American media shoves Lolo Jones down our throats

[JRM]

Note also Lolo Jones is a very catchy and easy-to-remember name, much in the same spirit as Apollo Ohno, Misty-May Treanor, Picabo Street, etc... Makes for good marketing.

[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.

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.

Huh? Are you kidding? Are you comparing Sanya's American celebrity status to LOLO's?!?

Gap? Puhleeze....let me fill it for you...

HS record holder,
collegiate record holder,
American record holder,
US champion,
World champion,
World Silver Medalist,
Olympic Bronze medalist,
Olympic gold medalist relay(3 times) (ran anchor from 5m behind to win gold in Beijing thereby EARNING her visit on Leno).
World Athlete of the year...not once but TWICE (only athlete in HISTORY to do it).

I could go on but will stop here.

You were saying?

[TrackDaddy]

And, regardless of how you feel about Lolo Jones from 20 August 2008 to August 2012, in Beijing 4 years ago when she lined up for the 100h final, she was the best 100h in the world and she made a mistake that cost her Olympic Gold. That's compelling. That's a story. AND I'M A DAWN HARPER FAN!

I hope no one "hates" Lolo, I for one sure don't.

As for 2008, the best hurdler in the world? How about the favorite in Beijing due to her form at the time.

See...Dawn Harper DOMINATED the circuit following her win in Beijing.

Check the record.

[vip]

TD, I think you're confusing TV appearances with respect. They're not mutual. You know what respect is? Gold medals and money and props from your peers. Everything else is secondary. Everything else factors in other "stuff" like looks, personality, humor, etc. Lolo has all that. And she's not exactly a stiff on the hurdles, either.

And while I do agree SRR has a sterling record, she's never won an Olympic individual gold, yet is clearly a darling of NBC; you can't watch a track telecast without hearing about Sanya and her football husband. But do I complain? No, because that's how the media works. She's an easy angle.

Just like Lolo.

[lonewolf]

The non-track public does not know (or care) about the relative track credential of athletes.. they do know an attractive, personable, outgoing person when they see one..and they see one in Lolo... the media is an equal opportunity exploiter..

[Marlow]

Sanya does indeed have a gap, for the obvious reason that many more people could pick Lolo out of a line-up, despite the disparity in accomplishments. Sorry TD, but Lolo is LOTS more famous than Sanya. Only A Felix rivals Lolo in recognition among the hoi polloi.

[mal]

The non-track public does not know (or care) about the relative track credential of athletes.. they do know an attractive, personable, outgoing person when they see one..and they see one in Lolo... the media is an equal opportunity exploiter..

I don't think that is a case of the non-track public' wants. I think its the media people who decide that the show is more interesting by focusing on the fluff.

Clearly their expectation is that the audience would not stay interested without the puff stuff.

I suspect that they are wrong. I do believe that its still the hardcore sports fan who watches track and field. Not so the gymnastics trials, where I do believe the soft stuff works.

[Mighty Favog]

To summarize: Lolo is a self promoter, but that isn't so bad considering she competes in a dying sport that could use any attention it can get. And the attention Lolo's getting is mostly fun and harmless. She's wise about the ways of the new media age and the media loves her back. No harm, no foul, no big deal.

As for Dawn Harper, she's a champion and a terrific personality whose life story, while interesting, doesn't move the media needle as much as Lolo. That doesn't mean no one respects her; actually, she has much respect inside the track world. It just means she doesn't have "it" when it comes to the public's whims and the mainstream media, not like Lolo. Plus, to anyone's knowledge, she doesn't openly court the media and public like Lolo. That is her choice. To repeat, a lack of attention doesn't mean a lack of respect.

On yesterday's House of Run mini-podcast, Ato Boldon pointedly said that you can't have it both ways. You cannot simultaneously bemoan the lack of attention that track and field gets and also say that someone who gets attention doesn't deserve it. Lolo Jones is a name that non-track people know. How many more are there? Bolt and Gay and who else? So kwicherbichen and be more interesting. Jones gets track & field on ESPN, in SI, and on the Tonight Show. More, please.

