wasn't calling them out. I was just going to do my thing and beat the clock.

But when it came to the relay, when I stepped on the track and these guys knew I was there and they had to hand the baton off to me, yeah, we're not playing, man. And for that, again, people always question me on this when I say that the relay team that I anchored or that I was part of for six years in a row, we're the number one team in this country of any team. So if there is another team out there, I don't care what it is, curling, soccer, hockey, baseball, football. If there's another team that is number one in the world six years in a row, please let me know.

And so for that, yes, it might sound arrogant or confident. No, not at all. But I'm very certain that there's no other team out there that has done that in the history of this country. And Mike, as much as it was great to see Donovan win that individual matchup,

for me, Ouch. this team effort, Ouch. No, no, no, no. I'm joking. The team, it felt like

we just beat the unbeatable. Right. We just beat the powerhouse Americans. And like you said, to do it in their own backyard. It was like a cherry on top of the sundae. Like Donovan winning that 100-meter goal,

that's your sundae, if you will. But now you got the cherry on top with the 4x1. Just again, proud moment for Canadians. And again, it was sort of like you exercised these demons, the Ben Johnson demons there that I really can't thank you enough for not taking any shortcuts, buddy. I think it would have destroyed this country. Should we have learned anything?

Any shortcuts were taken. Like, thank you for not taking any. Well, well, well, thank you. Listen,

I understood. I understood what my responsibility was and I took it seriously. I mean it seriously. I mean, yes, I think that there are times, even in the race where I think that I saw a video one time where one of the announcers was saying, look at Donovan Bailey's face.

He's not even serious. He's smiling. And I'm like, oh, you don't know me, man. I am smiling because I'm about to take your heart out. Silent assessment. But I don't even take your heart out. Silent assessment. I don't even understand how people don't get that.

But listen, I was never here to eradicate the Ben Johnson thing. I was just here to do it the right way. I did it my way. Paul Anka wrote that, fellow Canadian. Is it my way or is it Frank mean this is the paul anchor wrote that fellow canadian is it is it my way is it frank's well frank's saying it but oh well listen i i i that's a good thing uh so no so i'm saying to you that my my this was an opportunity for me uh to do the right thing uh and and doing it my way i had a great team with me i still have those those very same people are still very much a part of my life to this day.

These are the, you know, Dan is still coaching. Mark is still treating people. If one of my kids want to become a sports person, you know, then these are the same people I'll put my kids in because I trust these people implicitly. And for me, I was just and george's son trying to do the right thing and and and so i i didn't look at it as you know exercising demons and and doing all this stuff i you know i felt that um that that that given the opportunity i was going to do it my

way and i was going to do it the right way so we can continue to talk about it for generations thank you so much and i gotta add to your medal count so way so we can continue to talk about it for generations. Thank you so much. And I got to add to your medal count. So you got the two gold medals, but I got to just give you a, it's in my freezer right now. Before you leave, I'll get a few. I got some stuff for you here real quick.

And I got good stuff for you too, Jason. I have a large lasagna from Palma Pasta, frozen lasagna in the freezer. You guys are taking home. I promise you this will be the most authentic, wonderful Italian food you've ever had from a store. So you're going home.

I'm telling you, you're both getting one. And you know what's so funny? My wife is Italian. She cooks every authentic Italian meal, but does not cook lasagna. Hey, you're going home with lasagna today, buddy.

You're the man. Well, thank you, Palma Pasta, for that. Thank you, Palma. Thank you. And also, there's a Toronto Mike sticker for you guys

from stickeru.com. Okay. So, Donovan, you can stick that on the bumper before you leave. Sticker U. So, at this rate,

DB, I can't wait till we come back for episode two. Oh, there's more. There's more. Episode two thousand we're getting a car like Oprah.

Two thousand and four. All right. Okay. So, you each get a toque from Canna Cabana. That's where you go for your cannabis, my friends. All right. They got 100 locations across the country. Yeah, and there's a cozy from Canna Cabana too.

