NBC News Loves Marion Jones' Guilt... At Least A Little

Tonight on NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams, Marion Jones pleading guilty to federal charges of doping led the broadcast. It led Charlie Gibson's broadcast on ABC, too, but that report paled compared to NBC's. Why? The video. NBC has the exclusive rights to all the Olympic video. The network paid $705 million for the rights to the Sydney games, where Jones won her five medals, and they've paid a few billion more for the rights through 2012.

Williams stayed on the Jones story until 6:38, when he moved on to Bush and torture. In that time, viewers saw Jones running the 200 meter race, smiling and waving with the American flag around her shoulders after a victory, anchoring a relay and more. All beautiful, clear and branded with the NBC Olympic logo.

Meanwhile, ABC had a few still shots of Jones in the red white and blue, footage of her signing autographs and some grainy home video of a World Championships. When ABC then spoke to Inga Miller, who placed second to Jones at the World Championships, one imagines the video was Miller's own. Gibson moved on to the job market at 6:35.

So, if you want the most engrossing stories about Marion jones, or any Olympian in the news, watch NBC. It's incredibly sad and disappointing that the allegations turned out to be true, but somewhere there's a netwok exec feeling just a little smug about money well spent.

Comments

[mfaphoto]

At her news event the other day, Marion Jones confessed to using steriods and then asked for our forgiveness. How ironic. The woman who cheated over a long period of time, and then denied allegations more than Judas, wants our forgiveness? Forgiveness is for people who make a stupid mistake. It is for people who make decisions on the spur of the moment that turn out to be wrong. It is not for people who calculate a dishonest path and then repeatedly attempt to deceive everyone as to the truth. For her to now ask for our forgiveness is beyond incredible. As they say, "she made her bed, now she has to sleep in it". She is culpable. She should be castigated from the sport of track and field, her peers and teammates should be disgusted, the country should be outraged about her dishonesty and shame that she brought us, and she should not be allowed to make any money off any of the notiariety that it may bring her. Shame on you Marion Jones.

[ang4ever]

Gee Whiz - Cheaters !!!!. Another reason for the world to hate us.
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I was traveling by myself in Europe (London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Zurich and Vienna) for most of July. In Rome, I witnessed an incident where an American couple was "accidentally" pushed aside, her husband "accidentally" elbowed by 3 adults. A woman said something I didn't quite understand. They sped away.

And, another incident in Paris where 2 Americans tourists were run over by a pair of bicyclist who did not even bothered to stop. One shouted Cheaters, the other shouted Texan go home ! The Americans had minor injuries. They were wearing tees that says " Hello, From Texas USA. It dawned on me that Floyd Landis was making headlines in Europe on his alleged cheating at Tour de France.
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In Vienna, they are not openly hostile, but you can see their animosity with their fleeting glances. Just to make sure, I purposely did not wear my tee that proclaims "Proud to be American" and did not go anywhere near a Mosque. I felt so terrible. I mean, this was getting to be dangerous for my health.
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Finally, I felt relieve when I reached Lucerne, Scotland in a small village of Chamoix, where I stayed with my best friend from college. She tells me President Bush is not so popular there because of the war, and reminded me that Swiss maintain neutrality and do not wish to get involve in any invasion or war. The word "invaders" is just too repugnant for the Swiss. The truth is, I am on vacation to get away from these depressing headlines " Bush and HIS war ".
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Besides that, she and her family were very graceful. I finally had a great time.
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But still - I am 27 years old, and I save for my vacations. I can't remember any time that I was not welcomed, and can't remember when I was not proud of being an American. Now, "american" is like a dirty word when you are abroad.
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All I wanted was a good vacation. Maybe Asia next year !

[LastDaysCafe]

So Big Deal she cheated? All Ms.Jones has to say is look at America,at its political and corporate leaders,they all cheat and thats the reason they got to be No.1,by concerted "Cheating" and taking advantage of everything that might have stood in their way! Look at President Bush and the Republican Party who fixed & stole the 2004 Elections (with lots of help from the US Supreme Court!) Plus as far as lying to the FBI? How many times and in how many cases has the FBI lied and passed off phony "evidence" to judges in every US courtroom? Ruby Ridge and Waco are just a few of hallmarks of the FBI lying and murderous treachery! Remember this Lying & Cheating are as American as apple pie!"