Jones is funny, outgoing, totally honest and doesn't hide a thing about herself. I think she gets media attention in no small part because honesty is unusual for a celebrity. We saw the "real" Marion Jones back when she was big for a few brief seconds here and there. Maybe I'm naive, but I don't see a single fake thing about Jones.

[lonewolf]

Right On, Mighty Favog!!
I don't (can't) keep track of who is pro or anti Lolo but I wonder if they are consistent in their opinion of Bolt's antics vs. Lolo's good natured spontaneity, which pales compared to Bolt's chest beating, arrow pose.. and wee hour car mishaps..

[TrackDaddy]

Its probably not worth noting here but here goes anyway...

Usain Bolt is an Olympic Gold medalist, multiple world record holder and is therefore an international phenom for those reasons. He has something to promote.

Let him continuw losing like he did last night and to Gay in 2010 and see how long people care about his pose.

As for Dawn Harper...you don't understand Favog. She's INTELLIGENT, personable, funny, quick, engaging, great smile, etertaining, talented AND most of all...credentialed.

In many folks opinion she has MORE of all of this than Lolo and I don't dislike Lolo. Its just true that THROUGHOUT Dawn has more below the surface in many people's opinion. Have you seen the snippet on NBCsn with Dawn discussing her mother? Lolo is nice, but isn't close to that engaging. Did you see her on Leno?

As for being attractive, well its in the eye of the beholder but I think they both are. In defense of Dawn (since everyone chirping about how good Lolo looks) she definitely has a favorable feature or two that Lolo doesn't.

Therefore, I wouldnt try to defend the media's lovefest with Lolo because in reality its indefensible. There is NO defendable stance why Dawn doesn't have the limelight Lolo enjoys. People get upset when someone mentions the elephant in the room because they either don't want to believe its true or they are a part of the problem.

(continued below)

[TrackDaddy]

1/3 of all missing people in the US are black. But there's a reason the media focuses on Laci Petersons et al. Its probably the same reason they focus on Lolo since her features put her closer to that demographic than Dawn's. Plain and simple its perceived value. You're also more likely to be sentenced to death for killing someone in the same demographic than you are another (sans children). Its superficial but race isnt the only value, looks matter too. for example, the media also won't feature a missing overweight white female either because they "aren't attractive enough" for their lives to matter .

So...I suggest we accept whats before us -which isn't new at all- be honest about it and work to improve the areas where we believe society may be flawed.

[vip]

TD, while I don't think you're anti-Lolo, you do come off as being anti-Lolo and slightly discrediting her credentials. She's not a slouch on the hurdles. True, she doesn't have Olympic gold but she won over many fans with her humility (yes, something people accuse her of not having) when she clipped that hurdle in Beijing.

Also, if you're upset about Harper's lack of attention, why doesn't she engage the media and public like Lolo? Lolo has mastered twitter and, to my understanding, has the largest amount of followers of any U.S. track athlete by far. Why? Because she works hard at it. She's funny and honest and that draws attention. Oh, and yes, she's attractive, and that never hurt anybody.

I don't know if Harper even wants the amount of attention Lolo gets, but if she does, she needs to work at it, rather than sitting on the sidelines and waiting for attention to come to her and her gold medal. We can name a ton of gold medal winners who lived in obscurity for a variety of reasons, who received far less attention than Harper. Does she have a publicist? If not, hire one. Remember, she's a track athlete, not Serena Williams. It ain't easy out there for a hurdler.

[TrackDaddy]

TD, I think you're confusing TV appearances with respect. They're not mutual. You know what respect is? Gold medals and money and props from your peers. Everything else is secondary. Everything else factors in other "stuff" like looks, personality, humor, etc. Lolo has all that. And she's not exactly a stiff on the hurdles, either.

And while I do agree SRR has a sterling record, she's never won an Olympic individual gold, yet is clearly a darling of NBC; you can't watch a track telecast without hearing about Sanya and her football husband. But do I complain? No, because that's how the media works. She's an easy angle.

Just like Lolo.

vip.

Sanya don't have no gap, man. Y'all tripping.

My point was that along with personality, looks and charm Sanya has credentials that has earned her media attention.

