Well done, Marion Jones (“One Classy Confession,” Editorial, Oct. 6).
Like Barry Bonds, you betrayed our trust as you robbed the glory from others, but at least you gave the world a reason to forgive you.
Now that the Olympic medals have been returned to their rightful owners, apologize to your mother and get on with your life.
Tish Ferguson
Point Pleasant, N.J.
****
With Jones now facing prison time over the steroid scandal, I wonder how long it’ll be before we hear the familiar refrain that they only went after her because she’s rich, black and successful.
Brad Morris
Astoria
****
Jones did not let the United States down. She let herself down.
It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that she used enhancement drugs. What else is new? The public is immune.
Robert Small
Frankfort
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Jones’, Bonds’ and Gary Sheffield’s excuse that they thought they were using flaxseed oil is the athletic equivalent of “the dog ate my homework.”
How can any reason- able person believe them? If flaxseed oil could make you run faster or hit a baseball a mile and have no side effects, the entire world would want to use it, and the price would be astronomical.
Jones made her deal with the devil, and now she’s paying the price. Sending her to prison would accomplish nothing.
Andy Romanic
Freeport
****
The admission by Jones that she was cheating truly sickens me.
Not only has she betrayed her family, friends and fans, but she has also irrevocably damaged her legacy, one she worked very hard to establish.
She selfishly deprived legitimate champions of their rightful place and hard-earned moment of glory on the world stage. You can’t atone for that.
I have no pity for her until she stops playing the victim and admits that she used these substances knowingly.
To believe that it took her three long years to come to this realization, as she alleges, requires the willing suspension of disbelief.
Lisa Barlerin
Manhattan
****
There is nothing classy about admitting to cheating.
Jones suffered from competitive insecurity. She didn’t feel that she could compete on an even playing field.
She has been stripped of her Olympic medals, and she will live with her mistake for the rest of her life.
She should neither be lauded for using the public stage as a venue for her therapy nor incarcerated for her insecurity on the track.
The punishment for cheating in the field of athletics should be a lifetime ban from all sports, pro and amateur, in any capacity – including coaching Little League – and the athlete’s name should be stricken from all records.
Simply put, the sports world must clean up its own act and eliminate the asterisk from its repertoire. Easier said than done, considering that cheaters bring in lots of cash.
Elio Valenti
Brooklyn