This was the best take yet on what happened. They were definitely baited into a soundbite moment. They deserved mo credit, especially Harper for all she's achieved.

But I do feel, after seeing the interview both women, Kellie in particular bare some responsibility. Kelly has been dishing her story and booty modeling voluntarily unlike Lolo where the media,swarmed to her feet - which tells me it's not all about credit where credit is due. There is jealousy that is palpable here, it and was felt during the interview. It was without a doubt ..catty.

The more they deny their reaction, the worse they come off and feed that ongoing media hype around Lolo. They should apologize or atleast come clean with their misdirected anger at Lolo. She's not the cause of their issues, and making her a part of it only takes away from the larger picture of unfair marketing.

Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 11:13pm EDT

color barrier still exists today. did you know george lucas funded out of his own pocket the movie red tails? major production companies didnt think an all black cast would sell tickets. light skin black athletes get more spot light then dark skin.

Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 11:31pm EDT

still dont believe me.....who got more play in the 100m for americans.....Jeter who was the fastest women 3 years running or Felix.

Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 11:33pm EDT

as a woman would you really post your status of virginity on twitter?

Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 11:36pm EDT

did you also know prior to the 100m nbcolympics.com had athlete spotlight and carmelita was never even in the row of spotlight athletes but felix was?

Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 11:38pm EDT

Well-balanced and well thought out article. Great points esp. the high jump analogy and the problems and pressure Lolo's fame puts on both her and her competitors which I don't think any other writers have discussed. More people need to read this piece.

I like all three so the hate on both sides (for being overhyped and being "mean") seems undeserved. Dawn and Kellie are definitely justified in feeling overshadowed and frustrated, but I don't see at all how their comments in the NBC interview were bashing Lolo. It was like no one actually listened to what they said and just read the twisted, sensationalist headline declaring a (nonexistent) catfight.

I'm curious what you think is the answer to your question about who would be more famous if it was Dawn who fell and Lolo who won in 2008. Person above probably thinks Lolo because she's light skinned, but I think it'd be about equal. Dawn would have the media's attention with her "Tragic Fall!! Let's see how devastated the loser is and how she'll handle herself!" story while Lolo would probably get attention through her media savvy and charm/humorous tweeting. And of course the media would pit them against each other with stories about rivalry and 2012 rematch so they'd be equally mentioned in this alternate universe. The reason Lolo is as big as she is in actual reality is because she has the "loser" angle AND the charm.

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 1:36am EDT

@asdfulop. I totally disagree about a media created catight. When asked by Beadle if there was tension or infighting ..specifically with Lolo, this was the response:

Beadle [to Harper and Kellie Wells]: You guys kinda hang out together ... Is there fighting amongst the team -- we're talking about Lolo Jones if you can't figure this out -- is there an awkward situation or now that it's over we've all just moved on?
Wells: Well, I think that, on the podium tonight, the three girls that earned their spot and they got their medals and they worked hard and did what they needed to do, prevailed. And that's all that really needs to be said.
Beadle: Wow.
Harper: BOOM! Just like that.
Beadle: You can cut the tension in here with a knife.



They could've easily stated it was a non issue with Lolo but instead this is the cattiness that came out. You'd have to be in some sort of denial not to see or hear what took place.

But what also validates their misguided jealousy and tension surrounding Lolo was this comment from Harper about Lolo's media coverage:


"I've had family issues as well, but I'm not willing to say all of them just so it can be in the papers," Harper has said. "I don't want that for myself or my family."

however she went onto say this about wanting her personal private story hearspd which was a complete contradiction and hypocritical. That you can read over in the passage with Beadle earlier.

To say this is all fabricated is not dealing with reality. Yes, the media set it up, baited them, but if there wasn't personal tension to begin with none of this would be out here. They said what they said and it wasn't about the media in total, it was without a doubt directed at Lolo.

I would think they'll all be fine and this ill smooth over, but it stained their reputation to react like this. It's ashame they isn't direct their anger at the media and leave her out the conversation.

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 3:54am EDT

FYI - Dawns earlier comments about Lolo were from the scathing critique of Lolo in the NY Times written by Jere Longman. In other rods, Dawn isn't innocent in this but she let her frustrations make her fodder or bait for media games played on either side. Kellie is just coming off like some jealous attention seeker, but without the genuiness of Lolo.


NYTimes.. Jere Longmans rant before kellie or Welks were interviewed with Beadle:

%u201CI%u2019ve had family issues as well, but I%u2019m not willing to say all of them just so it can be in the papers,%u201D Harper said. %u201CI don%u2019t want that for myself or my family.%u201D

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 4:33am EDT

What the author conveniently leaves out of her biography in the introductory paragraph of this article is that she was a training partner and close friend of Dawn Harper for years. So she's not the most objective author on this subject. Credentialed, yes... Objective, no. Although it was painful to read through Ms. Hayes logorrhea, there's one aspect that's troubled me on this topic: why do athletes crave the spotlight, why do athletes feel "disrespected" or "hurt" if they're not glorified in the media, why isn't the Olympic spirit of competing to your best enough? I was an NCAA DI swimmer for 4-years, an NCAA All-American, a 2-time Olympic trials competitor, and a successful triathlete. I could have cared less if the media ran a spotlight on me, or the lady in the lane to my left or to my right. I wanted to compete and do the best I could in each competition; and be humble and respectful doing it. And that was enough for me. I try to teach my kids the same thing. That's what I don't get about Harper. It seems like she either wasn't taught that growing up, or lost her way during her journey. I wish our Olympic athletes would get back to the basics of sportsmanship and respectful competition, and let the other superfluous stuff fall where it falls.

