Marion Jones Joins the WNBA

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Marion Jones Joins the WNBA

Marion Jones, the former track star, will be announced as a new acquisition by the Tulsa Shock. The 34 year old has had her share of struggles over the last couple of years, as she admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs and served most of six month jail sentence for a check-fraud scam. Jones was released from a Texas federal prison in September 2008.


After admitting to using a designer steroid from 2000-01, she was stripped of the Olympic medals – 5 in total – she earned during the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney.

Jones is trying to revitalize her basketball career, a sport she says she has always loved. A graduate of the University of North Carolina, Jones was the starting point guard of the 1994 National Championship TarHeels team.

The Shock’s coach Nolan Richardson said Jones has the talent to come back to the sport. “She has things you can’t teach, like speed and great hand and eye coordination,” he said in an interview with ESPN.com.

A move to another sport may be good for Jones, as her personal and athletic image has been tainted by scandal. While her talent is undeniable, it may hard to look past her downfalls. It seems as though the signing will boost both the WNBA and Jones.  While it is still athletically-oriented, it transform her into an entirely new character, and brought her back to a point and a sport in her athletic career that isn't tainted, but rather celebrated.  Her National Championship title with UNC has no marks on it, and returning to basketball was definitely a smart move.  In terms of the WNBA, the move was definitely calculated and created to generate some buzz, and it seems to have worked.  It is no secret that the WNBA may not get the top headlines, but a story likes this brings attention from fans and non-fans alike.  This signing brings attention to both parties involved, which is always a good thing.

-Mia SpadoniTweet