December 1, 2009
The ultimate come back
So Marion Jones wants to make her big “I’ve changed” come back and do so in the league. There are many ways to look at this. Should she get a second chance? What does it say about the league if she makes it? Do we want a felon in our league? If track and field hasn’t forgiven her why should we? Is this just for press – this sounds like a perfect reality TV show. My first reaction was YAY! I’m all for it – if she can play. She’s a big name. Do you remember how big she was? Even now she’s bigger than the biggest name in the league, Candace Parker. Can she play is really the only question. I’ve never seen her play, but she was starting point guard on a national championship team, that’s pretty impressive. There are players in the league who didn’t even make it to the Final Four (I know that’s not really a fair comparison). She’s a world-class athlete – or was. She might not have the offensive skill set or a feel for the game, but I bet she’ll be able to get into the passing lanes and get some steals and fast breaks. If she takes this come back seriously and plays in Europe for a bit and then competes in a training camp and legitimately makes a team, it will be an awesome come back story. And more press then the league has received since its inception. I’ll admit I’d probably go see her play. I loved her, I was on her side, I watched her on Oprah, I believed every word she said (and I still think she was more of a victim and was attacked and targeted unfairly) she made some bad decisions, but as a society we tend to forgive and forget. We’ve forgiven worse, rapist, drug addicts, women abusers, hit and run drivers, cheaters, pretty much everything.
Her past doesn’t concern me as much as her age. There aren’t many 34 year olds in the league, it’s a young league. But I don’t think her body is the same as a 34 who’s played 12 W seasons and 12 European seasons, her body might not be as beaten up. Plus she was an elite track athlete, she received the best care for her body possible. The only real down side would be her making the team over another worthy player. But I don’t think that will happen, the coaches and GM’s job are too unstable. If they don’t win, more than likely they will get fired. They wouldn’t risk their job for a few extra ticket sales. Now with the Monarchs possibly leaving the league and only an 11 man roster her chances are small; Sheryl Swoopes and Nykesha Sales aren’t even in the league, though that might be more of a money/pride issue.
Some people will think this makes the league look like a joke, but i don’t see it like that, she’s not a scrub who’s never played at a high level. I’ve always thought she should try this actually, kind of like Jackie Joyner-Kersee playing in the ABL, they’re just about the same age, no one had an issue with her, and I’m pretty positive Marion’s game is much better – but one could easily argue that the W is a lot better than the ABL was back in ’96. This is not Nancy Lieberman trying to play at fifty. She has a better chance of making a team then Master P had at making a NBA team. This isn’t LeBron thinking he can play in the NFL because he dominated high school competition. This isn’t something new for her, she competed at a very high level – at that time the highest level. She said in her book that she’s always thought she could play in the leauge and was friends with some of the ’96 or ’00 Olympic team. I’ll be cheering for her. I wouldn’t be surprised if she did make a team and even saw decent playing time. She definitely has the drive, desire, and I would imagine she knows the amount of work she has to put in. And she’s already putting in the work with W coaches, its not a joke to her – it shouldn’t be to us. Oh and she’s straight, and we know how much the league likes the straight girls.
