Home » Sports » Basketball
Tainted Jones wants to try her luck in WNBA
Source: Agencies |
December 2, 2009, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
DISGRACED track star Marion Jones is training for a comeback - in the WNBA.
San Antonio Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes confirmed on Monday night that Jones has been training with his assistants to possibly play in the WNBA, more than a year after the 34-year-old was released from federal prison for lying about her doping use.
Jones has been working on her skills and conditioning in San Antonio since October. She said she received a call in May from someone in the NBA asking if she might play in the WNBA.
"I thought it would be an interesting journey if I decided to do this," Jones said. "It would give me an opportunity to share my message to young people on a bigger platform; it would give me an opportunity to get a second chance."
Jones played college basketball at North Carolina, where she was the starting point guard on the Tar Heels' national championship team in 1994. She told the Times that she hopes to play in Europe this winter and in the WNBA next season.
WNBA spokesman Ron Howard did not immediately return a phone message late on Monday.
Jones was released in September 2008 from a Texas federal prison after completing most of her six-month sentence for lying about doping and her role in a check-fraud scam.
After long denying she had ever used performance-enhancing drugs, Jones admitted in federal court that she used a designer steroid from September 2000 to July 2001. She was stripped of three gold medals and two bronzes she won at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Hughes said that his assistants haven't briefed him on Jones' skill level or whether she has shown the ability to play in the WNBA. But he applauded Jones for trying, and said her prison time or admission of steroids use wouldn't factor into his decision about signing her.
"I deal with people where they are right now," Hughes said. "If she's interested in playing, great for her. The past is the past."
Jones said she thinks she can be an asset to a WNBA team.
"It's important for people to know that it's possible to make a mistake in your life, but it's what you do after the mistake that people are going to remember you by," she said.
San Antonio Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes confirmed on Monday night that Jones has been training with his assistants to possibly play in the WNBA, more than a year after the 34-year-old was released from federal prison for lying about her doping use.
Jones has been working on her skills and conditioning in San Antonio since October. She said she received a call in May from someone in the NBA asking if she might play in the WNBA.
"I thought it would be an interesting journey if I decided to do this," Jones said. "It would give me an opportunity to share my message to young people on a bigger platform; it would give me an opportunity to get a second chance."
Jones played college basketball at North Carolina, where she was the starting point guard on the Tar Heels' national championship team in 1994. She told the Times that she hopes to play in Europe this winter and in the WNBA next season.
WNBA spokesman Ron Howard did not immediately return a phone message late on Monday.
Jones was released in September 2008 from a Texas federal prison after completing most of her six-month sentence for lying about doping and her role in a check-fraud scam.
After long denying she had ever used performance-enhancing drugs, Jones admitted in federal court that she used a designer steroid from September 2000 to July 2001. She was stripped of three gold medals and two bronzes she won at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Hughes said that his assistants haven't briefed him on Jones' skill level or whether she has shown the ability to play in the WNBA. But he applauded Jones for trying, and said her prison time or admission of steroids use wouldn't factor into his decision about signing her.
"I deal with people where they are right now," Hughes said. "If she's interested in playing, great for her. The past is the past."
Jones said she thinks she can be an asset to a WNBA team.
"It's important for people to know that it's possible to make a mistake in your life, but it's what you do after the mistake that people are going to remember you by," she said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
