Chatter

By Bob

April 10, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this

Yes, it’s fair. Win as a team, lose as a team.

By Bo Diddley

April 10, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

gET YOUR LOGIC RIGHT…WIN AS A TEAM, LOSE AS AN INDIVIDUAL…A SON SHOULD NOT PAY FOR THE SINS OF HIS FATHER!

By Febbie

April 10, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

Absolutely not…they didn’t test positive…they didn’t lie for months…they should keep their medals.

By Truthman

April 10, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

No. The decision sucks!!

By Eric

April 10, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

It is TOTALLY unfair to hold the other team mates accountable for one individual. If it was the canoe, synchronized swimming, or blob sled team I bet they wouldn’t be doing this! Racism is still very real!

By HeySoose

April 10, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

No they shouldn’t have to give up their medals. Just because Jones was stupid, doesn’t mean the rest of the team should be punished for her stupidity. That like saying the entire San Fran Giants team should be punishe for Barry Bonds ignorance.

By HeySoose

April 10, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

No they shouldn’t have to give up their medals. Just because Jones was stupid, doesn’t mean the rest of the team should be punished for her stupidity. Thats like saying the entire San Fran Giants team should be punishe for Barry Bonds ignorance.

By OlympicFan

April 10, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

I personally dont think its fair…but this opens a whole can of worms for the whole sporting world…what about a member of ANY sports team (NCAA, NFL, MLB, etc…) testing positive for drugs and getting stripped of their win (whether it be a championship or a regular game)? does the whole team get their record taken away too?

What Marion Jones did was wrong, but there is no way to tell if the drugs made her WHOLE TEAM win therefore why do the other women have to suffer?

By free

April 10, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

team win/team loss. next up: usc (reggie bush)

By Bill

April 10, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this

Let me guess. “This is racist!” Go ahead black people, you pull the race card with everything else.

By Dorothy Withers

April 10, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

The Committee is totally wrong! Jones was the guilty party, not the rest of the team!

By CW

April 10, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

I do not know if the question should be one of fairness, my preference would be to focus on the right thing to do. In this case, it is the right thing to do because the medals were for a team’s performance and if one person is tainted, then the team’s performance is tainted. It is very much akin to what happens in college if one memeber of a team is found to be ineligible; it necessarily affects the team’s record. My hope is that individual’s will consider the consequences of their actions on a team before they participate in a team competition.

By Tray

April 10, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

Sorry, but the IOC is RIGHT!

Win as a team, lose as a team, that’s how teamwork works!! The whole team can blame the thing on Jones, but they should have to return those medals.

AND YES, IT SHOULD BE THAT WAY IN ALL SPORTS.

Look at the message we’re sending to kids-“Johnny, it’s ok if your team cheats as long as you don’t.” Is that really what you want your kids to learn. If so, then go ahead a raise the future losers of the world, but my son will know the difference!

If the Braves win the World Series, and 1 person tests positive for any drug, they should have to forfeit their win. Why?? because that 1 person on the team can make the difference!

By Team

April 10, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

If you’re on a relay the team with a cheater then you lose your medal. What’s complicated about that. We used to sit all high and mighty when the Chinese and East Germans were caught doping but when we’re guilty suddenly we find ways of justifying it. The judgement should be sent far and wide to encourage people who want to succeed athletically in the future to do so without the assistance of illegal drugs. If there is collateral damage then so be it.

By Andre

April 10, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

This is a awful decision. No Bill there’s nothing racist about this. The IOC saw where the teams had an advantage over other teams, because of one player. If that player wasn’t there, they may have not won those medals. We’ll never know, but the decision is still bad. But not racist! People do not throw the race card at this, black people have been winning a long time w/o controversy, so No.

By Carla

April 10, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

Unfortunately, Marion’s performance helped the entire team to win those medals which, in turn, means the entire team loses. It’s not fair that those ladies suffer for Marion’s deceitfulness BUT it’s not right for them to retain medals received under these circumstances.

Life is sometime viewed as unfair.

By Storm8

April 10, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

Not Fair. It should really be a moral issue. The runners should give up their medels if they believe that their achievement was fraudulent and if by not doing so will cause someone else angish. Howevr in no way should the governing body of the sport penalize the relay team.

