Marion JonesAthletics » But whatever the former Olympian does on the court, it won't erase her past.
By Lya Wodraska
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 06/05/2010 09:16:41 PM MDT
I'm always interested in seeing how athletes busted for using performance enhancing drugs do when they return to competition.
If they stink or are far from the level they exhibited before being caught, you have to wonder how enhanced their talent really was. Are they the super, record-breaking athletes we thought they were or mere mortals?
Time to find out in which category Marion Jones belongs. Jones, who became one of track's most accomplished figures, winning three gold medals at the 2000 Olympics, lost some of that golden luster from her image when she admitted she used performance enhancing drugs.
Her admittance only affirmed long-believed rumors, so the revelation wasn't a surprise. Before she confirmed her transgressions I, like many others, had decided she was no longer a freak of nature but a freak of drugs.
More shocking was her announcement that her comeback would be in the WNBA, with the Tulsa Shock.
At 34 years old, the 5-foot-10 Jones is spry enough for the league. But can she handle the game itself? Years ago, Jones was thought to be a prize pick in the league after she starred at North Carolina, where as a point guard she led the Tar Heels to a 92-10 record and ranks fifth on the school's all-time assist list, third in steals and seventh in blocks.
I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt and believing she did all that on talent alone, without any enhancement.
Her history was at least intriguing
Nothing ever came of that pick, as Jones was busier dishing out apologies than assists.
But now, apparently, she is ready, stating the obvious that, "I may not be your typical rookie in this league."
She has that right. People who don't even pay attention to the WNBA might tune into games or at the very least look at the box scores to see how she does. Her participation in the WNBA will bring interest for sure, and questions too.
If she fails, is it the time away from the sport? No longer using drugs (supposedly)? Or has the time just passed her by?
So far, her return has been lackluster, as she is averaging just 0.7 points and 5.3 minutes a game, but maybe she'll perform better after familiarizing herself with the game again.
One thing Jones won't be able to do is outrun her past. No matter how many All-Star teams she might make or how many winning baskets she scores, she's probably always going to be looked on as more of a curious inclusion in the WNBA rather than just as another athlete.
That might be a bad thing for Jones, but at least for the league, people might be tuning in more.
lwodraska@sltrib.com 
