Like most Negroes I know, I defended Marion Jones & lifted her up when she denied abusing steroids during the Sydney Olympics & after. In my eyes, this sister just could do no wrong & she had the best Nike commercials!
Over the last few years, I was proud of how she stood her ground & was never proven wrong by way of physical evidence of being hopped up on performance enhancers.
So over the past few weeks, the controversy popped back up in the media & then the big surprise admission that she was doping. I remember I was driving home from work listening to NPR the evening when the news dropped. I was so fucking shocked that I peeped on myself a little bit.
Lately, I have just been so disappointed in her as a viewed her as a powerful black woman , role model, super athlete & a symbol for triumph. Today I view her as a liar & junky & my feelings got a little more intense when I heard her little admission first hand on NPR’s Fresh Air.
She was sobbing & shit & noted that she will be returning each medal that she won blah, blah, blah. During all of her rambling on, I blurted out, YOU ARE A FUCKING LIAR! WHAT I AM I GOING TO TELL MY DAUGHTER WHO ENJOYS TRACK & FIELD? What will I tell Olivia?
Now that I calmed down somewhat, I really feel sorry for Marian. She is losing everything because she decided to cheat (she made her own bed). Her image is forever tarnished, she has let down so many in the track & field community & she is facing at least 6 months in the slammer. What will I tell Olivia?
Well I know I am possibly being a little dramatic but I hate, hate, hate liars & cheats. During Marion’s admission statement she mentioned that she loved track & field, which I now think is a fucking lie. If you love something or someone, you would not do anything to tarnish, abuse it & run around telling bold faced lies.
During dinner tonight, I will lead a discussion on being honest in all you do & staying true to yourself.
Lastly, as I get older & see so many Negroes fall from grace & get busted doing some foul shit. I am no longer going to defend them & wind up looking like a fool by the time all is said & done.
The 1st photo is of Olivia doing the long jump & the 2nd is of her with her 4th place medal. Suite Suzy & I are so proud of our little track star. The funny thing about her win was just before she won, she hoped that she was at least in the top 5th place.
brunsli / October 10, 2007
Olivia’s a star in her own right!
She doens’t need Marion. Do you?
Bygbaby / October 10, 2007
Thx, yes she is. And no one needs a cheater around!
Bygbaby
Anonymous / October 10, 2007
Yes, tell Olivia to “do her thang” regardless. What Marion did is shocking and saddening. That someone wants to (or feels pressure to) win so desperately that they will do anything and lie about everything is just kinda pathetic. And it greatly diminishes the efforts of those who train properly.
I guess this is the danger in making athletes role models. They are really just people, ya know?
Bygbaby / October 10, 2007
Anon – “I guess this is the danger in making athletes role models. They are really just people, ya know?” Very true! Is the day of role model out side of parents gone???
Bygbaby
byrdparker / October 10, 2007
It is not so easy being in the spotlight . The enticing traps are legendary , and when in the spotlight it is hard to see what is ahead . Also Sports are rife with steroid abuse .
I forgive Marion .
Marion is a good example actually for your daughter …
You can teach your daughter , that cheaters never prosper , no matter how many people are supporting you , or how grand life becomes . Always remained grounded.. When one matures peer pressure becomes more intense .
Bygbaby / October 10, 2007
Bryd – You are always the voice of reason! And very good points on how to turn the situation around. Parenting is tough when you have to deal with the real/unreal world.
Bygbaby
Erica C. / October 10, 2007
She is BEAUTIFUL!!! You and Suite Suzy are gonna have hell on your hands………TRUST ME! I know! My husband is 33 and already going gray with 3 girls in the house.
Naturally Sophia / October 10, 2007
She is very cute and as we discussed before I just love that name. I think Brunsli is right on.
Anonymous / October 10, 2007
“Is the day of role model out side of parents gone???”
With bad news being such big business, I think probably so. But I don’t think the role models of today are any different than those of yester-year. (I can’t believe I just typed “yester-year”, who says that??) The only difference is that the entire lives of celebs and athletes is at our disposal now. I mean look what’s happening, a bishop can’t beat his wife down in public anymore. An old white fart can’t call black women “nappy headed hos” anymore. Neither can Brit-Brit shave her head and attack cars with umbrellas. Not without the world getting a front seat.
OK, those are bad/extreme examples. But the truth is that no public figure can even go work out on the beach (Janet) or even just relax on one (Tyra) without the world being allowed to gawk!
I’m sure there have been public figures saying one thing and doing another (Strom Thurmon) since the beginning of when we started deciding that some of us are better than others, thus putting them on a pedestal. Bottom line is that even though what Marion did seemed to be a huge feet, she was only, after all, just running and jumping.
Just my 2 cents worth of ramblings. 🙂