Sunday, October 07, 2007

In The Clear


People seem to be taking a peculiar delight in the fall of Marion Jones, former Olympian, an unbelievably fast runner, holder of many, many gold medals, and user of a human growth replacement, known as "the clear." Rumors have circulated about this practice for years, and now the time is nigh that such sadness is visited upon her in the form of public humiliation, confession, repentance, and possible punishment. She lied about it for years, said one indignant sportscaster, as if all the other athletes who doped told everyone right away, sent little cards out to friends and family, like wedding invitations. Actually, Marion did send apology letters to many people which might prove to be one of the damning points of evidence in her case. Once the world's highest paid female athlete with endorsement deals reaching into the millions, she's had a complicated personal life, has squandered and suffered much, is in danger of bankruptcy. From all her efforts, she's reported to have less than two thousand dollars in her bank account. Which, now that I think about it, doesn't sound that bad unless you take remember she worked for years to become who she is and won't ever be it again.

One of my favorite quotes is from the great Jimi Hendrix, the one about if he seems free, it's because he's always running. I don't run too fast or too far, but I get it. I've been running for as long as I can remember -- from trouble, to trouble, from messes I've made. I confess to using any number of performance-enhancing drugs -- by any means necessary, right? The race is a long one. Most of it you do on your own, no matter what help you have. For a little while, Marion Jones was the fastest woman in the world. What that must have been like! To run and run and beat everyone in your path. When you're going that fast, you don't notice anything. The world falls away. And isn't that the point of any drug?

Michelle's Spell of the Day
"I never thought of losing, but now that it' s happened, the only thing is to do it right. That's my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life." Muhammad Ali

Cocktail Hour
Drinking novel suggestion: Desperate Characters Paula Fox

Benedictions and Maledictions
Happy Sunday!

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Well, nowadays every sportsmen takes drugs but some o them we don't call drugs.

the walking man said...

I have over the past twenty years seen a wide variety of people apologize for doing wrong ...Pete Rose comes to mind for betting on ball games and a slew of others but the written text of her words to the court conveyed to me, much more than any apology that I have ever heard from a super star,SINCERITY, REMORSE, WILLINGNESS TO TAKE WHAT THE COURT GAVE HER AS PUNISHMENT EVEN IF IT'S JAIL TIME. BUT THE SINCERITY OF HER WORDS, ESPECIALLY THE TWO SIMPLEST ONES "I'M SORRY"

To me she may lose some objects medal, and fortune and fame but in those two words in my eyes she regained her life and it became her own. She no longer belongs to her handlers and her family, standing in front of the judge and the whole world her mothers hand on her shoulder for strength in time of need...she had the fortitude and regained integrity to say "I'm sorry"

Paris,Britney,Lindsay and the list of others who did just as wrong but in ways that could have killed people including children, they said those same two words but in my mind I only heard them laugh about it.

Marion Jones for all her troubles has redeemed herself. I hope she finds peace and spends her days teaching others how to have as much grace and class as she has, even though she was forced to admit to a lie. She ran the race of humanity and with two sincere, simple words proved the worth of a true champion.

Peace

TWM

the walking man said...

PS AND WON THAT RACE OF HUMANITY

TWM

eric1313 said...

She's utterly forgivable.

That she was allowed to get screwed some how out of all that money, and then later taken to task for her "cheating" (if you aren't cheating, you aren't trying) is pretty ridiculous. The Olympic committee should get her a lawyer or three to help her recover some of her wealth. Then they can get their medals from her, if they think that that's still necessary.

The Jimi quote was also great. Peace out!

JR's Thumbprints said...

Back in high school, when I ran cross country, all the top runners were continously running to the outhouse to lighten the load. Caffeine pills or other forms of speed would give you that extra little boost to win a race. All your top runners were doing it. As for me, I have no comment.

In other news, how about that former Federal assistant prosecutor who killed himself in the Milan prison? No sympathy there. Traveling to Michigan with a Dora the Explorer doll and a jar of petroleum jelly, he did the right thing. However, I do have sympathy for his family.

Anonymous said...

The French are SO picky when it comes to drugs! Why didn't they catch Lance?

John Ricci said...

Dear Michelle
Lovely post and view as always. Champagne toasts and caviar dreams, Bravo dear girl!

totall said...

How did you find Michelle's Spells? She writes so well, but I can see why church people couldn't handle her. She's too "out there. This gal is very profound. I love her writing.

Michelle, you are a marvelous writer. I have been kicked of a christian anarchist forum when pasting your blog and url.

Did you send your books to me? I will read you every day. You must go on.

love, totall

email: anaisnin (at) antenna (dot) nl