And so thank you, Canna Cabana. Go to cannacabana.com. That's from Ridley Funeral Home. That's a measuring tape from Ridley Funeral Home. You got a flashlight for one of your kids, Donovan, there from Ridley. Yes, I'm going to get the, he can have the tape.

I'll give the you. You've had enough tapes to run through. Let me try and run through one. Absolutely, man. I'm going to find some old men I can beat down the road here. And much love to Great Lakes Brewery, Fresh Craft Beer,

brewed right here in Southern Etobicoke. Fantastic sponsors of the show. So you guys are taken care of. Quick question before I I know I promised you an hour. I'm going to blow by it a little bit here. I hope you don't get pissed off at me. But the Lou Marsh Award. So Donovan

Bailey, you won the Lou Marsh Award that year. Right. My question for you is because this has come up quite a bit on Hebsey on Sports with Mark Hebbshire that I co-host. But Lou Marsh said some has some rhetoric that he wrote in the Star back in the 30s that is racist in its language and he had you know he didn't want the 1936 Berlin Olympics to be boycotted because there's a number of problematic things of Lou Marsh and there's great talk right now that they're going to rename that award.

I'm just curious, would you like to see that award renamed since your name is on it? You know what? I think that we're in society right now where we're fixing some wrongs. Yes, I did win, you know, after the year,

which is the Lou Marsh Award, and runner up a couple of times. Sure. I, yeah, sure, why not? You know, I, why not? I mean, we're fixing some things. The great thing about, you said that you didn't want the 36 Olympics

to be boycotted. Well, Jesse Owens fixed that. Yes, he did. Jesse Owens actually showed who the greatest athletes, the greatest athlete on the planet was. I mean, mind you, he went back to America, went to the White House, wasn't allowed to come in the front door of the White House where he was being celebrated.

Wow. He, he. They were there to celebrate him, but he wasn't allowed to come in. So at the end of the day, listen, there are certainly lots of awards that are named for people. I think that we all need to address all the people and, you know, obviously what they have contributed to society. There's some great athletes, some people have done some incredible things in life. And if those things that those people have done still meet today a high standard, then those people deserve to have their names on trophies and on awards around the world.

Well said. Now I'm going to take us back. I'm going to play a clip and then we're going to dive into this. But we're going back now to May 1997. May 1997. And let's listen and then we got to talk about this. Bailey on the inside. Brunson on the inside Johnson on the outside Bailey with a great start running through the turn in the lead

now they race towards the finish Johnson pulls up Bailey's going to win it Donovan Bailey looks back at the 100 meter mark Johnson pulled up. The timed 15-second slot.

Donovan Bailey, Olympic champion. World record holder. He became a world champion in 1995 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Reconfirmed the fact he was the fastest man in the world in Atlanta last summer. And has again proven his status as the world's fastest man. Oh, man. What are you going to ask me, dude? Oh, so many questions.

That's Sky Dome, of course. That brings back memories, Mike. Yeah, because we were all watching that, too. Not just that. questions. That's Skydome, of course. That brings back memories, Mike. Yeah, because we were all watching that too. Not just that. I've been losing to him on the golf course, and all of a sudden, by like the 12th hole, I got a blister on my finger. And I'm like, Donovan, you know, you didn't beat me.

I just can't finish the round because of the blister. I can't hold the damn club. Okay, so Michael, wherever you are, I understand. Michael Johnson. Okay, Michael Johnson. I guess this all comes, I mean, Michael, wherever you are, I understand. Michael Johnson. Okay, Michael Johnson. I guess this all comes, I mean, historically, the winner of the 100 meters is known as the world's, the fastest man in the world, historically.

Well, it's not about historically. I mean, you can't measure speed in a circle. You just can't. I mean, and so sometimes logically people get this historical thing. I have to let you know this. I have an incredible, healthy respect for Michael Johnson. But Michael's never going to be a 100-meter sprinter. Never.