Perhaps sanctions can be put on the whole track team.

By Rodney S.

April 10, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

It’s an ugly situation no doubt… but illegal substances contributed to that team’s win and that’s enough to cost the team its medal.

To anyone who believes this is racially motivated… grow up. Jamaica’s team deserves its gold medal.

By Roger

April 10, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

Logic totally upside down…but could be a great way for all countries to develop a strong drug testing program within their own ranks. IOC really had no choice in this matter, they’ve been telling EVERYBODY for years to clean up your participants or else. Next up: Testing of ALL high school and college athletic participants. I would suggest to the IOC to only punish the athlete involved…not the entire team.

By john

April 10, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

The I.O.C. has a history of bad decisions. Most recently, CHINA. I have no faith in that board anymore.

By gttim

April 10, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

If she had only run in the qualifying rounds, no. However, she ran in the finals. She tainted the entire team. While it is not her teammates’ fault, it is only fair to award the gold medals to the next placed team. Sure it is not fair to her teammates, but they have only her to blame.

By Noelle

April 10, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

It may not be “fair,” but yes, they should lose their medals. Think of it this way: Jones’ leg of each relay must be disqualified because of her cheating. If a runner is disqualified during a relay, then that section of the relay is incomplete; that means the team didn’t complete the relay, so they must be disqualified. The fact that the disqualification happened years later doesn’t change things.

Comparisons to large team sports like baseball and football are irrelevant because both the team makeup and the rules are much too different.

By amy

April 10, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

Olympic Fan, you stated: “I personally dont think its fair…but this opens a whole can of worms for the whole sporting world…what about a member of ANY sports team (NCAA, NFL, MLB, etc…) testing positive for drugs and getting stripped of their win (whether it be a championship or a regular game)? does the whole team get their record taken away too?”

You have hit the nail on the head. You are very intelligent.

Yes, I agree its unfair, and totally feel for,the other individuals on her team. But it’s even more unfair to the other teams that finished 2nd 3rd and 4th. Her drug use may not have contributed to their winning time, it could have been another teammate ate her wheaties that morning and got a personal best split. But we will never know, so the only fair thing to do is to adjust the record books, and move everyone up a place. That’s the disadvantage to individual sports vs. team sports.

By amy

April 10, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

Olympic Fan, you stated: “I personally dont think its fair…but this opens a whole can of worms for the whole sporting world…what about a member of ANY sports team (NCAA, NFL, MLB, etc…) testing positive for drugs and getting stripped of their win (whether it be a championship or a regular game)? does the whole team get their record taken away too?”

You have hit the nail on the head. You are very intelligent.

Yes, I agree its unfair, and totally feel for,the other individuals on her team. But it’s even more unfair to the other teams that finished 2nd 3rd and 4th. Her drug use may not have contributed to their winning time, it could have been another teammate ate her wheaties that morning and got a personal best split. But we will never know, so the only fair thing to do is to adjust the record books, and move everyone up a place. That’s the disadvantage to individual sports vs. team sports. Also, if at that moment they had drug tested all four of them, they would have been stripped of their ranking then, so why should it be any different now?

By amy

April 10, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

Olympic Fan, you stated: “I personally dont think its fair…but this opens a whole can of worms for the whole sporting world…what about a member of ANY sports team (NCAA, NFL, MLB, etc…) testing positive for drugs and getting stripped of their win (whether it be a championship or a regular game)? does the whole team get their record taken away too?”

You have hit the nail on the head. You are very intelligent.

Yes, I agree its unfair, and totally feel for,the other individuals on her team. But it’s even more unfair to the other teams that finished 2nd 3rd and 4th. Her drug use may not have contributed to their winning time, it could have been another teammate ate her wheaties that morning and got a personal best split. But we will never know, so the only fair thing to do is to adjust the record books, and move everyone up a place. That’s the disadvantage to individual sports vs. team sports. Also, if at that moment they had drug tested all four of them, they would have been stripped of their ranking then, so why should it be any different now?

By alfred

April 10, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this

What’s sad is all of Florence Griffith-Joyner’s medals and records all still intact. Her cheating was more obvious than Barry Bonds, but she got away with it.

