American media shoves Lolo Jones down our throats

[J2thaD]

I find the way that the media tries to make Lolo Jones into this beauty queen sex object disgusting. They always spotlight her, so much so, that they disrespect other hurdlers. When Dawn Harper won the 100 meter hurdles the other day. Many news outlets and sports tickers simply stated "Lolo Jones qualified for the Olympics placing third." Making no mention, what so ever of the ladies who came in first or second. I find this totally disrespectful to Dawn Harper. And it begs the question of if, Dawn Harper needs a lighter skin tone to get some coverage.

[kuha]

Of course all that's true.

And of course it doesn't matter a bit. "The media" care nothing about actual quality/achievement--they are after "stories" to entertain the addled, the idiotic, and the comatose.

[Marlow]

I find the way that the media tries to make Lolo Jones into this beauty queen sex object disgusting.

Just crawled out from under a rock, did we? Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton . . . Snooki!!!!
I like Lolo, but whom the media select for adoration has always been suspect and is a well-known aspect of American culture, and it's not good or bad; it just is. It ain't no big thang, so you might as well get over it.

[preston]

I find the way that the media tries to make Lolo Jones into this beauty queen sex object disgusting.

Just crawled out from under a rock, did we? Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton . . . Snooki!!!!
I like Lolo, but whom the media select for adoration has always been suspect and is a well-known aspect of American culture, and it's not good or bad; it just is. It ain't no big thang, so you might as well get over it.

Wow, we agree, completely, I can't believe it.

[J2thaD]

I find the way that the media tries to make Lolo Jones into this beauty queen sex object disgusting.

Just crawled out from under a rock, did we? Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton . . . Snooki!!!!
I like Lolo, but whom the media select for adoration has always been suspect and is a well-known aspect of American culture, and it's not good or bad; it just is. It ain't no big thang, so you might as well get over it.

Been posting again for a few days.

As far as the Lolo being in the spot light even though she isn't the best American hurdler right now, that isn't right. What is the purpose of that agenda? Why is a light complexioned woman with masculine features all of a sudden the medias idea of a beauty queen so much so that everybody else in a race, even the winner, is disregarded and only she is mentioned?

[Pelpa]

I find the way that the media tries to make Lolo Jones into this beauty queen sex object disgusting. They always spotlight her, so much so, that they disrespect other hurdlers. When Dawn Harper won the 100 meter hurdles the other day. Many news outlets and sports tickers simply stated "Lolo Jones qualified for the Olympics placing third." Making no mention, what so ever of the ladies who came in first or second. I find this totally disrespectful to Dawn Harper. And it begs the question of if, Dawn Harper needs a lighter skin tone to get some coverage.

Saw it her on Jay Leno and I am as annoyed as you, but truth be told, all America has to do is relegate her to 8th place, and that hasn't happened. So the best solution is to elimnate her from as early as heat 1, then she'll just be a next face of millions of other faces.

[TN1965]

As far as the Lolo being in the spot light even though she isn't the best American hurdler right now, that isn't right. What is the purpose of that agenda?

The last time I checked the (commercial) media are not in the business of "being right." They are in the business of making profit, just like any other business. And their agenda is selling a story, and pleasing the sponsors.

[fasttrack85]

I find the way that the media tries to make Lolo Jones into this beauty queen sex object disgusting. They always spotlight her, so much so, that they disrespect other hurdlers. When Dawn Harper won the 100 meter hurdles the other day. Many news outlets and sports tickers simply stated "Lolo Jones qualified for the Olympics placing third." Making no mention, what so ever of the ladies who came in first or second. I find this totally disrespectful to Dawn Harper. And it begs the question of if, Dawn Harper needs a lighter skin tone to get some coverage.

The media is not shoving anything down your throat. Change your channel, look away, or cover your ears. People on this board are becoming even more cattier than high school girls. I can only imagine how you guys would have acted if she didn't make the team.

I think you guys are missing the point as of right now she has shut her naysayers up. She was not suppose to make the team and yet she did. What more do you want from her?

Being an athlete doesn't guarantee you media attention so everyone feeling sorry for Dawn or Kellie needs to stop. After the race they were all interviewed evenly and Lolo wasn't interviewed last. They also showed her race last as well in the slo mo replays.

Lolo's story has been set up since the Olympic Finals in 08. In my opinion the media( especially track media) would be stupid not to be covering her heavily. If she was to pull of an upset in London this would literally be one of the greatest sports stories ever. With Hurdles more than any other event anything can happen. Who would have bet against Lolo in 08?