For example, the AR was about 20 years old when she broke it. In the last decade, who besides Sanya has run sub 49? How many people have even been close? Do you realize how times she has? Do you realize she was the youngest to ever do it?

Do you know she's the only woman to ever win World Athlete of the Year twice and that the award crosses ALL GENRES and is therefore harder to win than some stupid gold medal in a single event?!?!?

Sanya was on Leno because she ran Russia down from behind and has been the anchor for the US team for nearly a decade.

I'm not saying she's a stiff on the hurdles but try comparing her record to Sanya's and you'll find you can't.

As for individual Olympic gold, let me say this again...in the grand scheme VERY FEW people even have one or ever will. But at least Sanya is an Olympic bronze medalist, Olympic gold medalist whose DIRECTLY responsible for the US winning, and has World Championship Gold AND Silver.

Has does Lolo compare to any of this? She don't even compare well to Dawn Harper in her own event.

[TrackDaddy]

Sanya does indeed have a gap, for the obvious reason that many more people could pick Lolo out of a line-up, despite the disparity in accomplishments. Sorry TD, but Lolo is LOTS more famous than Sanya. Only A Felix rivals Lolo in recognition among the hoi polloi.

Haha

If Sanya has a gap, then Lolo has a canyon. Or at least a gorge. I can't believe that people who want to be taken seriously defend the Lolo nonsense thats indefensible lol

And I can guarantee you Sanya isn't jealous of Lolo especially the way she's earned her attention. As for Felix, well she's American born (Sanya's not) and more closely fits the demographic I described above. Not to mentioned plays it well in one drab interview after another in what can be termed as being programmed to the hilt.

Sanya's not jealous of her either because perception of fame or not, Sanya earns more money than BOTH.

And I won't even mention the difference in Europe or globally where this sport really counts.

[gh]

T....
And while I do agree SRR has a sterling record, she's never won an Olympic individual gold, yet is clearly a darling of NBC; you can't watch a track telecast without hearing about Sanya and her football husband. But do I complain? No, because that's how the media works. She's an easy angle.

Just like Lolo.

S-double R was a "darling" long before she had a football husband. Some people are just "telegenic" and the networks (rightfully so) run with them. The networks generate ratings (their lifeblood) by running with what attracts eyeballs. No more, no less. I mean, seriously, there's a reason I've never been seen on the tube!

[vip]

And let me repeat what Ato Boldon said about this issue: Any time a track athlete can get on Jay Leno or in Sports Illustrated or any of the big mainstream media outlets, and it's not about drug use or an embarrassing issue, then it's ALL GOOD for track. Therefore, instead of bemoaning the attention Lolo gets, we should applaud it.

Do you realize how much the mainstream media has no use for track and field athletes, even in an Olympic year, unless their name is Bolt?

[mamo]

Mary Carillo did a fine segment on Lolo last week on "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel". She did a great one this week on Lopez Lomong.

These people have tremendous personal stories to share and I for one am grateful that the American media offer them to us.

[lonewolf]

Media attention has nothing to do with what is "fair" or who "deserves" it more...there are innumerable celebrities who's every antic, good, bad or so what, is anticipated and reported when it deservably should be hidden from the public.

[AdGuy1991]

An "Ad Guy's" opinion. Having been in and around major media and particularly advertising in sports for the past 20, or so years, I find this thread very interesting. The title is perfect and from my view point I'm drawn to the two most important words "MEDIA shoves". That's our job! I'm not here to defend any of the athletes mentioned, because I think that they are all upstanding citizens, awesome athletes, and great ambassadors for the US. Now, back to - That's our job! It's not Dawn's/Kellie's/Lolo's/Sanya's/etc..... It's ours. And frankly none of the athletes mentioned could shove anything without the magic hand of advertisers and the global lens of media. Period.

Truth is, it doesn't matter whether you have won gold/silver/bronze/or nothing. The athletes are commodities. Since Lolo is the subject of this thread let's use her as our example. As you all know athletes (football, basketball, etc.) are followed (virtually from the womb) through there careers. When Lolo came on our radar in 2003 when she won the NCAA indoors we began our polling and surveys with sports consumers, and consumers as a populous. We did the same with the other women, and men mentioned in this thread when they (or a particular event they were involved in) landed them in front of the agency. Everyone one of them is polled and surveyed on consumer appeal, and many other categories to no end. Lolo tested very well, not great, but very well as did some of the other women. Sanya, when she came on the scene tested very good.