Then she drops dead at 38.

Karma can be a b*tch sometimes.

By therealist

April 10, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

Win as a team or lose as a team.

America is doomed..

By BeBe KID

April 10, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this

Unfortunately the IOC had to strip the other women of their medals however, Marion Jones can be redeemed. She was honest enough to tell the truth about her use of steroids. She made bad personal and professional decisions and is now suffering the consequences of them. When you have fame and fortune you must make wise decisions or you will lose it all!

By Ziza

April 10, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

unfortunate for the other team members, this is a tough but fair decision. Marion used enhancement drugs which may led to a win with an unfair advantage. it is the right thing to do. sorry ladies. But, GO JAMAICA!!!! and ps — there’s no racism here, a cheater of any color is still a cheater. can you say Mark McGuire? can you say Pete Rose? come on people.

By Teim Player

April 10, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

“I’m not giving anything back,” Evidently Ms. Gaines spells team with an I. That bronze medal got tarnished the day Jones told the truth. Maybe Gaines is correct “who would want a tarnished bronze medal?”

By abr

April 10, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this

I don’t believe they should lose the actual medals, but the team should not be recognized as the gold medal winners.

By georgia peach

April 10, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

No they shouldn’t have to surrender their medals, they didn’t take the drugs.

By Independent Thinker

April 10, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

I don’t think that the medals should be taken away from the entire team. They can not be responsible for the actions of one person, however, the IOC is its own entity. Unlike, the NFL, MBA and other major sports, if one player pops for performance enhancement drugs, the rest of the team is not penalized, they don’t have the Championship Ring taken away from them. Is it fair? No it’s not. The IOC must make sure the if they are doing this to the black athletics, then they have to do the same thing to all athletics that pop for rods. I am not tring to make this a race issue, but it’s quite interesting that the black athletics are the only ones to be stripped like this.

By Everybody

April 10, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

Flo Jo’s Dead? When did that happen. Guess I don’t pay enough attention to this worthless sport, if you can call it that.

By m'divine

April 10, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

It is an unfortunate but fair decision. The team won the medals as a whole not as parts; so therefore the teams medals need to be collectively recalled. Jones knew what she was risking when she made her decision to use the performance enhancing substance. She consciously, and very selfishly I might add, reneged on her honor and loyalty as a teammate and put the entire team at risk for the consequences of her own actions. Sad, but true.

By Lex Luthor

April 10, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

KEEP THEM PLEASE

MAKE IT PAYBACK FOR THOSE GOLD MEDALS THEY STILL OWE US FROM THE 1972 OLYMPICS.

By Sheri

April 10, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

This is wrong!!! Why should they pay the price for what SHE DID? They trained correctly and did what they were supposed to do. It’s completely unfair that they are losing out on this precious achievement in their lives.

By Tray

April 10, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe people actually think they should keep them!!

PEOPLE, THIS WAS A TEAM EVENT, EITHER THE TEAM WINS, LOSES, OR GETS CAUGHT CHEATING

If you don’t agree, think about this…

Will you teach your child that it’s ok for him/her to cheat as long as their team wins??

If so, then yes, you are responsible for what your future moron child will do since you refused to teach them morals. This is why there are so many problems with kids and guns/drugs today-THE PARENTS AREN’T TEACHING MORALS AND HOW TO ACT!!

By Russ

April 10, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

Yes it is fair. The team got their medals via her false efforts. However, the issue is much deeper. Drug testig PRIOR to the games by our own training officials would have shown the problem. To “work” enhancing drugs must be taken well in advance of need. Someone supplied her (and others)and said nothing. Someone who tested her (all get tested) knew and said nothing.

By m'karyl

April 10, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

Independent Thinker I think that we are going to see more and more instances of a zero tolerance when it comes to athletes who use performance enhancing substances. I think for far too long many heads just tacitly turned the other way and let too many ppl ride without any consequences for their actions. And I do not think that race is a factor in these type of decisions. Afterall, race is not what made Jones do what she did and race is not why her medals have been taken away. She cheated the fans of Olympic sports by not competing on fair terms, period. And as a teammate she also cheated on them and for them as well.