Just watch and enjoy and in the meantime take the stick out of your ass( collectively).

[mcgato]

Interesting article about the OT from Grantland writer Charles Pierce.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/809 ... eld-trials

Quote of the article:

(If you're looking for actual drama, keep an eye on defending Olympic hurdles champion Dawn Harper, who is visibly pretty well fed up with all the attention Lolo Jones has been getting for (a) being one of NBC's darlings, (b) being easy on the eyes, and (c) not having won a damn thing compared to Dawn Harper, who's had to come back from serious leg injuries to do it. Harper beat Jones from here to there on Saturday, and yet it was Lolo, who finished third, who got most of the attention at the post-race press conference. There was so much obvious hostility at Harper's end of the platform that it's a wonder the table didn't spontaneously combust. Asked if she felt underappreciated, Harper replied, "Definitely.")

[Pelpa]

The media is not shoving anything down your throat. Change your channel, look away, or cover your ears. People on this board are becoming even more cattier than high school girls. I can only imagine how you guys would have acted if she didn't make the team.

If you look at it logicaly and objectively, the question would have to be asked, why in a sport that's begging for its superlative persons to be highlighted, is an average athlete being constatntly pushed by the meda especially when there were WR performances registered in a meet where Jones (average) was a mere third place finisher?

...Then the valley high girl vibe wouldn't be an issue. As a matter of fact the mere package in which Jones is presented as an ambassador of the sport is in the "cattier than thou" format...

[TN1965]

If you look at it logicaly and objectively, the question would have to be asked, why in a sport that's begging for its superlative persons to be highlighted, is an average athlete being constatntly pushed by the meda especially when there were WR performances registered in a meet where Jones (average) was a mere third place finisher?

... because it was not USATF who decided to spotlight Lolo. They (USATF) don't have the power to dictate what "story" the TV or the printed media want to focus on.

Plain and simple.

[fasttrack85]

The media is not shoving anything down your throat. Change your channel, look away, or cover your ears. People on this board are becoming even more cattier than high school girls. I can only imagine how you guys would have acted if she didn't make the team.

If you look at it logicaly and objectively, the question would have to be asked, why in a sport that's begging for its superlative persons to be highlighted, is an average athlete being constatntly pushed by the meda especially when there were WR performances registered in a meet where Jones (average) was a mere third place finisher?

...Then the valley high girl vibe wouldn't be an issue. As a matter of fact the mere package in which Jones is presented as an ambassador of the sport is in the "cattier than thou" format...

Sometimes its about a journey and less about a single event(with the exception of Olympics/World Championships). The way Lolo's story is playing out so far is made for Hollywood. Not everyone cares as much as we do about world record, meet record, etc if they are not a fan of the event. Sometimes becoming a fan on an individual can end up turning into being a fan of the sport in general.

In fact I never cared about Hurdles until watching Lolo in Bejing. I just kept hearing can Lolo get gold will she get gold? I tuned in to see what the fuss was all about and then after her fumble she won more fans than she probably would have if she did win gold.

Frankly I shared the after race sentiment. I knew Dawn and Kellie were going to make it if they didn't it would have been an upset. My heart was in my chest the whole race I was saying cmon Lolo cmon Lolo in my heart but my brain was saying the other girls are just better this year and then she pulls off the third place position.

I am just shocked that everyone is not rooting for her she is bringing alot of much needed drama to the 100 meter hurdles.

[Pelpa]

... because it was not USATF who decided to spotlight Lolo. They (USATF) don't have the power to dictate what "story" the TV or the printed media want to focus on.

Plain and simple.

How did the USATF come this bub? we are talkining about the media and their responsibility as the subject states; "Amercan Media Shoves".

But now that you brought it up...

The USATF provides a content that Media eg. NBC needs to sell to its viewership so that NBC and USATF can benefit....USATF other than wanting a pretty face to sell the products also needs the media to sell its real product, the skill set....

Hell, even Sherapova had to win something!!!!

[110hedgeNYC]

don't agree that Lolo Jones is being "shoved down our throats" by the media.

as others have noticed, the media have just grabbed onto Lolo's good looks, attention grabbing antics and an interesting human interest story.

that said, I used to like Lolo and find her amusing, but now find her personality grating and tacky. she does aggressively self-promote, but not in a classy way. she also, not to be harsh, just comes off kind of dense.

her inability to refine her hurdling technique and penchant for ridiculous statements would be indicators (of the above).

would greatly prefer having women like Alysia Montano or Allyson Felix getting greater attention from the media.

much of the hype machine media will be disappointed when Lolo either crashes out in London or just gets beat badly by Pearson, Harper, Wells, 1-2 of the Canadians, and others.