He was never going to contest any one of the power speed guys. Like an actual fact, I have to tell you, and I've said this before, power speed guys like an actual fact i have to tell you and i've said this before i'm actually surprised that otto bolden and frankie fredericks who are both faster power speed wise than michael johnson actually allowed him to beat him to beat them in the 200 meters because clearly i mean michael doesn't have power speed to like up and take you what michael does is like um michael would be like a cross like a prius michael this fuel efficient what he does he he gets in the blocks he blasts out in front of you and and he just and he's just like a you know a bunny and he just and he just pulls away from me, and that's what he does. You see it in the 200 meters,

you see him do it in the 400 meters all the time. So for me, I know that as a power speed guy with the fastest human being on the planet, that Michael had zero chance of winning and beating me at the 150. And for those of you, you can can get on youtube i'll tell you this i took three strides and i was ahead remember i was on the inside right so in three strides i was actually um i would so in so and this is less than so it's 10 meters so in 10 meters i was

actually shoulder width i mean i was i was shoulder shoulder with mich I was shoulder to shoulder with Michael. So he had no chance. And I have to tell you, again, I have a healthy respect for that man. He's done incredible things on the track and one of the best speed endurance printer that ever walked the face of the earth. And he's also done some incredible things when he's finished track when he's when he's finished track and and as an ambassador and also as a media person so i mean a healthy respect but but the 150 there was never going to be a chance so i guess as a spectator i thought for sure slam dunk of course you're going to be ahead at the 100 meter like let's assume he was healthy and he finished that race

right because we'll get to that in a minute but at the 100 meter mark blisters do happen mike that's quite the blister okay so at the 100 meter mark we all knew donovan the worry for us uh you know donovan fans was what would happen between 100 and 150 because logic tells you that's where michael johnson makes up the uh difference so i guess my first question is uh who approached you like how did this come to be? And I think 30,000 people were at the Dome to watch that live. This was quite the event. 50,000.

50,000. Okay, well, I got to carry the one here. My God, man. Oh, my goodness. I'm shortchanging you. But this was a huge event. It's the last time the Dome was packed to the rafters, Mike. Come on now.

Since the bat flip. Well, I mean, obviously mean obviously baseball we hope to god that that's yeah right yes but tell me like who approached you and and again you got a you got 1.5 million dollars for this uh by the way the official time was not 15 seconds they gave you uh it was 14.99 seconds right which i think it was a world record at the time also okay so do you talk now uh how the hell did they get you into this thing? You know, I tell you, so after the Atlanta Olympics, it's clear that, you know, well, for my people,

I was the star of the games. For all Canadians and a whole lot of other countries, I was the star of the games. But Michael was insistent that he was the star of the games. Well, he was calling himself the world's fastest man. Like, he was billing himself as the world's fastest man. Well, I mean, he was billing himself as the world's fastest man because based upon, well, it's silly calculations

because I think that Michael had ran 10.2 and 9.6 or something like that. The calculations for the 200 meters. And the average speed that he was running was 9.6, I think, something like that, whatever the calculation was. And so Bob Costas, the great Bob Costas, had said that because of his average speed, had said that because of his average speed,

which is 9.6, that Michael was indeed the world's fastest man. And so it was kind of funny because I said, well, I ran 9.8 and my fly 100 meters in the relay was 8.6. So maybe you should add that because then I would basically, based upon his math, I would have been able to run the 200 meters

in 18.7 seconds or something. It's ridiculous. Anyways, either way, Bob Costas came up with this idea. Clearly the media went with it. NBC ran with it. And I got together with some very good business people in Canada. I looked at this as an economic windfall for me.

Good for you. And so with the cash on the table and also with sponsorship, I looked at that as it's still to this day the highest one weekend, one performance athletic event because I was able to bank about $5 million for that weekend. the first and only event where an athlete showed up and you got five million dollars cash for just showing up and uh you had a million and a half dollars cash to win you know so and also there was pay-per-view and there was certainly there was uh there was there was um gate uh money so so basically when i look at that mike it was funny enough a lot of times people see, you know, like Mayweather Productions and Golden Boy Productions with Oscar de la Hoya. So in 1997, as a trailblazer again, and this is also one of the reasons why sometimes people don't like me because, you know, I was thinking business then. I was thinking branding and business.

