Ben Johnson lookalike contest in Chicago suburbs comes with $1,000 prize

Suburban Chicago is set to become the unlikely battleground for a Ben Johnson lookalike contest, taking place just hours before this weekend's pivotal NFL playoff matchup between the Bears and Packers. On Thursday, fans are invited to converge on the Wintrust Sports Complex in Bedford Park, donning their best resemblance to the legendary wide receiver.

In a lighthearted celebration of team spirit, all ages are welcome to participate in the contest, with some participants even encouraged to rip off their shirts to show off their allegiance. In addition to the festivities, attendees will be treated to a complimentary food buffet courtesy of Moretti's, as well as free parking and access to alcoholic beverages.

The top three winners – identified by their uncanny resemblance to Johnson – will take home enticing prizes. The first-place winner, crowned with a $1,000 Visa gift card and an annual car wash package from Gas N Wash, is sure to be thrilled. Coming in second place is the $500 Visa gift card recipient, paired with an endless supply of free pizza from Moretti's. Rounding out the top three is third-place winner, who will receive a $300 Visa gift card.

In addition to the main prizes, attendees can also snag door and raffle prizes throughout the event. With game day excitement already building in Chicago, fans are advised to arrive early to secure their spot at this unconventional lookalike contest.

OMG u guys 2day is gonna b so lit !!! i was like "wut? ben johnson lookalike contest" but then i read thru the deets & it sounds like so much fun ! who wouldn't wanna dress up as their fave nfl player & win some awesome prizes ?! idk if i'd be brave enough 2 rip off my shirt tho , but hey, its all about showin team spirit rite? can't wait 2 see how many ppl show up !

I'm not sure if this is a joke or a genius marketing move... Suburban Chicago is hosting a Ben Johnson lookalike contest like it's no big deal? I mean, I get it, the NFL playoffs are huge and people love to have fun, but what's up with this? Is it trying to distract us from something more serious? And honestly, who's gonna win this thing? A random dude in a Packers jersey?

just when you think nfl fandom is all about the games, it's really about who's got the best ben johnson impersonation skills what a weird & wonderful way to celebrate team spirit tho! i mean, who wouldn't wanna show off their best bear or packer costume in hopes of winning some decent prizes? free food & booze are just the cherry on top

omg I'm lowkey excited for this!!! I mean who doesn't want to dress up like a legend? The moretti's food buffet sounds pretty lit too lol. I don't know how many ppl are gonna have the skills to pull off that ben johnson look tho... but idk, it's def gonna be fun! I'm thinking of going with my squad and we can all wear our best "I'm a 70s football star" outfits

OMG, can you even imagine how epic it's gonna be?! I mean, a Ben Johnson lookalike contest right before the big NFL playoff game? It's like the ultimate team spirit boost! And, honestly, who wouldn't wanna dress up and show off their best impression of "Sweetness"? Plus, free food, drinks, and parking? That's just pure win-win-win for everyone involved! I'm low-key hoping to get in on that action myself... maybe I'll even bust out some old-school Bears jerseys

Ugh, sounds like people in suburban Chicago are gonna spend their playoff Sunday looking for someone who kinda looks like Ben Johnson . Who thought it's a good idea to waste time on that instead of actually watching the Bears take on the Packers? And what's with all the food and drinks? Can't they just have the prizes or something?

So they're gonna have a Ben Johnson lookalike contest at the Wintrust Sports Complex just hours before the big Bears-Packers game? Like, who came up with this genius idea? And of course, there's gotta be free food and booze involved, because what's a football game without a little extra fuel for the masses? I mean, it's not like people are gonna get too distracted by the actual game or anything... I guess it's kinda cool that they're encouraging all ages to participate, though - maybe we'll get some young'uns who can actually impersonate Johnson without bursting into a sweat . And hey, $1,000 for first place isn't too shabby either... might just have to clear my schedule for this one .

I don't get why people gotta dress up like Ben Johnson just to have some fun... I mean, I love my Bears and all, but it's just a little too extra for me . My kids are always asking me if they can wear their Bears jerseys on game day, and I'm like "sure thing, kiddo!" Why do we need a contest to show off our team spirit? Can't we just be ourselves and enjoy the game without all the fuss? And what's with the prizes? A gift card to Gas N Wash? My kid would kill me if I got him a car wash package! At least they're offering free pizza, I guess that's a good consolation prize .

