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Cousins creates more controversy

By Mr Dandalooa

On February 12, 2006, Brownlow medallist Ben Cousins, then a West Coast Eagle, embarked on his now infamous booze bus run.

The troubled star abandoned his luxurious Mercedes-Benz and then girlfriend Samantha Druce in the middle lane of the bustling Canning Highway and to evade police at a booze bus location.

The then 27-year-old claimed he was not drunk, but he knew journalists would descend upon him if he was breath-tested, even if he blew under the limit, his lawyer Peter Momber told Perth Magistrates Court at the time.

That bolt was epic and involved Cousins running through backyards, jumping over fences, swimming out to the middle of the river … and then back, as well as running up to the Bluewater Grill demanding a phone call but denying his true identity.

So epic is this run, it will be immortalised in the inaugural Ben Cousins Biathlon.

Competitors are set to retrace the steps of the embattled footballer that night but the event will prove a challenge for sober competitors who are not paid bucket-loads to remain in peak physical condition. 

Organisers say the run will include a re-enactment of the swim to nowhere that had Cousins reaching the middle of his attempted river crossing and then turning back after realising he could drown.

FootyGoss understands almost 2000 people will attend the biathlon with numbers increasing everyday.

“His intricate escape route was revealed on his recent documentary, and with careful retracing of his movements, Saturday the 12 of February 2011 will be the inaugural running of the Cousins Biathlon,” the event organisers said.

Organiser Damon Bull told WA media the event would be a real celebration of Cousins’ abilities, held on the fifth anniversary of his bolt from the cops.

He said he saw the humour in the run as should people see the humour of the event.

The organisers are looking for people to offer up their backyards to be included in the race and are planning to hold an after party at the Bluewater Grill.

However, not everyone sees the humour in Cousin’s escapades.

One avid football fan said they had an open mind about Cousins but the door slammed on that notion after seeing his documentary.

``The guy is a narcissist of the highest order. He has no real remorse, if any at all,’’ the said.

``He has never really suffered any repercussions for his actions, sure he has been put under some pressure but he managed to work the system pretty well and come out relatively unscathed.

``The allure of the drugs will easily overcome any perceived possible burden.’’

Wodonga Josh agreed Cousins was “a narcissist of the highest order”.

“I work with people who have significant disorders of personality, and whilst Ben is definitely a drug addict and always will be, he exhibits strong traits of narcissism and the fact that all of this has been orchestrated to coincide with his retirement shows how shady he is,” they said.