Nothing against Lolo personally, and she is a great athlete, but she's alienating her own community with such tackiness.

[j-a-m]

Anyone who watched her on Leno, did she include her teammates Harper and Wells in the conversation?

[TN1965]

Hell, even Sherapova had to win something!!!!

... but Anna Kournikova did not have to win anything (I mean, not one pro title) to get more media attention than Davenport and Henin with their multipe major titles.

This kind of media bias did not start with Lolo and will not end with her. It is especially blatant in the coverage of women, but you also find more subtle version among men.

[110hedgeNYC]

Anyone who watched her on Leno, did she include her teammates Harper and Wells in the conversation?

not that I saw. don't believe she did.

she is really self-consumed and its becoming more obvious. also, her inclination to share way too much information (TMI) is going to eventually turn people off.

she's making her competitors despise her, which one should never never do if they want any hope of winning again.

[lonewolf]

To para-phrase someone: "...... Ya can't please everyone all the time."

[j-a-m]

Anyone who watched her on Leno, did she include her teammates Harper and Wells in the conversation?

not that I saw. don't believe she did.

I'm perfectly fine with her celebration after making the team, which some other posters have criticized. But being on Leno is a conversation that you specifically prepare or get prepared for, so that would have been a good opportunity to show that she really cares about her sport and about her teammates, who finished ahead of her anyway.

[JRM]

Aside from "camera looks," two things sell to the general public in an Olympic year:

(1) Definite gold medal contenders

and

(2) Overcoming adversity stories

Lolo was (1) in 2008, and is (2) this year. It's a win-win for them.

Everyone saw the "favorite" in Beijing wipe out in the hurdle finals, and it's been a "to be continued" ever since (well, not really -- everyone forgot, so they need reminding).

These media-generated interest stories have always existed, and have blown up in their faces as many times as they've succeeded. In 1992, for example, Dan O'Brien was the poster-boy -- but he no-heighted in the PV trials, and didn't even make the trip.

If all is fair in love and war, expect Eaton to become the NBC American hopeful in London (for a perfectly good reason, of course).

[fasttrack85]

Aside from "camera looks," two things sell to the general public in an Olympic year:

(1) Definite gold medal contenders

and

(2) Overcoming adversity stories

Lolo was (1) in 2008, and is (2) this year. It's a win-win for them.

Everyone saw the "favorite" in Beijing wipe out in the hurdle finals, and it's been a "to be continued" ever since (well, not really -- everyone forgot, so they need reminding).

These media-generated interest stories have always existed, and have blown up in their faces as many times as they've succeeded. In 1992, for example, Dan O'Brien was the poster-boy -- but he no-heighted in the PV trials, and didn't even make the trip.

If all is fair in love and war, expect Eaton to become the NBC American hopeful in London (for a perfectly good reason, of course).

This! Well said. Unfortunately all the people yapping away on these threads already knew that but have some self righteous attitudes and disdain for Lolo anyway. She is suppose to bow and curtsie like a fine English lady after she wins a spot on what may well be her last Olympic team when all the odds are against her. Get real people and find something new to talk about. This is getting so old.

Lets be real Dawn was an opportunistic winner in Bejing she got lucky. Similarly Sally will have to do something like what Lolo did in 08 for any of these girls to get gold. Will that mean that four years from now if that were to happen we should sweep Sally away like old trash and pretend we don't remember all those great performances?

Cmon guys let some air into your panties.

[mcgato]

Anyone who watched her on Leno, did she include her teammates Harper and Wells in the conversation?

She did not that I could tell. You can watch it here:
http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/vid ... 12/1407688
She's on after the 4th tick mark (which are commercials). It's pretty obvious that they watched her post race press conference, as the first two questions had her repeat portions of the press conference. Then they got into the fairly well known upbringing, then the virginity angle. Nothing surprising at all. I still find her enjoyable in a goofy sort of way. But I did grow up in southern Minnesota, almost an Iowan, so the Iowa connection is somewhat there.