So this was the first time that an event was athlete owned so basically was owned by me and michael johnson yeah there's no don king in the way there was definitely no don king in the way so so i'm saying to you although it was a race uh that was at home in toronto that the the canadian fans came out well a lot the global fans came out because that was well we had more viewership than the world championships later that year my father got to see me again compete live uh you know all my boys uh and friends in Canada got to come and get to the stadium and see me live but more importantly it was a business thing uh for me uh which was about um ownership and athlete ownership so the same way where you

see like LeBron and and Michael Jordan you know take you know full control of their of their brand and and image and likeness which is you know what what's happening in the ncaa finally now right i took full control of that then so so as important as the race and the result itself it was the first time that had an athlete had full control of every single part of the business to do with their brand do Do you, a great question came in from Eric, who wants to know that if you had any communication with Michael Johnson since the one-on-one race that we're talking about and the chicken comment. Yeah.

I mean, Michael, Michael and I worked, actually Michael and I worked together at BBC in the UK. And, and certainly Michael and I have been the same room. I mean, Michael, Michael and I were never like buddies. We were never friends before the 150.

So we're still the same buddies now. We're never, you know, Michael and I ran a relay together. We had a Legends relay in Berlin where it was me, Michael Johnson, Frankie Fredrickson,

Linford Christie when Linford was retiring. So we just had like a relay just for the fans, like an all-star. But yeah, I mean, again, I have a massive healthy respect for the man, for what he's done. You know, Michael had a stroke a couple of years ago. You know, I just sent a note out to him, man, because at the end of the day, you know, as crazy as we were on the track

and we were competitors, we were never rivals. And so just like you see in the All-Star weekend where Magic and Jordan could go at it, Michael and I were just guys with different events but very healthy competitors and certainly healthy respect for him. And a unique style. I don't think I've ever seen another runner to this day with that style that Michael Johnson had. Absolutely. You know what?

And again, you think about fuel efficiency. So Michael's not a powerful guy. So at the end of the day, he gets out in front of you, man, and the pistons go down and it's tut, tut, tut, tut, tut. And you see that in every single 200 meters and 400 meters that that guy ever run. If you go back to- He just looked unorthodox when he used to run. Well, yes.

But I'm saying to you, think about it. First of all, long torso, short legs, and the efficiency of how he used all his stride patterns. And again, I mean, there's another guy that if you have that body type you definitely should emulate that guy and you know for the record here real talk on toronto mike do you think he was at all uh now you're looking back uh malingering the uh symptoms mike we don't mess with blisters i mean blisters come in all forms for the record i know he missed he missed like a major event the next major event he missed it due to injury but I always wonder if he did

did he yeah he missed something oh okay and I always felt that was I thought but I was I was at an event

oh and he was there I want to say it's Paris I want to say we're in Paris and Michael did not compete in the 400 meters or he did

and he didn't win and I won so it wasn't is this the classic i mean this is all what what we thought at the time and your chicken comment and everything but like uh he knows he's gonna lose so his only uh out is to pull up lame like like it you know you still feel that way well one i'm an old man right now so so i so so i mean obviously uh we can i can i can definitely say i evolve but it's just one of those, I mean, we spoke earlier about, you know,

two coaches going at it. I'm saying to you that sometimes it's not good to put a hot mic in front of a hot guy in a hot moment because you're going to get classics like that, Mike. But listen, I think many people have said it. I mean, Michael said he had a cramp. If Michael had a cramp, Michael had a cramp. I'm just saying to you that it was irrelevant whether Michael was going to have a cramp or not. The race was over in 10 meters.

Okay, before we leave that event, though, here's a jam by a fellow FOTM, Maestro Fresh West. Although at this time, he's just going as Maestro. But here, listen closely to these lyrics off the top. There's been just a slight delay, folks. They just had a little technical problem. Please be patient. You know you're going to see one of the best shows you've seen in a long, long time.

