From the top of the world to prison...and how to make the best of it

Last week, on Thursday I believe, I watched the latest installment of the ESPN '30 for 30' series on Marion Jones titled 'Press Pause'.  Since then I've been struggling with how to incorporate it into something that deals with organizational theory and behavior because I was intrigued by the story and thought that some of you might be, as well.  I've decided that the topic of change is the best way to bring the story full circle into org. theory

 

For those of you who don't remember Marion Jones, she was one of the most famous and recognized athletes of the 90's and one of the most decorated Olympic athletes of the 2000 games in Sydney.  She won 5 gold medals in Sydney, and at the peak of her stardom she was paid millions of dollars a year in endorsements and $80,000 per race.  All of that, however, came crashing to a hault when she admitted in 2007 that she used steroids and lied to federal investigaters about it.

 

As a result, she lost all of her endorsement deals, spent 6 months in prison, and was personally and professionally disgraced.  She was also stripped of all of her gold medals from the Sydney games and wasn't allowed to participate in track and field for a period of two years, which she ended up deciding to retire from in 2007.

 

She now, however, is a member of the Tulsa Shock, a WNBA frachise, and is currently trying to live out another dream of her's by being a successful professional basketball player.  She is also married and has three kids, she actually made her comeback in basketball just months after giving birth to her last child, and now speaks to kids all over the country about not using drugs and the consequences if you do.

 

I've been through a bunch of rough spells in my life, just like everyone else, but can't imagine what it would be like to go through what Marion Jones has these past few years.  Although I can't agree with what she did, and I also can't imagine what I'd do if I was under that much pressure (especially if so many people around me were obviously doing it), I can't help but admire her for making the best of the hand that she's been dealt...and the hand that she's dealt herself.  

 

In addition to everything that her story can teach any of us about successful, and unsuccessful, change, it also spoke to me about the hypocracy of drug use in this country and the subsequent management of those who have used those drugs.  There are countless athletes in this country who have lied about the fact that they have used performance enhancing drugs and have been allowed to keep their trophies, records, etc.  let alone spending no time in jail for their lies and mistakes.  Management turned a blind eye to the obvious abuse that had been happening for quite some time, and although they've made strides to level the playing field by testing for these drugs more often recently, the damage has already been done to a degree that may never be able to be repaired.