It is sad that fair sports competition is being cheated of sportsmanship ( a key component of the intent of competitive athletics). Above all, integrity and adherence to the rules of objective competition should never to allowed to wane and be compromised. It keeps the playing field level, and without that what is sports?

By tye

April 10, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this

@Bill, they have to play what they are dealt.

By Fulton

April 10, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

As much as it hurts ladies, give the medals back. Although it’s unfortunate that you are caught in the middle, it’s a TEAM event & it’s the right thing to do. Sorry, but the race card is NOT applicable in this case, so please give that angle a rest and only apply it when absolutely necessary.

By sharon

April 10, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

I agree with abr

By tye

April 10, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

But I don’t see any racism here, so I don’t see why it’s even being brought up. She was wrong. This is like a ripple effect, it doesn’t just effect one person, it effects everyone close to it. The only way I see the team being punished is if they knew she was doing steroids and didn’t say anything, that’s the only reason. If Jones did that on her own and her teammates didn’t know, then they should be able to keep their medals that’s totally fair

By David Duke

April 10, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

Jones, if I remember correctly and I think I do, never failed a drug test. Her doping became known when the Bay Area laboratory Co-operative (BALCO) was raided and her drug calendar was found. She continued to lie about her taking of performance enhancing drugs until she was implicated, along with her husband, in the theft of a considerable sum of money. Then she found Jesus and came clean about the drugs. the other members of the relay team may have been taking drugs too but that is open to conjecture and doesn’t really matter. What we do know is that Jones was a product of performance enhancing drugs. She was dirty! That makes the whole team dirty and they need to hand over the medals they stole!

By Justin

April 10, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

Everybody…..Flo Jo’s been dead over 12 years.

By CutandDry

April 10, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

As unfair as it may sound for Jones’ teammates, it is only fair for the rest of the teams that competed and did not cheat

We’ll never know what place they would have gotten had Jones not been cheating

By Justin

April 10, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

Everybody…..Flo Jo’s been dead over 12 years. ….sorry my bad 10 years

By m'karyl

April 10, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

CutandDry

We’ll never know what place they would have gotten had Jones not been cheating

That is the real travesty in this situation because the entire team, including Jones, were world class athletes. They were primed and prepped for fair competition. And now all of that is naught and void because of Jones premeditated actions of cheating. No one will ever know if they could have competed and won fair and square. I always have enjoyed various aspects of the Olympic Games because it pertains to amateur athletes competing not for the $$$$ (pro-pay), but rather for the ability to compete fairly in their chosen sport.

By jane

April 10, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

Let’s see she did not test positive during the Olympics but later STATED she had taken performance enhancement drugs - how does this equate to giving the medals back again?

By dmscar

April 10, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

I don’t think it’s fair that the other team members have to give up what they trained and worked for because of the actions of one, but it is the right thing to do. The win was tainted. As so many have said here: win as a team, lose as a team. There is not I in team, therefore, if one goes down all go down. The sad part is this concept has not been applied to all team sporting arenas.

Please understand this statement coming from an African American woman: What Jones did was wrong. There is nothing racial about what she did or the consequences to be paid. And unfortunately, her team has to pay the price for her actions. Wrong is wrong not matter who did it. Anyone who tries to say this is a “race thing” is living in a fantasy world. This is about right and wrong, not black and white.

By m'karyl

April 10, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

Justin

Wow, has it been 10 years??? It was such a sad moment when it happened because she was so young ( we are approximately the same age). It was like whoa!! because she was so athletic and all.

By Jarrod

April 10, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

Yes, they should have to give back the medals. The relay race is a team event. If one person runs out of their exchange zone before getting the batton, the ENTIRE relay team is DQed, not just the individual. If this were another team sport, such as baseball, football, or basketball, and the star athlete of the team was found guilty of cheating in their championship game (pitcher used steroids, star college basketball forward accepted money from an agent, etc.), would anyone say that only that person should be held accountable and the rest of the team should still be rewarded?

