If it's true that Nike has asked Marion Jones to sever ties with Charlie Francis, why don't they come down on Regina Jacobs for the non-answers she gives when asked about suspicions of drug use?
Is it just because she's a lesser star?
If it's true that Nike has asked Marion Jones to sever ties with Charlie Francis, why don't they come down on Regina Jacobs for the non-answers she gives when asked about suspicions of drug use?
Is it just because she's a lesser star?
They've built this image of Marion, the savior, the queen of track and field...they've invested millions of dollars in her and built their track and field business around her...signature shoe, commericals, etc. Regina is a small fish compared to Marion, and besides everyone in track knows Regina is dirty. Marion always played the clean girl against the dirty Europeans. She is probably one of the most recognizable female athletes on the planet, while Regina stays under the general public's radar because she hasn't competed at the NBC Games (the Olympics).
Reginas' world record has not even been mentioned in the local newspapers nor on the television. No one cares but us.
If the general public picks up on the idea that Marion Jones is a drugged athlete it will signal a near fatal blow to the sport. The perception that track athletes are drug athletes will not erase in the general public's mind from that point on. With her ex-husband out of the sport for reasons of using drugs, and her teaming up with the coach of the biggest athlete ever busted on drug use, along with her connection to the current 100 meter record holder also who has been working the coach - the jounalists will not be able to resist the story - she doesn't even have to fail a drug test for it to be generally concluded, fairly or unfairly, that she's drugged - especially if she starts running pb's again (something she hasn't done since her ex was caught).
That is because Regina's world record is in a non recognized world sport. IT IS CROSS-COUNTRY SEASON NOW. Track starts in the summer. Indoor track is an event to keep the sprinters in shape during the winter. The 4k cross event is set up to keep the middle distance runners in shape during the winter. Indoor track is not a recognized event for elite distance runners. Take a look at our top guys or ladies. Meb, Deena, Marla, Culpepper, Abdi, Suzy, Rhines. These are all athletes that have real goals and you don't see any of them running indoor. When is the next treadmill world championships? It is only a small step away from indoor.
What do names like Gebrselassie, Ngeny, and Kipketer mean to you? They work the indoor season into their yearly plan, and they do so successfully.
Yes, RJ beign a lesser light is much of it IMO. but also b/c it is unwise for a t&f person to ever use the word "drugs" -- it starts a witch hunt that's always bad for business. Nike is concerned with "winning" -- as the name implies -- and not crusades. RJ (an MBA) knows what the business plan entails.
2 of the names I associate with middle distance not distance. All 3 may have dabbled in indoor but it was never a focus. I never hear anyone brag about any of those 3 athletes for their indoor prowess.