Oh, just a tidbit about the advertising and media industry - it's a sexist/racist/opportunistic/capitalistic/ machine that is well oiled and well run. It does what it's supposed to do which is help it's clients generate revenue. Can you imagine what is said about these athletes behind closed doors? Continued in next post.

[AdGuy1991]

Continuation of post.

Seriously, it's in some cases sinful. The human interest stories are nice, but not necessary. The wins and medals are nice, but not necessary. Track and Field as a revenue generator, small.

Does Lolo help herself by being a regular on twitter? Yes. whether she is funny or not doesn't really matter. What does matter is that she has over 100,000 followers and some of them retweet her posts. We love the tweets and re-tweets because she is on occasion mentioning the sponsors products and it doesn't cost them anything extra for the advertising. Another benefactor is USATF.

2007-2008 Lolo's consumer numbers picked up considerably, as did Sanya, Allyson, Carmelita, etc..
Lolo's numbers on consumer appeal and sexiness, yes sexiness were through the roof. I think someone mentioned earlier, that at the time Lolo lined up in Bejing she was the number one hurdler in the world on that day, at that time. Remember, it's a sexist business, and medals and placing in races is nice, but not necessary. Consumer appeal and sexiness (selling power) will trump medals every single time. Is it right? Well it's not a question of right, wrong, or maybe, it's a question of how much.

So, why don't Dawn/Kellie have the same endorsements? Remember, when I said that advertising and media are racist? Is it racist if Dawn's and Kellie's numbers weren't that good, yet Allyson's and Sanya's are?

The most important questions are - who runs media? Who runs advertising? Who runs the corporations that produce the products the athletes push? Who are the largest consumer groups for each product? And what/who do they (consumers) most want to see in an advertisement for the product?

Clearly, there are strong opinions about some of the athletes mentioned in the thread, as there ought to be, we are all entitled to our own opinion. So, does American media shove Lolo Jones down your throats? YES we do, and our clients are smiling all the way to the bank.

[TrackDaddy]

The guilt party chimes in.

Hmmp.

j/k, thanks!

[AdGuy1991]

TD, I really enjoyed reading all of the opinions, there is nothing like a good healthy debate on a trending topic.

[beebee]

If another female track athlete tweeted that Lolo's rear end is so flat, it is two dimensional. Would that be funny? Catty? or?

Funny, altho I totally don't get that, cuz I think her physique is extremely attractive. My wife agrees!

Cut the B.S. Jones can only dream of having a behind like Jeter, Wells, Madison, etc.

Lolo Jones represents the White/European concept of what constitutes beauty...end of story.

Btw, the over-saturation and overexposure of that particular "look" is really getting boring to us who appreciate diversity. Fact...Lolo Jones has never done anything to justify the attention she receives.


Frankly, I think that Kellie Wells is a far better hurdler...AND SEXIER

[asindc]

If another female track athlete tweeted that Lolo's rear end is so flat, it is two dimensional. Would that be funny? Catty? or?

Funny, altho I totally don't get that, cuz I think her physique is extremely attractive. My wife agrees!

Cut the B.S. Jones can only dream of having a behind like Jeter, Wells, Madison, etc.

Lolo Jones represents the White/European concept of what constitutes beauty...end of story.

Btw, the over-saturation and overexposure of that particular "look" is really getting boring to us who appreciate diversity. Fact...Lolo Jones has never done anything to justify the attention she receives.


Frankly, I think that Kellie Wells is a far better hurdler...AND SEXIER

I like Lolo, but I think MissThickBooty would approve of the post above.

[Marlow]

Don't look now, but Lolo is indeed the face of the Olympics. She's the cover of this week's Time magazine Oly issue!

[kuha]

Lolo Jones represents the White/European concept of what constitutes beauty...end of story.

Not really. Lolo represents a version of the blended, poly-racial look that is clearly perceived (by advertisers) as potentially appealing to just about everyone.

