Posted on 06/18/2004 8:27:55 AM PDT by tallhappy
Marion Jones: The Movie or Real Life?
June 18, 2004
If this were "Marion Jones The Movie," Jones would be a hero of major proportions. We'd see Marion stand up to the wicked, secretive, scandal-mongering U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which, for no good reason, is trying to sully her spotless reputation and ruin her brilliant career.
We'd see Marion fly into San Francisco on a winged gold chariot and call a press conference at which she dares the USADA to come out from behind closed doors and hand over the evidence. She'd say they can't do that because no evidence exists of her ever taking illegal substances. Her voice would shake with righteous indignation.
As we watch her performance, a tear might trickle down our cheek. We would relate to Marion, our designated fighter for the little guy against an unfeeling bureaucracy. Her fight would be our fight, and we'd hate the USADA. We'd want the U.S. Senate to take up Marion's case ASAP and clear her so she can go to Athens and make America proud. In "Marion Jones The Movie," the USADA would be so moved by her plea, it would capitulate onscreen and give her a diamond-encrusted crown and a new pair of Adidas track shoes.
But, of course, this isn't "Marion Jones The Movie." This is "Marion Faces Real Life," and in real life things can get a bit sticky. A feeling persists that Jones used a brilliant tactic, gave the performance of her life when she put the USADA on the defensive and called it a kangaroo court. It has something to do with spin. Someone accuses you of something -- although she hasn't been accused of anything -- and you call a press conference to shout your innocence and make the other guys look like bullies. You do this if you're innocent, especially if you're guilty.
It didn't help Jones when she seemed less than credible at her press conference. She tried to downplay her relationship with Victor Conte, the guy who's in the soup for allegedly providing illegal drugs to athletes. But when confronted by a San Francisco reporter, she had to admit she knew Conte better than she had let on. She also seemed to lie, saying she never even used Conte's legal supplements. Then she recanted.
In the interest of a balanced perspective, it's important to understand this point. Track athletes used to get banned from competition only after they tested positive for illegal substances. The burden of proof has changed, and here's why. Some of the new drugs are undetectable in blood tests. That's because the whole thing is a chemistry game. Athletes use undetectable drugs, and then enforcing agencies devise tests that identify the drugs, and then athletes move onto new undetectable drugs. Because of this cycle, athletes are getting banned because of tip-offs, e-mails and journals -- indirect evidence. In fact, the level of evidence required to kick out athletes has diminished. It certainly doesn't fulfill the criterion "beyond a reasonable doubt."
That's what Jones is kicking about. And that's why her performance had power. So I apologize if I seem hard or unconvinced. I believe her public appearance was a ploy, but I can't prove it. I love track and field but I think it's the most corrupt sport you can imagine -- although it always waves the flag and talks about the beauty of pure competition.
I was there when Jones won her five medals in Sydney, and I've never seen a greater, more thrilling athlete. But I also think that, with a few exceptions, anyone who makes it to the Olympic finals in a sprint must be taking something just to keep up. I know this sounds cynical. But covering track and field will do that to you.
I hope I'm wrong. I hope Jones was telling the truth at her press conference. Dorothy never lied to the Munchkins.
Not accepting it is a little like believing Clinton about Lewinsky and other things.
You are known by the company you keep, and Marion Jones has been seen in some bad company. This is a tough one to judge.
Marion Jones is from my town, Apex NC. A very small town. The news isn't as big here as one might expect it to be.
Wasn't she caught using "substances" as a high school athlete?
I didn't live here at that time so I don't know.
She grew up here and went to HS here in Ventura County, CA.
I notice that the author conveniently leaves out the fact that Jones' ex-husband, who is an admitted steroid user, is cooperating in the Balco case.
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