The Sorta Truth Hurts
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(Written before she gave back her medals, as we all knew she would).
Yesterday, Marion Jones made her plea in federal court to two counts of making false statements to federal prosecutors. Federal sentencing guidelines suggest a sentence from probation up to 6 months, even though the maximum sentence for the charges is 10 years. She kept it together in court, but when faced with the cameras and the waiting public, I think the reality of the situation finally set in. (Watch Marion's tearful apology to the public. Click here for the letter she sent to her friends and family.) She also announced her retirement from the sport. That was nice of her to keep the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency from having to figure out how long to ban her.
I'm curious as to what evidence they had against her that prompted this confession all these years later? That BALCO guy, Victor Conte, has been telling on everybody for years. Maybe she was facing more repercussions from that check fraud, or they had more evidence on that? Or was someone else about to come forward? We may never know.
This is an interesting story, though. By far the biggest America's sweetheart that has ever copped to using steroids. But come on, it's track and field. The runner-up to Jones in the 100 meters in the 2000 Olympics, Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou, just completed a two-year ban for doping herself. The last track and field star whom I believe was totally clean was Jackie Joyner-Kersee. She just looked strong, not ripped beyond belief. She also denied, denied, denied, but who knows anymore? Other than her, maybe Michael Johnson and Carl Lewis. The latter, for obvious reasons, I think.
(On a side note, did anyone else know that Carl Lewis was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984? And that he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys as a wide receiver? He never played for either team. I think that's a good thing. Please check out his music video, Break It Up, slightly better than his Star Spangled Banner performance, which still makes me cry - "I'll make up for it now." I think he and Jermaine Jackson are long lost twins.)
Many people are unsatisfied with Marion's admission, claiming that she not only knew what was going on but was doing more than just putting "flaxseed oil" under her tongue. But she, and her lawyers, are smart. Only confess to what you have to confess to, and write your book in another 10 or 20 years when the statute of limitations have run on prosecuting all of the people involved in this scandal.
Is that when we'll finally hear the truth about Barry Bonds?