All of this is just one reason why I make a huge distinction between a) the Olympics and b) track and field. I hate roughly 90% of "a", but put up with a good deal of it for the sake of "b".

[dukehjsteve]

Don't look now, but Lolo is indeed the face of the Olympics. She's the cover of this week's Time magazine Oly issue!

Take a closer look. That's a gymnast. But all the inside pics are of Lo-Lo.

Edit to add: I amend the above. Apparently there are 3 different covers, probably for geographical reasons, just like Sports Illustrated whored itself into start doing some years ago. Anything to sell more mags !

[jazzcyclist]

Lolo Jones represents the White/European concept of what constitutes beauty...end of story.

Not really. Lolo represents a version of the blended, poly-racial look that is clearly perceived (by advertisers) as potentially appealing to just about everyone.

There's no doubnt that racial ambiguity (eg. Kiran Chetry, Soledad O'Brien, etc.) is the "in" thing for media executives who make the decision on who to put in front of the cameras.

[slowjo]

REALLY enjoyed reading what you had to say adguy.

Does not change how I feel about Jones...somewhere in an above post someone mentioned her spontaneous reactions...well since Beijiing (where I think she was spontaneous and quite classy after her fall) she has just tried way too hard to get attention and it all feel so contrived. From her after race celebrations to her constant twitters with lame jokes.... she is very pretty and I guess she is what the public likes but for me it really is "anyone but Lolo" for the medals. Okay I amend that to say anyone but her and a certain Turkish athlete who gives me a bad feeling......

That is just me being honest not necessarily very dignified and mature!

[guru]

Please God, make it stop...

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/48327521/ ... my-dreams/

[rsb2]

Re-reading the last dozen or so posts on Lolo, others on Nick, etc., is really educational. Someone outside of our sport might be tempted to ask, "Why are they so busy eating their own?". Petty little opinions about exact race shade, or bum size and shape, or whether they talk too much, too opinionated, too beautiful, not beautiful enough, and so on ad nauseam. Picky picky picky! No wonder the public thinks we are crap, they are just following our lead ! What a pathetic little lot some of us are! Good luck to all the great athletes in our sport, whether they exactly meet our very narrow standards or not!

[slowjo]

In my defense I only bitch about her here or with other die hard fans. I have had casual fans and athletes I coach mention her and I keep my mouth shut.

Thanks for the link guru......

[aaronk]

TD, I think you're confusing TV appearances with respect. They're not mutual. You know what respect is? Gold medals and money and props from your peers. Everything else is secondary. Everything else factors in other "stuff" like looks, personality, humor, etc. Lolo has all that. And she's not exactly a stiff on the hurdles, either.

And while I do agree SRR has a sterling record, she's never won an Olympic individual gold, yet is clearly a darling of NBC; you can't watch a track telecast without hearing about Sanya and her football husband. But do I complain? No, because that's how the media works. She's an easy angle.

Just like Lolo.

This is not about SRR or Lolo, or any athlete in particular, but about WHO gets respect, and WHY.

Look at areas other than T&F.
Some of our Presidents have been highly respected, while others haven't.
Is it because one accomplishes much, while the other just plays golf all the time??
Has one won wars, while the other got us mired in a swamp??
One fixes the economy, the other destroys it?/

No!!
It comes down to more than accomplishments, resumes, decades in office.
It comes down to character, to integrity, to being a servant of the people, not having the electorate bow down to you!!

Same goes for other areas.
An actor may win award after award, with his/her films grossing 100's of millions of dollars!!
Another actor may win nothing, "star" only in "B" movies.
Yet the latter, if a person of integrity and humbleness, might have more respect than the award-winning actor!!

Why??
Because one is a greedy, self-centered, misanthropic asshole, while the other puts a smile on people's faces, and makes OTHERS feel good about THEMSELVES, not really caring what people think about HIM!!!

Same goes for star athletes!!
One baseball player gets tons of respect, while hitting .265 with 18 home runs, while the MVP or Cy Young winner gets a ton of hate mail!!

And on and on!!

So appearing on Leno doesn't make you respectable.
Nor does running a World Record or winning a Gold Medal in the Olympics!!

As for SRR and Lolo.......I respect BOTH of them!!!