The Maestro will kick some butt here. Kick some butt here. here So Maestro's got your back here, buddy. Yeah, Maestro's my brethren, man. And again, you talk about a trailblazer, man. You know, that guy better have a star on the Walk of Fame, man, because that uh that's my man oh that's a good segue buddy that's a good segue uh that's a good segue here this is a uh the other day doug smith from the toronto star came over now doug covers the

raptors now i know you're a big raptors guy but he uh worked for canadian press before he moved over to the star and he covered lots of events, including the Atlanta Olympics. So he was in Atlanta to witness your gold medals. So this is just an excerpt from our chat and this is going to be where I want to take this convo before we say goodbye here. But let's listen to me and Doug. One of the greatest

Canadian sportsmen ever. Not only ever gets his due for what he was and what he did. On that note, because he's coming up very soon, he'll be on Toronto Mike, then I'm going to drill into this, but he really does seem to be under

appreciated. He doesn't seem to be getting his due. No, and I don't know why. Could it be Ben Johnson hangover and the track was at such a low point when he sort of resurrected it in 90? I don't know, 96? Remember, Bruni Surin just got the Order of Canada,

if I remember. Yeah, but I know Steve Simmons is big on this, that Donovan's not in the Order of Canada, which is absolutely ridiculous to me because of all the great sports people of our lifetimes, he's got to be in the top seven or eight, doesn't he? I think, well, he's the, let's face it, the only, I believe he's the only Canadian to win gold medal in the 100 meters.

And you mentioned Ben. So my perspective on this is that we're exactly eight years removed from Seoul, Korea when Ben has his gold medal removed for taking steroids. And I feel Donovan was like, he sort of like we, we needed him more than ever eight years later. Like,

like he basically kind of resurrects our, our faith in all of this. Like, I feel like that makes what he accomplished like more vital and important. Yeah. So I just, I'm, I'm still not sure why the general public seems to... The general sports history public doesn't seem to give him nearly enough credit for

what he did for Canada and what he did as a Canadian in everybody in the world sprints. I know we've got great hockey players but nine countries play hockey. We've got a lot of great basketball players. This played around the world. But everybody runs.

Everybody does track and field. Donovan, where the fuck's your order of Canada? When are you getting your flowers, man? I don't get to make that decision. I really don't. Do you care? You know what? As a buddy?

I think that my, I think that, well, I think that my, to answer the question, You know what, I think that my, I think that, well, I think that my, to answer the question, I want to make sure that for those who are making, this is not a, for those who are making the decision, understand that there are, like I have children. And at some point, they have to answer to those children. They have to answer your children, Jason. They have to answer to, you know, to Jonesy's children. They have to answer to every single kid here that, they have to answer to Andre Degrass. They have to answer to every single person. I mean, in 1994, I was the best sprinter in Canada, right?

In 1995, I was the best sprinter in the world. I was the best sprinter in the world. In 1996, I was the fastest man in the history of this country. So this is not just about, you know, every year this goes past, right? And so there's a couple of things that I do understand. I've made things look easy mind you none of these people are seeing any historical facts as the first man in the history of the world to be Olympic champion

world champion and world record holder I'm the first man you know I'm the first Canadian you know let's just minus man I'm the first Canadian to be world, well, let's just minus span. I'm the first Canadian to be world champion. Okay. So then I'd be the second Olympic champion behind Percy Williams in 1928. Okay.

You know, so at the end of the day, I recognize that I've probably made things look easy. I came off the track. I went, I was breaking world records, smiling, talking to people so I understand that sometimes people, it appears too easy and maybe I have a handle on the Queen's English so I can always have an opinion

sometimes my opinion probably shouldn't be heard and maybe people like it that way uh but it's unfortunate that i i mean whatever whatever accolades i deserve it's unfortunate that people see me and uh and and and my accomplishments but will never give me the accolades. They're giving people with lesser accolades more, but they will not give me the exact same as those very same people. Why?

