If I had to name my all-time favorite Olympics athletes it is likely that Marion Jones would be high on the list. The #1 slot is reserved for Flo-Jo. Y'all young villagers don't know about Flo-Jo ... suffice to say that she is the most powerful and gorgeous athlete that I've ever seen in my life. Flo-Jo set 100m world record and 200m world record back in the day.
But I digress...
As a freshman in college Marion Jones wore #23 and took her North Carolin
a team to the NCAA championship. She was America's darling at the 2000 Olympics. At one point we thought she might win 5 gold medals. Marion Jones made some poor choices in men. She went with a big shot-put brother who eventually disgraced himself with steroids. Later she was coached by a guy that is currently on trial for doping. Earlier this year we learned that Marion had to sell her mama's house to pay the bills ... this millionaire had only $2,000 to her name at the time.T
oday we learn that Marion wrote a letter to close family and friends, apologized to them and admitted using steroids before the 2000 Olympics. In the letter, Jones said that she took "the clear" for two years, beginning in 1999. "The clear" is a performance-enhancing drug linked to BALCO, the lab at the center of a federal steroids investigation. Until now, Jones has denied she ever took performance-enhancing drugs."I want to apologize for all of this," Jones wrote. "I am sorry for disappointing you all in so many ways."
In the letter Jones also said she planned to plead guilty in New York to two counts of lying to federal agents about her drug use and an unrelated financial matter. It is a sad day for people that supported Marion Jones during her career.
But, at least we still have Flo-Jo!
29 comments:
Villager,
That is such a sad story about Marion Jones, and I hate to see that happen to the sister. I hate that she let herself get drawn into that trap.
But having said that? I couldn't agree with you more about Flo Jo. I hole my wife ain't readin this 'cause I'm still in love...
Man, Flo Jo was...
Let me stop right now.
Okay, I see a brighter side. Maybe that's just me. Some folk have to get so low before they rise in truth and understanding of what is "good" for them. I'm holding out hope that Marion is on her way upward as she confesses and exposes her mistakes. America is too quick to judge, even myself sometimes. Shame on us!
Joyner was popular back in the day and a beautiful woman.
Wikipedia: Her career was dogged by allegations of drug use, which was speculated to have caused her premature death.
i'm not surprised bc her husband and then her boyfriend were both on steroids, but it still sucks.
Keith - Flo-Jo gave this breast-man an appreciation of legs & thighs. That sista had the most powerful thighs that I've ever seen. She wore some wild outfits as well. Ah...Flo-Jo memories!
Rosemarie - No doubt Ms. Jones will find the Lord. My observation (including in my life) we tend to reach out to God when things get rocky in our life. I suspect that Marion Jones will become very religious in her outlook. Kobe Bryant tattooed a big cross on his arm after his brush with the law in Colorado. re: Flo-Jo drug rumors. Flo-Jo never had any positive tests for drugs so I am not going to let what I recall of her be tarnished. Truth to tell, I give Barry Bonds similiar credence until he pulls a "Marion Jones" on us.
JJ - Yes, it sucks!
I was saddened by this news, but not surprised...how many athletes feel they have to cheat to get ahead? The choices that Marion made were wrong, seemingly, in alot of ways: men, money...it's sad...
Villager, I know who Flo-Jo is! I guess I'm admitting my age...
I feel terrible about Marion Jones - such a pretty kid, such a good athlete...
Ms. Marvelous & Teach - It is very sad that Marion Jones felt a need to use steroids. The sad thing is that she is being punished for LYING ... more than for using 'the clear'. I guess that is a lesson for all of us.
Keith, get out of my FloJo moment man...LOL! Yep, Flowy was the girl, RIP. I'm pissed at Marion. Man, a nice clean cut image shot to heck.
Are all the stars dope heads? I used to give everybody the benefit of a doubt but shoot they're all fessin' to messin'. Who's left still standing?
Dwight Gooden, Lyle Alzado, Barry Bonds (yeah, no proof, but his bad attitude doesn't hep his perception in any way), probably any number of my favorite Olympians over the years.
I know you can't tell by the previous paragraphs but thank God I got over athletic hero worship when I was a kid. But hey, I'll end with the other sentiments expressed by some of the rest of you. Maybe Marion has hit bottom enough to start doing life the right way now.
oh well nobody is perfect.. she is still good and she is beautiful.. She is still a winner for me..
hello villager.. how r u?
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what makes you all not think that flo jo was juiced in '88? I mean...come on.
It is sad, but at least she did the right thing. Sometimes the hell of keeping a secret for so many years is punishment in itself. I pray for her and her family.
MONEY IS INDEED AND EVIL TEMPTATION.
ONELOVE
IrieGal - Methinks that "love of money is the root of all evil". Money in and of itself isn't the problem. In this case, I think that it was PRIDE that got Marion Jones in trouble.
Anon - No proof ever shared that Flo-Jo was juiced. She went to her grave with her gold medals and world records. More importantly, she went (and continues to enjoy) the love and admiration of a generation of Americans that saw the 1988 Olympics on television.