[J2thaD]

Lolo's looks are nothing out of the ordinary. Her at times negative attitude and cattiness could also be done without. She has exhibited immature, and jealous behavior in the past. There is no need to try and shove her down the throats of the public. To Captain save a, oops I mean fasttrack85. I shouldn't have to change the channel. I turned to the channel to watch the trials. That doesn't give the media the right to keep putting the loser of the 100 hurdles final in the spotlight, instead of the women who beat her. It is ridiculous that articles mention Lolo Jones qualified for the Olympics, but made no mention of the woman who won the race. That is busllhit, plain and simple.

[kuha]

To care--at all--about this ridiculous issue means that there's no hope.

[mcgato]

To care--at all--about this ridiculous issue means that there's no hope.

Going to agree here. Tonight Show is NBC, which is the Olympic channel. Lolo was in LA for a commercial for some sponsor, so a spot on the NBC Leno show was a no brainer. NBC is pimping the Olympics nine ways to Tuesday. It is obvious that it takes five minutes of background checking to get questions that will fill ten minutes of talk show time with interesting answers from a very attractive lady with a compelling back story. NBC has a huge investment in the Olympics, and they live for these stories.

[kuha]

Yes, indeed.
Excuse me for quoting myself:

"The media" care nothing about actual quality/achievement--they are after "stories" to entertain the addled, the idiotic, and the comatose.

If one really WANTS to be part of the addled, idiot, and comatose crowd, there's nothing we can do to stop them. However, it's really not something to aim for.

[toyracer]

I am just shocked that everyone is not rooting for her she is bringing alot of much needed drama to the 100 meter hurdles.

The W100m hurdles is consistently extremely close; the term "blanket finish" seems to apply to virtually every race. Does it really need drama other than not knowing who is going to win on any given day and three or four runners having a legitimate chance of winning?

Is self centered conceit really the drama that is needed in the W100m? Really?

Anyone who watched her on Leno, did she include her teammates Harper and Wells in the conversation?

Their names were not called and no mention was made of the fact that she had actually finished third. I wouldn't be surprised if the audience thought she had won.

[Marlow]

Lolo's looks are nothing out of the ordinary.

You are certainly entitled to your own (misguided ) aesthetic standards, but it's quite obvious that more people agree with me (very attractive) than you, or we wouldn't even be having this 'issue'.

[kuha]

Marlow!! Are you cheating on Stacy?

[marknhj]

Marlow!! Are you cheating on Stacy?

Self-preservation. Did you see the size of her husband on TV yesterday? If he's read these boards for the past 8 years and knows Marlow is in the stadium....

[Marlow]

Marlow!! Are you cheating on Stacy?

Doan even go there, gurlfren !!!
Lolo is very attractive; Stacy is the BESTof EVERYTHING (after my wife, daughter, granddaughters, sister . . . well, you get the idea . . . )
[did I mention I got a little woozy when I saw she was handing out the medals to the wPVers? Had to sit down for a bit]

[donley2]

I find the idea of complaining about any remotely positive press for a track and field athlete, while being a track and field fan ludicrous. Would you prefer the media go back to talking about Justin Gatlins drug problems, or Marion Jones, or Balco or Victor Conte. And for those who say you would prefer they talk about Dawn Harper or someone else, well NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

[TrackDaddy]

Lolo's looks are nothing out of the ordinary.

You are certainly entitled to your own (misguided ) aesthetic standards, but it's quite obvious that more people agree with me (very attractive) than you, or we wouldn't even be having this 'issue'.

This is probably true. But more importantly the "right people" agree with you.

I saw her on Leno last night and felt bad for Dawn Harper.

[TrackDaddy]

Tonight Show is NBC, which is the Olympic channel. Lolo was in LA for a commercial for some sponsor, so a spot on the NBC Leno show was a no brainer.

Actually Olympic trials Champion and defending gold medalist Dawn Harper appearing would've been a no brainer.

An appearance on Leno for getting 3rd place at trials, no medal in 2008 and being someone who's really never won anything...is a brainer.

Mine still hurts trying to figure it out.

[jazzcyclist]

Tonight Show is NBC, which is the Olympic channel. Lolo was in LA for a commercial for some sponsor, so a spot on the NBC Leno show was a no brainer.

Actually Olympic trials Champion and defending gold medalist Dawn Harper appearing would've been a no brainer.

An appearance on Leno for getting 3rd place at trials, no medal in 2008 and being someone who's really never won anything...is a brainer.

Mine still hurts trying to figure it out.

TD, I wouldn't go there if I were you. Admittedly, Sanya has accomplished more than Lolo, but I think most folks on this board would agree with me that Sanya has a celebrity-accomplishment gap her ownself. Her gap may not be as big as Lolo's, but she does have a gap.