By Love

April 10, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

The Facts: Athlete X admits to using illegal performance enhancing drugs, then authorities follow the sport’s written guidelines and procedures for athletes and teams who are found to have used such illegal substances. Read it again. How could anyone of sound mind see injustice in these facts? How could anyone see a level of injustice so extreme that racism will be declared the culprit? An evil as foul as racism is needed to reconcile these facts… an admission of wrong doing and the rules for such wrong doing being followed?

How was racism at play when Marion Jones was receiving more media attention, sponsorships, and endorsements then any other U.S. athlete at the Sydney Olympics?

By scooter11

April 10, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

In the Dirty Dozen, all the prisoners knew that if one screwed up, they ALL went back to jail for execution of sentence. In sports, teams lose wins when someone is found to be ineligible. Tough luck. Her teammates knew, and what do we know about them? Maybe they just weren’t caught, maybe they were tested. I don’t know (or care), but they knew about Jones.

By Illinoisan

April 10, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Just out of curiousity, what would happen if the athletes just declined to return the medals to the IOC?

By 82DAWG

April 10, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

They would have to wrest it out of my cold dead hands in order for me to give any olympic medal up. I would however give them two words, “B**e me”.

By Olen

April 10, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Why is there a question here? They should not keep their medals - it was won using one of our “bio-tech” black atheletes - they may have All been taking something - who knows! Go Barry Bonds - To Jail that is!

By David Duke

April 10, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Florence Joyner died in her sleep ten years ago. Interestingly, her family would not allow the coroner to test for steroids. She retired in 1988 after her Olympic wins and right before testing for steroids became mandatory. It is probable that she too was a cheat.

By m'karyl

April 10, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

How was racism at play when Marion Jones was receiving more media attention, sponsorships, and endorsements then any other U.S. athlete at the Sydney Olympics?

Exactly, she had a prime opportunity to earn excellent money from her athletic abilities. She was jettisoned stright into national and international attention (because until that moment I was not even awar of who she was) and now she has tainted that legacy with an admission of using performance enhancing substances. What a major let down for so many ppl who admired her athletic prowness. I also think that this action is necessary because so many of our youth look up to athletes like Jones as inspiration in their own athtletic endeavors. There have to be drastic consequences for breaking the rules of fair competition in sports. Integrity is of the utmost importance to impart as well.

By Tray

April 10, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

Funny…all these people that say giving back the medals is wrong have not answered my question…so I’ll state it again:

Do you tell your kids “It’s ok to cheat as long as the team wins.”?

It’s a yes or no question, I pose anyone who disagrees with turning in the medals to give a straight answer to that question and justify it!!

By Erkel

April 10, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

Trade Ya.

If the German women give up all of those drug medals from the Olympics in the 80’s and the several still existing world records that can never be broken, then we can start there.

Other than that, no deal. We are nitpicky on today’s athletes, yet when we watched women turned to almost male athletes in the 80’s we let those obviously tainted world records and medals remain in Germany.

By m'karyl

April 10, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

Tray

maybe for some ppl the use of performing enhancing substances are not a big or serious issue. Perhaps they may think that since it is water under the bridge to just let it go and move forward…I do not know, but maybe…

Bute have to be tangible consequences. There are so few areas where we can expect or hope for some type of integrity to be used as a standard. I think that athletics is one area where the public expectation of fair competition lends it to this scrutiny and consequence. We have so few that we can allow our youth to see by example how fairness in competition works if it is applied to a disiplined effort of training, practice and perfecting athletice skills.

By W. P. Hamilton

April 10, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

I would vote against taking the medals of the teammates back. I think its unfair to request their medals back since they did not cheat and had no knowledge of Ms. Jones cheating.

By olddawg55

April 10, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

Had Jones fallen down would her teammates gotten medals..no..and she did fall down in her moral integrity so no one gets medals…sorry about that but it’s the only way to look at it. Jones failed her teammates, her country, and herself..knowingly..so she alone must suffer the shame but her teammates must suffer the loss also. Too bad because they won’t get that chance again for the most part. And to those who say, “so what if they don’t return them”..same as if I bought a championship ring..it won’t mean a damn thing…so give it up Gaines and others..it has no value!