Martin - It is a shame that our heroes are being humbled in such public ways. My favorite baseball player growing up in Los Angeles was Claude Osteen and Bill Buckner. Buckner was humbled many years later while wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform. I wonder where Claude Osteen is nowadays?
Ester - She was beautiful as well as the world's fastest female. I've seen your blog. You are quite beautiful yourself. Can you run fast? (smile)
Who says Flo Jo was clean? If Marion Jones had died say a year ago, do you think we were ever gonna know that she once used steroids? Flo Jo died at age 38 in 1998 and there were accusations that she also used steroids. I guess we'll never know if she was clean, only she and husband know.
Flo Jo is probably the biggest fraud that was never caught, at least we know the truth about Marion. I believe that if Marion had not used steroids, she was gonna win most of those Olympic medals in Australia, its sad that she didn't have that self-belief.
Sprinters Evelyn ashford and Gwen torrance have stated publicly that Flo Jo's sprint records were drug induced. Drug testing in the 80's was a joke. Marita Koch and Jarmila Kratochvilova's sprint records (400 and 800 meters) have remained unbroken to this day as well. Are we to believe that these 3 female track champs from the 80's were somehow superior athletes than todays? We have to ask ourseles why were all these records( 100m,200m,400m,800m) set in the 80's? Why have they remained unbroken while the men's sprint records continue to improve? Remember, Jones didn't fail her drugs tests at the 2000 olympics in sydney either. The only sprinter to approach some of these records has turned out to be a drug cheat. It has been stated by many within the track and field community that the sprint records set by these women will only be broken by other drug induced performances. Hard to do with todays more advanced and random drug tests. The only empathy i have is for the drug free sprinters that will never be able to break these drug induced 80's "records" I agree with sprinter Gwen Torrance "...in my mind these records don't exist...") Perhaps when another 50 years go by and these records still remain unbroken we will see the obvious.
Maui & Anon - You make some good points about Flo-Jo. However, you will not steal my joy. Flo-Jo remains a positive and pleasurable memory in my mind. I'm glad that we have YouTube so that I could re-visit the tape of her blowing away the competition at the 1988 Olympics.
What a shame. Too many talented atheletes get caught up in that mess. I really believed Jones when she said she didn't use drugs in those Olympics. Very sad...
Nexy - Yeah, we continue to have our trust abused by public figures. Marion Jones in this case. Clinton in the case of Monica Lewinsky. Bush with his commitment to rebuild New Orleans after Katrina. I guess that is one reason that bloggers are doing well ... there is so much truth to uncover.
I always hold out hope that folk who say they've found God and tattoo a cross have their motives in a positive direction with hearts submitted to Christ. However, we all know the "saved" card is used frequently in the media.
I wanted to also retract my Wikipedia comment. I was unaware that the sites data is misleading and unsubstantiated because anyone can edit it. Please accept my apology.
Rosemarie - You are in a very mellow mood as you share your village voice today (smile)!
Villager...
Marion Jones never had a positive test either. Drug testing ain't perfect, just like polygraph tests. I never heard Flo Jo explain her dramatic improvements, and she's gone so she can't now explain anything. Whatever she used, it it wasn't drugs, shame on her for not telling us what it was.
I'm sorry, but there is no question in my mind that Flo Jo was enhanced. I loved her too though. (I am a former runner myself).
But come on, the adam's apple, the low voice, the unbelievably cut muscles... and the sudden 'retirement'? I will say that I dug her gutsy style, and the fact that she put women's athletics on the map like nobody else.
She paved the way for Venus and Sarina in my mind.
WTH??!!
Oh come on whats with the tears for Jones?
She cheated and now she is paying for it.
Nobody forced this on her, she took the risk of not getting caught than screamed bloody murder when she was called out for it before shedding "tears" when it was obvious she was busted.
And than it's only six months!!
She might not even serve three if any!
I was a Marion supporter and a fan, and was saddened by the news but not surprised. Society puts a lot of pressure on us to be better, faster, smarter, etc. the list goes on and to stay the best she may have felt the need to bend under the pressure. But there comes a time in your life when you have to stand for what you beleive and for what is right, in that aspect she chose poorly and now is reaping what she sowwed. I pray that she can get past this and do something positve with herself in the future.
SheCodes - U may be right about Flo-Jo juicin'. However, it doesn't take away the beauty of her athleticism at those Olympic games out in Asia. I bet you looked like that when you were setting those New Jersey track records, huh?! (smile).
clnmike - Yeah ... your points are well-taken. I was always struck by her poor choice in men. My understanding is that she is dayum near broke ... so I was sorry for her. After (literally) being the most famous person on the planet earth for awhile ... she is now just another criminal. Sad.
Regina - Amen!
http://www.nationalexpositor.com/News/898.html
Ron Paul will pardon all blacks in prison for victimless crimes.
Marion wasn't too broke, because when her money woes were being reported she was rolling in a Porsche SUV! Marion and the truth is a serious issue!
I won't steall your joy with Flo-Jo, but she couldn't touch Wilma Rudolph or Wyomia Tyus for that matter! No Drugs, No Endorsements,
Pure Gold with no questions!
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