Dear Marion Jones: PLEASE Listen to Mr. Johnson & HANG UP YOUR SPIKES!
Posted October 2nd, 2006 at 12:01 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, SoundOFF, Columns, Drugs In Sports
Dear Marion:
Please listen to and comply with the following advice from the world’s 200m and 400m record holder - Mr. Michael Johnson:
“For the sake of her own well-being and the sport, it would be best if she went away quietly.”
Johnson is giving you VERY sound guidance. Your reputation is beyond repair. Track and field has had MORE than enough negative news coverage. You have gone through more than enough. Your alleged connections to BALCO, your name being dragged through the mud because of Tim Montgomery and then most recently the circus surrounding your 1/2 negative (AND 1/2 positive) test for EPO (erythropoietin). Enough is enough.
- Those who believe that you “never, ever” took performance enhancing drugs will always remember you by your three Gold Medals at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and your plethora of other running accomplishments.
- Those who don’t will remember nothing but your alleged connections to performance-enhancing drugs.
If you are truly innocent, then you have a lot to be proud of. Don’t give a $&#! about what everyone else thinks. If you have been lying this whole time - then maybe one day your conscious will get the best of you - you’ll pull a Pete Rose and come clean.
Either way, the best thing you can do for yourself, for your family and for the sport of track and field - is, sadly, to listen to Johnson and hang up your spikes.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Fan
P.S. - Even though their media leak was inexcusable and disgraceful, please do yourself a favor and learn from Bernard Lagat’s failed lawsuit. Save yourself further embarrassment and don’t bring legal action against the IAAF. You won’t win and it won’t be worth the chaos that it causes.
More TFS coverage on: Marion Jones
Sources: [ESPN], [BBC SPORT], [Guardian Unlimited]
Pictures: [BBC SPORT], [Starophile]
This TFS article was also picked up and featured on Runner’s World.
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Tags: BALCO, Bernard Lagat, drug scandal, drug testing, epo, erythropoietin, IAAF, Marion Jones, michael johnson, performance enhancing drugs, Tim Montgomery, track and field, World Athletics Final, world cup
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The Final Sprint
i disagree with almost everything that the person is trying to prove here…if you actually knew about marion jones and appreciated what she has done with the sport then u would appreciate her and realize that she is/was innocent with and illegal drugs, and that the fact of she is one of if not the best female athlete to ever live. shes done many things that other sprinters cant, do you think zhana block could run sub 50 in a 400m? ive seen her train on the same track as me and done workouts with her, i believe not. shes a world class athlete and i msure she can decided when the time is right for her.
February 9th, 2007 at 8:51 amThis article never says the drug allegations are true. It also praises Marion for her amazing accomplishments and tells her to be proved of what she has achieved, regardless of what others are saying.
It does say, and I agree, that retiring may be the best option for her and the sport.
You are entitled to your own opinion, but I believe that you have really misconstrued the contents and intention of this article.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:55 pmMike is 100% correct and this article makes accurate assertions.
Josh - even if you don’t agree with her retiring, your assertions are of no relevance to this article and seem to be motivated by your relationship to Ms. Jones.
-Scott
February 9th, 2007 at 3:58 pmMaron jones is a fighter. Who do you people think you are talking about she should hang up the spikes? Let me see you win all these gold medals and then just right out thr clear blue someone accuses ytou of taking steroids.The only thing you are doing for Marion is making her run faster by saying this.One thing marion once said is “Nothing is stopping me…except me.”And that is exactly right Hate or love it she not quitting.You can say all you want but you are just waisting your time.Sorry but there is no stopping her or changing her mind.
March 10th, 2007 at 9:58 pmYou are entitled to your own opinion and I’m sorry that you don’t agree with my article. However, your comment completely misconstrues it’s contents.
I do think that Marion is an incredible athlete and has a lot to be proud of - something that I say in the article itself.
If this article makes her run faster - like you claim - then that’s wonderful. I wish her the best.
I do think it is best for her and the sport to be proud of what she has accomplished and to hang them up. I am merely offering my opinion - which I am also entitled to.
Feel free to email me if you would like to discuss this further.
Thanks,
Adam
–
March 11th, 2007 at 3:55 amAdam Jacobs
Editor-in-Chief
TheFinalSprint.com
Dear marion I truly believe you didnt do .Dont worry about what other people are saying you just run your race like you’ve been doing.You are my hero and I look up to you.Love Your BIGGEST Fan
April 10th, 2007 at 9:22 amIt’s a shame all the allegations about the clear were apparently true, and that she’s admitting it contributed to her 2000 Olympics wins. I don’t know if she would have been as good without the doping, she was a talented athlete, but now we have to assume that her medals are the product of cheating. It’s a shame she’s made such a mess for herself with federal charges and bankruptcy.
October 4th, 2007 at 7:05 pmOnce upon a time, sportsmanship was part of sports, defined as: 1. the character, practice, or skill of a sportsman. 2. sportsmanlike conduct, as fairness, courtesy, being a cheerful loser, etc. I do not excuse Ms. Jones or any of the long line of cheaters in sports today for their intentional breaking of the rules, as they have failed to uphold the standards of sportsmanship (and in many cases the law). I believe however, that we as fans shoulder some burden by the athlete worship and associated fortunes created for them. Ms. Jones will be villified, and we will move on to the next “hero” without questioning if we are accomplices in these crimes. How is a super star athlete worth more in our society than a super star elementary teacher? Would Barry Bonds have (allegedly) used illegal substances if the acclaim and rewards ($$) were not so extreme?
October 5th, 2007 at 4:10 pmIm so bloody disappointed. I dont believe any athlete is clean anymore. Forget it. Its just a pile of lies. DONT BELIEVE ANY ATHLETE EVER.