By m'karyl

April 10, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

Erkel

I guess the changes have to start somewhere. When I first started listening to a lot of the media attention that was being given to the issue of athletes (in many sports arenas) using performing enhancing substances, I honestly thought so what, probably not anything new?!?!? What is all the fuss and such?!?!? But after talking to several coaches, athletes and others who have vested interested in sports competition, I realized that it does more than just give the using athlete an unnatural advantage,it also does damage to the sport itself. There was one professional baseball player who felt that he was cheated out of a good opportunity in his career because the athlete who was his major competition won whatever recognition and such. Did something to diminish his potential in the sport or something. Anyway, it was later learned that this guy who won had used performance enhancing substances. So this other dude really felt likehe had been cheated out of an opportunity because the “palying field” so to speak was not failry drawn bu the ohter dude’s unfari advantage. So start where they may and continue from there…unfortunately 1980 may be too far to go back and all.

By Tray

April 10, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

Erkel,

I would love to agree with you, but I’m not sure if ‘performance enhancing drugs’ were even part of the rule back then. Hell, we just got rules in baseball about it!

By Tommy O

April 10, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this

RACIST??? So the black Americans lose medals that will be gained by the black Jamaicans, that’s racist???

By james

April 10, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

My idea is to start a new precedent. Take back Jones’ medal, remove her name, declare her teammates as participants with an asterisk and explanation and allow them to keep their medals (they earned them, did they not?. Then move the standings up with an asterisk.
The Bonds reference is a good one - If he is found guilty do you declare his team has no wins for an entire season?

By Rational

April 10, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

Racist this is not! You all fail to realize that all of the medalist and a random sample of the losers are tested after each event final. At the time Marion Jones was doping, the IOC, IAAF, nor the USATF had a test that would detect the designer drugs Jones took, so she would have passed the test. The only reason they now have a test to detect the drugs is because T. Graham, the coach of several athletes caught doping, turned over a vial of the drugs. My guess is that he had a spat with one of his athletes and decided to blow the cover off the whole scandal to get even, but that backfired because he has had to answer a lot of questions concerning the athletes he trained who have tested positive. All should have to give the medals back because when Jones and Williams dropped the baton in the World Champsh’p the whole team was DQ’d, not Marion Jones, solely.

Finally,IMO I would relinquish my medal because I would not want to be associated with a team performance that was considered suspect due the actions of one person.

By m'karyl

April 10, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

I thought that we had long passed the issue of whether or not this was a racist decision, and most of us have concurred that it was not one. This includes several African-Americans, like myself. And BTW, if ppl wnat to start having a better grasp about the whole racist issue, then start by reading ” Racism: A Short Histroy”. It is an excellent book on how the whole institionalized process of racism began in 13th Century Spain with rise of Catholocism as a Nation/State Church and Anti-Semitism. It includes an introduction, 3 chapters and an epilogue. He also covers the 3 most significant racist regimes in modern 20th Century history- The Holocaust, the South African Apartheid and Jim Crow South. He does quite an excellent job of putting it into perspective. In the end, what really comes out-that racism is the real consequence of historical events and that is has been with us in some form or fashion now for well over 600 years and that is may never go away.

By LOSE THE METALS

April 10, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

The team know Jones was on something, come on, she looks like a dude. If anybody says they didn’t think she was on something, that is because they are on it too.

By Billy White Shoes

April 10, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

Fair or not, I wouldn’t give my medal back!!! They would have to pry it from my cold dead white shoes…

By FLO JO

April 10, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this

Just like Flo-Jo, stand up and take it like a man. Thats right, I said man. These so called ladies were jacked up men.

By BUSHWACKER

April 10, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

To all you folks who think her teamates should not lose their medals I have one question.

Does it bother you that the silver medal winners were cheated out of a gold medal if the only reason the gold medal winners won was because of the steroids making Jones faster than she should have been?

What about those kids who worked their entire life for this chance and lost to someone who cheated?

By Billy White Shoes

April 10, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this

Anyone know if Marion Jones is running track in prison yet?

By Clay

April 10, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

It’s a horrible situation Ms. Jones put her Olympic team in. She should spent three times as much jail time as she’s been given. This shows everyone that your actions can affect a lot of people - both good actions and bad actions.

