Blago, Tiger, U.S. Contractors and Madoff Named Worst-Behaved

Dec. 31, 2009 — -- Indicted former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, convicted conman Bernard Madoff, Tiger Woods and hard-partying U.S. private security guards at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul were named the worst-behaved newsmakers of 2009 by the ABC News program "Nightline" Wednesday.

Co-anchor Martin Bashir and ABC News chief investigative correspondent Brian Ross announced the winners in four categories of the "not-so-coveted Bernie awards," named after Madoff.

The overall "grand-prize Bernie" went to former Gov. Blagojevich, who received the most votes in a decidedly unscientific audience vote on ABCNews.com.

A spokesperson for Blagojevich, Glenn Selig, said he was surprised by the outcome "based on the response we get on his Web site, the crowds he draws at public engagements and the demand for his autograph."

Blagojevich is scheduled to go on trial next summer and "looks forward to his trial because he's anxious for the truth to come out," said the spokesperson.

The former Illinois governor received the most votes in the politicians' category, ahead of former Sen. John Edwards, Sen. John Ensign (R.-Nev.), Republican South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and convicted Congressman William "Cold Cash" Jefferson (D.-La.).