Somebody Explain to Me
…why baseball players are not facing the same penalties. Why they are not being asked about their substance abuse by federal prosecutors instead of by useless congressional committees. Why the judge felt it fit to sic the maximum sentence on a nursing mother when Barry Bonds is going scot-free. Why he thinks popping a female track star into prison is going to deter male baseball players who have been getting away with it for years.
If this stuff is illegal, prosecute. Everybody. If it is not, don’t sic federal prosecutors selectively and then slap on jail time for the lying.
That Marion Jones should serve time for lying to federal prosecutors, I don’t doubt. That there are, seemingly, some pretty heavy inequities here before the law, I do believe. The whole thing is disgusting.
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Because the culture of celebrity is REALLY that bad.
Sorry, we fail.
Comment by Mad William Flint — January 11, 2008 @ 11:10 am
I think the sentence is terrible and I feel sorry for her due to her situation as a nursing mother. However, I am inclined to assume that her sentence had more to do with lying to federal investigators about check fraud than the drug use.
But what do I know? OJ got off, why not Marion? I did see a clip of her lawyer on TV and I think she could’ve tried a little harder on that front.
Comment by thelmajoy — January 12, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
Because baseball is a real sport and track is just something they have to keep highschoolers busy running around instead of having sex with each other. Most Olympics events aren’t real sports. That’s why the only way any of them can make any money is by endorsements. No one will pay to see track and field events on a regular basis, hell, even every four years is stretching it (did you see the ratings for the last Oympics?)
Any event that can’t support itself or its athletes in a garish, over-blown celebrity lifestyle is not a sport at all. Marion Whoever is not a true celebrity or sports super star because she’s never had a multi-million dollar a year contract. Therefore, she’s fair game for prosecutors.
She should welcome the publicity, actually. I haven’t heard anything about her in years. Maybe Carl Lewis can inform on himself and get some face-time on the local news?
Comment by docweasel — January 13, 2008 @ 1:18 pm