Marion Jones is only one of many high profile, high achieving athletes in our sports fabric that has faced allegations of doping but for the time being, she is one of the few who will eventually be able to sleep at night with a clear conscience.

There have been a very few athletes that have had the fortitude to speak up and admit their cheating. Jason Giambi is probably the highest profile of the group. But Jones is in the same upper echelon club as Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Rafael Palmero, and many of the other great juicers of our time. Athletes who have used the cream, the clear, and who knows whatever else to etch their names in the record books and make large amounts of cash. Where Marion Jones has set herself apart is in the realm of being a better person, a person of integrity. Not only did she admit Friday to cheating at the highest level of her sport, but she admitted to repeatedly lying about it in the years that followed. I’m not sure which of those I respect more, but I feel that both required great courage.

I think we are a forgiving society. We will gladly forgive and respect those people who have the courage to admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. I’m grateful for those kinds of people. They are the people who will help make the world a better place, unlike those who rather than own up to major mistakes, will deny allegations until they are blue in the face, make excuses, argue about what the definition of ‘is’ is, and those who don’t want to talk about the past.

Marion Jones, I am a fan once again!

Ira

What do you think? Do your forgive Marion Jones? Post your comment below.