Disgraced Olympic sprinter Marion Jones is getting a second chance. No, not in Track and Field, but rather the WNBA.
Jones, who was an all-star point guard at the University of North Carolina before deciding on Track as a career has signed a deal to play for the Tulsa Shock of the WNBA. In fact there is a Press Conference scheduled to announce it Wednesday morning.
The story from the Tulsa World is RIGHT HERE
((Jones shooting free throws//Courtesy: Michael Wyke/Tulsa World))
Jones, at 34, hasn't played basketball professionally, though she was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury back in 2003. She didn't exactly take the job for the money, she apparently will be making the rookie minimum...roughly $35,000 for the 1st season.
The coach of the Shock is Nolan Richardson. Yes, that Nolan Richardson who believes that Jones will be a good player once she gets in basketball shape.
Check out this story from the Associated Press back in December that speaks of Jones working out with another WNBA team to prepare for her new career.
2 comments:
Very few, if any, ex-Olympic track stars have attempted to play in a major sports league. I hope she has a successful career in the WNBA. If Jones is able to help the Shock win a championship, I still don’t think it will ease the pain she suffered when she was stripped of the five medals she won at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney.
She was a pretty good basketball player back in the day at North Carolina. She's a good enough athlete that she stands a good chance of making the team. Whether or not she can make in impact from there remains to be seen.
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