Marion, you are done as far as I am concerned.
October 5th, 2007 at 7:57 pmMW
God, I am so bummed by all of this. I too am an athlete and only wish I could be good enough to have gone to the Olympics. I was offered performance enhancing drugs at a high school meet..gotta admit, when you’ve got your eye on the prize I can see why it sucks in so many people - especially if you dont know any better. But if she is strong enough to be such an athlete, she was also strong enough to say no.Just like she said no to everything else that was bad for her in her life.
What bums me out is how she had us rooting for her, while all this time she was cheating behind closed doors. Its beyond sad. I cant imagine what she is feeling right now. I only hope that she does not place her self worth on being an athlete alone, and will be able to let go of her former identity. She better not disapear in disgrace like ben johnson did, i hope she uses the fame surrounding this court case to make a difference in the tainted world of athletics.
Cat Smiley.
October 8th, 2007 at 11:44 pmMarion Jones is no guiltier than those who are under the influence of a host of drugs, including prescribes dugs for fertility enhancements. Steroids until recent medial observations, changes of laws, and attitudes were not banned or illegal. Besides, Marion Jones and others positive drug test may have resulted from food, drinks, and any number of malicious acts to defame her. Residents of community correction centers that are allowed to leave the center in search of work become aware that certain foods and drinks consumed regularly by almost everyone, including children can trigger a positive drug test. As a five time Olympic medal winner traveling the globe who knows how many are willing to help her fail a drug test.
She and others that used such drugs are victims of a seemingly corrupt and arrogant unjust system that gives special privileges to court officials which place them above the law while allowing them to conceal truth under perjury claims and obstruction of justice. Marion Jones’ fate has captured the attention of the world because of her past fame but there are millions of other offenders victimized by corrupt and inhume court officials. Offenders like Marion Jones placed their fate upon the mercy of a merciless unjust system and was given no mercy. And, after serving their sentence and fulfilling all requirements of their judgment they are still victims. The stigma of their conviction, just or unjust, prevents them from obtaining gainful employment and decent shelter. Marion Jones unlike the federally convicted celebrities with lots of cash or high political figures may find herself amongst the millions of victims looking for gainful employment and decent shelter.
January 14th, 2008 at 1:50 pmMost articles views on the plight of released offenders seeking employment focus on selected uneducated felons that have committed a series of heinous crimes. They give little if no coverage to educated offenders that have been incarcerated through a plea bargain agreement for a lesser offense they may or may not have committed. They totally ignore statistical facts that reveal federal prosecutors have over 85% jury convictions and over 96% bench convictions. These extremely high statistics supported by anti-crime laws, anti-crime Congressional Acts, immunities, and judicial life term employment should raise an enormous red flag. Due to the many known cases of prosecutorial and judicial misconduct the Citizen’s Protection Act was enacted. It placed federal prosecutors under state ethical standards which they ignore. It was also meant to deter court officials from using unethical tactics while given immunities, life term employment, and the power to break the law. Apparently the high rate of convictions seen over decades and illegal tactics had to be addressed. Unrestricted federal officials given immunities and life term employment often place themselves above the law! See “HAVE COMPASSION FOR MOTHERS LIKE EVE?” at http://homenbusinessservice.com/page8.html
I am a white male elderly sports enthusiast. Roger Clemens, Mark Mcguire
February 11th, 2008 at 4:03 pmand thousands of amateur and pro athletes
have taken performance enhancing drugs.
How many have been convicted and have
served time? The incarceration of Marion
Jones is tantamount to a lynching. The
judges who sentenced Marion Jones to serve
time are hyopocrites and bigots. I want to
apologize to Marion Jones for a failed
and corrupt justice system. FREE MARION
JONES!
The people who sentenced Marion Jones were wrong to do so. I think that even if she did every one else dose it to. They probably didn’t get very far and were Jelouse because she did. Baisicly what the Peolpe who sentenced Marion were saying that if you use Preformance inhancing drugs you aren’t allowed to go far and win. They expect her to lose. I don’t blame her for wanting to win I would like to too.
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:03 pmI have read the other postings, I too share the disapointment of many but I am utterly confused by those who defend her. The point is she CHEATED, which she ADMITTED to, and she associated with individuals (CJ Hunter and Tim Montgomery among others)involved with illegal performance enhancement. It does not matter what percentage of elite Track and Field athletes are dishonest; the fact is that if you violate the standards of conduct you are a CHEATER. Ms. Jones was NOT imprisoned for her cheating, she PERJURED herself (she lied to federal officials of her OWN country)which is what she is serving time for. I am dismayed that she is asking that her her sentence be commuted. She she should do the right thing; face her decisions and guilt,accept her fate and walk away from a sport that she OBVIOUSLY does not value nor respect.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 amDear Marion:
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:16 amSo what, you made a mistake. Do you know anyone who has never made a mistake. I have never read about the charges that were put on you or what they say you did. I don’t care. I think you are still a first rate #1 athelete and thats how I’m gonna look at you.
Don’t worry about what anyone else feels or thinks about anything that you may have done. The only person you have to answer to is the Lord above. If the Lord forgives you for whatever you have done than you can forgive yourself. Don’t let any of this get to you. Move past it. The Lord has something good in store for you. All things happen for a reason and we should not question the Lord why. Just realize that you are blessed. You woke up this morning and each day is a new day. Just pray and put the bad behind you and move forward. Loss is a loss. What you lost may be the same to someone else as losing a business, a home, a loved one, a pet. So we’ve all been there and have lost something. I still think you are a great athelete. Just start over and forget the bad part and focus on the good part of your life and your family. You’re human and we all make mistakes so don’t let it get you down and just still love yourself and remember Jesus loves you always.