Why do you think this is? I don't know. I don't know. Sometimes when we get into society, Jason, people don't like your personality. And I think that that's the bottom line. Sometimes, you know, I've called out people. Like I said, you know, I've gone after coaches. You know, very popular coaches in this country that I found out that were messing around with athletes.

I don't play that game. I'm going to call you out. You know, maybe I called Michael Johns the chicken. Someone didn't like that. You know, whatever it is. I mean, I've always been someone who was my authentic self. And in actual fact, Jason, at the end of the day, sometimes, sometimes I believe that there are a segment of people

in the culture of this country that want you to be quiet and stay in the corner and run. If you remember, you know, Shut Up and Dribble with LeBron. There's definitely a segment. There might be a segment. There might be a few people in this country that thought that, one, you know was a breath of fresh air when i came when i started track and field because like oh my god you know donovan speaking and you know he's helping it's educating and and uh you know bringing to light some of the things that we're doing and we're getting more funding and and the team is more confident and we are uh getting winning more medals and so forth. But I think there's certainly a segment of society

that thought that my power was too much and my influence was too much because I showed up and I did things. I worked my ass off. I did things to inspire. And, you know, when I look at, you know, Meister is my boy, but when I look at someone like what Drake has done, who is, you know, hey, man, like, still is still here,

still at home, still, you know, doing things in this, but he's number one in the world. He's one of the best on the planet. I still see even, even business-wise where, you know, you're building Shopify out of, you know, Waterloo and it's one of the best in the world. You know, Andre de Grasse is not, it's fearing nobody, the women's soccer team, the women's hockey team, you know, you know, you know, when you look at the Raptors, you know, you know, you know, when you're looking at Raptors, you know, you know, you know, when you're looking at if this is part of my legacy, where I worked my ass off, and I feared nobody, then I'm okay. You know, so hopefully, whatever the accolades I deserve, I'll get it.

If I don't get it, I'm going to continue to inspire and I'm going to continue to make sure that our future leaders work hard and prepare to kick ass and not only participate. Donovan Bailey, what an absolute pleasure. Jason Portuando. Yes, sir. Dude, don't leave here without the lasagna. Oh, I won't.

I might leave here with the same bite of Donovan and you, but not without my damn lasagna. This guy's licking his lips, man. What's wrong with you? Oh, man. Real quick, though, on that, just wrap that up.

When you learned that Bruni Surin was appointed to the Order of Canada Donovan, what was your initial gut reaction to hearing that news? You know what? I was excited for Bruni.

I was. I mean, I think that, again, I just spoke about, I just spoke about the team. I was actually wondering why Glenroy and Robert and Carlton were not named to that because Bruni's greatest accomplishment. And Donovan. No, no, but I am definitely part of the team.

But I'm saying to you that I actually thought it was a team Order of Canada to get that member of the Order of Canada because Glenroy, Bruni, Robert deserve to get the member of the Order of Canada just like Bruni did because Bruni's greatest day was being part of the relay team. His

greatest day was also watching me being the greatest sprinter that ever lived in his generation. Let's get Donovan Bailey the Order of Canada. I'm working on it, buddy. I'm working on it. And that brings us to the end of our 1,002nd show. You can follow me on Twitter.

I'm at Toronto Mike. Donovan, of course, in addition to subscribing to Donovan Bailey Running Things, wherever you get your podcasts, you can follow Donovan at Donovan Bailey. Hey, Jason, what's that Twitter handle of yours? JP? Give me that. It's at JPorty. At J-P-O-R-T-Y 13.

Get that number 13 in there. I'll be tagging you on this when I post it. Our friends at Great Lakes Brewery, they're at Great Lakes Beer. Palma Pasta is at Palma Pasta. Where's my damn lasagna? It's coming. Okay. Sticker U is at Sticker U.

Ridley Funeral Home, they're at Ridley FH. And Canna Cabana are at Canna Cabana underscore. See you all next week.