Friday, October 05, 2007

Marion Jones

Man, just when I was thinking only guys in sport were doping... I was thinking it was a guy thing, and women were above it. Why I thought this I don't know. First Genevieve Jeanson World Campion cyclist comes out and admits to doping and now Marion Jones. I seem to remember that Jones had a coach/ husband who was questionable as did Jeanson. I can't really explain why I feel more sympathy for women than men when it comes to this. Marion Jones is such a beautiful woman. That might be it. Something tells me that she wouldn't have ever admitted to it had she not been forced to.

I had the fastest 75 yard sprint ever at Willard school when I was in 8th grade (and I did it clean.) 8.2 seconds. That record stood for exactly one year. But for years and years I was the fastest guy and person for that matter to ever walk throught the doors of Willard school, and I beat some very fast people. That meant something to me. The guy who beat me the next year was Tim MacD. 8.1. I had to lump it. I do admit that I always questioned the timing as it was done by hand and Tim never could beat me when he ran against me. I could always pour on a little more. What the heck, I know he didn't cheat and he was a good sport and a nice guy. Not long after that they closed the school and his record stands. I've always thought about this all of these years. How I finished second. It makes me wonder about how people who finished second to Marion Jones feel now. Nobody knows who they are.

I have to say that I was really put off by the track athletes wraping themselves in the flag at the Sydney Olympics. It really bothered me. It's just poor sportsmanship to run around the track wearing the flag. Tacky at best.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is sad... Even Bonds breaking the home run record lost some of it's excitement. He is twice the size he use to be... I'm SURE it's not just change of diet.

don said...

I'm thinking Marion Jones could smack a baseball too. Her shoulders and arms looked pretty buffed come to think of it.

Megan said...

when i heard about this the first feeling that came to me was anger.

what a fake.

don said...

The thing that gets me Megan is that these people represent us in front of the whole world, be it Floyd Landis or Marion, or whoever. I think it's really important that we show good sportsmanship and play fair.

And this running around the track wearing the flag is poor flag etiquette at best. I can't tell you how much that bothered me. As corrupt as my boy scout troop was, at least I learned proper flag etiquette.

Diane Lowe said...

Here is my dumb -probably sexist- comment: I think it's generally easier to coerce women than men into doing something that bends or breaks ethics. Although both sexes can be easily affected (do a search for the McDonald's over-the-phone strip-search case).

I believe that she never would have admitted to it if she had not been forced to. There's something in hiding what causes us shame, especially when doing something shameful helps us reach our goals.

don said...

And here is my probably sexist reply, I have more sympathy for her than I do for Floyd Landis, because she is such a lovely and charming woman. If that isn't sexist then nothing is. She admitted amd Floyd did not. But I agree she did so because she was forced to.