Therefore, do good and good will come to more than just you. Do bad and bad will continue to perpetuate bad.

I’m not sure, if the other teammates were proven to be clean, that they should completely be stripped of their metals. The silver placing team should have been promoted to Gold certainly.

I guess it also illustrates the sad fact that athletes are not roles models and should never be considered as such. They are simply entertainers who get paid a ridiculous amount of money to play a sport.

By Clay

April 10, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this

It’s a horrible situation Ms. Jones put her Olympic team in. She should spent three times as much jail time as she’s been given. This shows everyone that your actions can affect a lot of people - both good actions and bad actions.

Therefore, do good and good will come to more than just you. Do bad and bad will continue to perpetuate bad.

I’m not sure, if the other teammates were proven to be clean, that they should completely be stripped of their metals. The silver placing team should have been promoted to Gold certainly.

I guess it also illustrates the sad fact that athletes are not roles models and should never be considered as such. They are simply entertainers who get paid a ridiculous amount of money to play a sport.

By Clay

April 10, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this

It’s a horrible situation Ms. Jones put her Olympic team in. She should spent three times as much jail time as she’s been given. This shows everyone that your actions can affect a lot of people - both good actions and bad actions.

Therefore, do good and good will come to more than just you. Do bad and bad will continue to perpetuate bad.

I’m not sure, if the other teammates were proven to be clean, that they should completely be stripped of their metals. The silver placing team should have been promoted to Gold certainly.

I guess it also illustrates the sad fact that athletes are not roles models and should never be considered as such. They are simply entertainers who get paid a ridiculous amount of money to play a sport.

By David Patton

April 10, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

Jones’ teammates shouldn’t be punished for her sins. Should we have suspended all of the Falcons for Vick’s various idiocies?

By Viv

April 10, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this

Yep. They competed as one. Marion was the one who was unfair and jeopardized the team….not the IOC. If I was one the team that lost I would definitely want my medal if I found out that a major part of the other team was on steroids. The one who was unfair is Marion for breaking the rules….not the IOC for enforcing them.

By Viv

April 10, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this

Yep. They competed as one. Marion was the one who was unfair and jeopardized the team….not the IOC. If I was one the team that lost I would definitely want my medal if I found out that a major part of the other team was on steroids. The one who was unfair is Marion for breaking the rules….not the IOC for enforcing them.

By CeeCee

April 10, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this

No. Team mates should not have been punished unless they too used enhancement drugs.

By hardarse

April 10, 2008 11:34 PM | Link to this

Hey Mon,

The Jamaicans are the ones getting cheated here, not the 3 Americans who benefitted from Jones cheating.

Had Jones not cheated, I’d bet good money that the USA team wouldn’t have earned a medal anyway.

In Cobb County, we say, “Well, T. S. Life aint’ fair.”

By big dog

April 11, 2008 12:40 AM | Link to this

Let’s take the Yankees title because roger Clemons and Andy Petit was on steroids NOT! come on people. Would you take the title from a football team because one player came up positive for steroids, I don’t think so. Take the A’s title, Jose Conseco admitted to steriod use. Lyle Alzado admitted steriod use do you take the Raiders title. Please

By big dog

April 11, 2008 12:41 AM | Link to this

Let’s take the Yankees title because roger Clemons and Andy Pettitte was on steroids NOT! come on people. Would you take the title from a football team because one player came up positive for steroids, I don’t think so. Take the A’s title, Jose Conseco admitted to steriod use. Lyle Alzado admitted steriod use do you take the Raiders title. Please

By big dog

April 11, 2008 12:43 AM | Link to this

Let’s take the Yankees title because Roger Clemons and Andy Pettitte was on steroids NOT! come on people. Would you take the title from a football team because one player came up positive for steroids, I don’t think so. Take the A’s title, Jose Conseco admitted to steroid use. Lyle Alzado admitted steroid use do you take the Raiders title. Please

By Staci

April 11, 2008 7:42 AM | Link to this

A team event? One player tested positive. Unfortunately that team did not win. As mush as it hurts the metals should move to the winners of the Silver and so on. Its a shame it happens this way. If Jones was not qualified to be on the team due to drugging then I am so sorry but the Gold Medals need to be placed in the hands of the true winners. The Americans need to turn them over.