OMG !!! I'm literally freaking out right now!!! Ben Johnson lookalikes taking over Suburban Chicago?!?! This is like, the best thing EVER! My Bears are gonna CRUSH those Packers and we're gonna have a blast doing it! And free food from Moretti's?!?! Game day just got a whole lot better! Can't wait to see all the amazing lookalikes and maybe even get my picture taken with them I'm totally there early, gotta secure my spot for this epic contest Bring it on, Bears Nation!

aww man, sounds like a super fun way to get hyped for the big game! who wouldn't wanna dress up as ben johnson and show off their skills? i'm sure it's gonna be a blast with all ages getting in on the action . but honestly, i think what's even more cool is that it's not just about looking alike, it's about showing team spirit & having a good time . can't wait to see how many creative outfits they come up with !

OMG, can you imagine walking up to the Wintrust Sports Complex on game day looking like Ben Johnson? That's gonna be SO much fun! I'm all about embracing team spirit and living it up with friends and family, especially during big events like NFL playoffs . The prizes aren't bad either - who wouldn't want a free pizza and car wash package? And $500 Visa gift card is a nice bonus too. I think this event could be a great way to break the tension before the game starts. Let's get this Ben Johnson lookalike party started!

I'm not sure why they're making a big deal about this Ben Johnson lookalike contest just before the Bears vs Packers game . I mean, it's cool that people want to show off their team spirit and have some fun, but isn't there already enough excitement on game day? It feels like an extra distraction from the actual football action . Plus, a food buffet and free parking sounds like just another perk for attendees – what about the fans who can't make it out?

OMG just found out about this Ben Johnson lookalike contest in Suburban Chicago on game day and I'm DYING to see all the crazy costumes ! Who's gonna win that $1k gift card? gotta be a fan of 80s football and Moretti's food is always on point can't wait for this event !

this sounds like a super lame contest lol, what's the point of a ben johnson lookalike contest just before an nfl playoff game? can't they just focus on cheering for their team instead of trying to find some random dude who looks like him? and free parking? really? that's just basic. plus, i'm not sure how legit the prizes are, is it even possible to get a visa gift card just because you look like ben johnson? seems like more of an excuse to sell overpriced merchandise and food to people who are already gonna spend money on game day stuff

OMG you won't believe what's goin' down in Suburban Chicago on Friday! Apparently, there's a Ben Johnson lookalike contest just hours before the Bears game and it's gonna be EVERYTHING fans are literally invited to come dressed up like him and compete for some sick prizes I mean, who wouldn't wanna show off their best Ben Johnson impression for a chance to win $1000 ? And can you imagine sippin' on a beer while waitin' for the contest? It's not exactly the most serious thing, but hey, when it comes to sports fans, team spirit is all about havin' fun so I'm lowkey excited for this. Plus, who doesn't love free pizza and a car wash package?

I'm not sure why people would want to dress up as Ben Johnson, but hey, it's all about having fun, right? I mean, the Bears and Packers are gonna play each other, and the winner's gonna get some sick prizes... But what's weird is that they're giving away gifts to people who look like a specific guy. Like, what if you don't even like football but just wanna come hang out with your friends? The event seems pretty cool though - free food, parking, and drinks? That sounds like a solid spot for a pre-game party! And I guess it's nice that all ages can participate... As long as they're not gonna judge people too harshly if their costume isn't, say, totally perfect.

This whole thing is just a symptom of our consumerist culture , where we're more focused on having fun than on real issues that matter to us. I mean, who needs millions of dollars allocated for infrastructure or education when you can have a Ben Johnson lookalike contest? And let's be real, it's not like this is going to solve the problems facing our city, but hey, at least we'll all have some laughs and free pizza . The real question is, who's behind this event? Are they just trying to cash in on the excitement of the NFL game or are they actually trying to drive engagement and community building? Either way, I'm not sure it's worth the cost of our civic discourse being overshadowed by a silly contest .

I'm telling ya, this Ben Johnson lookalike contest is a total no-brainer ! I mean, who doesn't want to dress up like the legendary wide receiver and show off their team spirit? It's not like it's going to be a complete waste of time or anything. And hey, free food, drinks, and prizes are always a win-win in my book. But let's get real, people need to work on their resemblance skills – I've seen some pretty questionable impersonations at fantasy football draft parties . Still, it'll be a blast and might even bring some much-needed levity to the intense NFL playoff atmosphere. Just don't expect me to join in on the fun...I'm good with my own identity .

I dont get why there needs to be a whole separate event just for some dude looking like Ben Johnson. Its just gonna be a bunch of people running around trying to find the most similar face in the crowd... And what's with all the free stuff? A food buffet and drinks is one thing, but come on, you're literally hosting an event that's right next door to a huge sports game and you're not even giving the NFL fans some perks?