By potstirrer

April 11, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

As for you who are crying racism, your point is moot.

It would never happen if the tables were turned because there is no chance that a team of white or asian sprinters would ever contest for an Olympic relay medal…

; )

By Olympia

April 11, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

Why should they? They were not accomplices of the crime. They were just as good runners as Marion.

They put in all they had to contribute to the victory. If they were not excellent runners Jones’s lead could be narrowed and completely caught up.

They should keep their medals. I do not think even Marion should loose her medal. I want IOC to prove with a scientific study that using these steriods/drugs really makes you a superhuman. If not their judgment is daulty. This is just another arm twist by the world on USA.

By Olympia

April 11, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Why should they? They were not accomplices of the crime. They were just as good runners as Marion.

They put in all they had to contribute to the victory. If they were not excellent runners Jones’s lead could be narrowed and completely caught up.

They should keep their medals. I do not think even Marion should loose her medal. I want IOC to prove with a scientific study that using these steriods/drugs really makes one a superhuman. If not their judgment is doubtful. This is just another arm twist by the world on USA.

By Kofi

April 11, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

Why should they? They were not accomplices of the crime. They were just as good runners as Marion.

They put in all they had to contribute to the victory. If they were not excellent runners Jones’s lead could be narrowed and completely caught up.

They should keep their medals. I do not think even Marion should loose her medal. I want IOC to prove with a scientific study that using these steriods/drugs really makes one a superhuman. If not their judgment is doubtful. This is just another arm twist by the world on USA.

By Ben

April 11, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

This would be like taking away a bunch of wins from a baseball team when they find out one player was taking seroids……doesn’t make much sense.

By Chappy

April 11, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this

I would like to see these young ladies keep their medals. They worked very hard and ran for the United States.

The IOC can make different medals. The races still will be changed in the record books.

Thank You

By ron

April 11, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

All of the anger here should be reaped by Marion Jones.She alone did this.All by her onesies.Unfortunately she involved other fine young ladies in her ploy.They can’t possibly want to retain medals won under false pretences by one of their teammates.Should they want these medals,they’re wrong.The medals have been rendered meaningless.

By steve

April 11, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

So Ms. Gaines,an ACADEMIC ADVISOR decides she is not going to give the medal back.She makes a great example for the students at GT.Remember Ms. Gaines, there’s no ME in TEAM…

By Blkshepherd

April 11, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

The committee needs a swift kick in the azz!(ss) how stupid can you be. Any pee brain knows if your on a team you are not with teammates 24-7 and if you are folks still go to the bathroom by themselves..if they are going to do drugs they arent going to let their teammates know or see them duhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I would sue the entire committee. You can’t blame the entire team for one persons screw up! Its bad enough the USA is hated in other countries thanks to two men..George Bush Sr. and Jr. and thats bad enough even though we had no say in them invading iraq. but the world hates the entire country. thanks george w..

By Tommy O

April 11, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

Will you freaking ignorant goobers learn the difference between metals and medals??? While you’re at it - learn mettle too.

By d jackson

April 11, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

I’m sure when Bob’s co-workers screw up at work he still wants his raise.

By velvel in decatur

April 11, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

Eric, what does racism have to do with Jones’ dishonesty? She owes her team mates a public apology and ought to have to do public penance every day. And she ought to acknowledge how she embarrassed her family. No different from Ben Johnson, who embarrassed himself and his family and (if they ever get embarrassed), Canada. But to look to the Olympic officialdom for any honesty? No, remember Dick Pound’s sot of a wife getting into a fight with Atlanta Cops in ‘96? Or the officialdom in ‘36 going along with Hitler’s murderers? Or continuing to use the Hitler-started torch runs? Or Avery Brundage’s preference of rich athletes over working class folks? Or his “going along” with Hitler? Eric, you could find racism in chickens when they prefer chickens to ducks.

By Pete

April 12, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this

Why did they get their medals stripped? They didn’t take HGH Marion Jones did. If anything they should have left the teammates alone. I don’t see the IOCs’ logic behind this move. It’s like taking a kid away from a good parent and leaving him with a child mollestor