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 7:04am EDT

Jo you are correct to point out that Johanna Hayes was Dawn Harper's training partner something she failed to mention which does shed a considerable bias not previously mentioned.

The biggest issue with Lolo Jones and Ms. Harper and Ms. Wells really isn't about the lack of coverage. Lolo Jones makes more money. Ms. Wells has posed nude and has no problem capitalizing off of her story growing up as a survivor of sexual abuse etc. And I certainly don't think Ms. Wells can really hold a negative opinion about Lolo Jone's 4th place finish considering that Ms. Wells' training partner Damu Cherry finished 4th place in 2008 at the very same Olympics.

The issue is that Ms. Harper and Ms. Wells feel that Lolo does not deserve to make more money than they do.

The sad point left out of Ms. Haye's commentary is that Ms. Wells and Ms. Harper tore down a fellow teammate at the Olympics and for that, I'm very ashamed to admit is very petty.

Why didn't Ms. Wells respond to Olympic darling Sally Pearson who bragged about how Ms. Wells would not be doing any dancing at the Olympic because she would beat her? I thought the point of the Olympic was for the American team to unite, compete and show solidarity against competitors from other countries?

In regards to the hurdle technique, Ms. Hayes should have pointed out that no one who followed the event expected Lolo Jones to medal. She simply did not have the times nor the performance. I'd even hazard to say that Ms. Harper has far better technique than Lolo Jones who has a bit of an advantage due to the fact that Lolo is taller and does not have to rely on technique as much as Ms. Harper. Had Dawn or Kellie posed those points in their interaction with the media perhaps they would not be in the unenviable position that they are in at the moment.

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 7:53am EDT

I can't help wonder if there's a racial or class element that no one has talked about yet, and I don't mean the light skin / dark skin issue or the nappy hair / straight hair issue. This is more of a urban vs. suburban angle. Each of us grow up in neighborhoods where we learn to process and communicate our thoughts and ideas similar to where we were raised, and that is one way we identify with our community and it is one way we are stereotyped by those outside our community. When I saw Dawn and Kellie's interview with Michelle Beadle, I immediately thought about Mo Greene and Tim Montgomery and that crowd of American sprinters who expressed themselves on the world stage by tearing off their jerseys, hollering angrily, grabbing their crotches, and all sorts of gestures which some of America was horrified by (suburbs), and some of America related to (urban). There was great outcry and division at that time period as well. Is it possible that Dawn and Kellie express themselves in more of an urban style, and the upper/middle class suburbanites can't relate to that method of communication?

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 9:36am EDT

This is a sad moment in track and field. Instead of rejoicing that team USA went 2-3 in the 100mH for women, we are cat fighting amongst ourselves. Yes, I do think Dawn Harper has been overlooked by the media. Yes, I do think Lolo Jones is extremely overrated. But the facts remain that in 2008 and 2012 Dawn Harper is the better hurdler! BOOM!

In saying that, it is and was up to Dawn Harper to reap the benefits of her success. Lolo Jones took her failures and turned them into GOLD. It was up to Dawn Harper to take her GOLD and turn it into more GOLD. I hate that we are having these conversations. What happened to "WIN WITH INTEGRITY"! Oh, does that only apply cheating?

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 9:48am EDT

Thanks for your comments. I cannot address them all that would require me to write another blog. I would first like to say that I did not conveniently leave anything out, I left a lot out of my "biography". It is no secret I was training partners with Harper. I also know all 3 ladies personally. I have nothing against Lolo and anything I put on paper I would say to her. She knows I have always been open and honest with her just as I am with all the other 2. I am trying to keep peace as the elder and the athlete rep. I wanted to explain to the non athletes where some of the tension may have come from. The line of questioning was unfair in that interview. Could they have handled it better? Sure. But I just wanted the public to understand some of the reasons they may be frustrated and that interview proved my point. Why was the interview to the medalist about the 4th place finisher? They need controversy and they got it. I can also point out that at the end of the video as the laughter and silliness died out Harper said "But, for real respect across the board" Beadle continued speaking so it went unheard. To elaborate on that statement would certainly have cut down on this drama a bit. No? There is obviously tension but what the athletes need to learn to do is not respond to questions not concerning them. I thought I gave Lolo respects and "props" in the blog. I think she is smart and talented. And let me also say this: if Harper was a totally different hurdler in the same position I would say the same things. Its not about her being my training partner it's about protecting the women in my sport and specifically in the event that I know quite a bit about. In regard to technique I was not critiquing Lolo's technique, just saying its a technical event speaking in terms of not hitting the hurdles as all hurdlers do at some point.

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 10:33am EDT

Another tangential aspect is that TandF is really a fringe sport. Walk around the mall and ask random guys if they know the names Greg Foster, Roger Kingdom, Terrence Trammell, Allen Johnson. Ask some random gals if they know the names Joanna Hayes, Anjanette Kirkland, Damu Cherry, Ginnie Crawford, Melissa Morrison. Guess what, 90% of everyday Americans have no idea who these people are, but they know Kobe and Lebron and Peyton and Tebow and Tiger. That's today's America, and the population that buys the products and watches TV and listens to radio that promotse athletes. It's a pretty good bet that more people know who Dawn and Kellie are because of all the publicity that Lolo got. I bet if you walk thru a mall or restaurant a month from now, and randomly ask people who Aries Merritt or Jason Richardson are, 90% of people will have no idea. Publicity in modern day America "is what it is".

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 11:06am EDT

It's just the fact that Lolo falling was such an upset in 2008, not that Dawn didn't deserve the gold. That happens with any big upset...it happened with Gail too. They could have redirected the interview back to their wins, many of entertainers have done the same thing tastefully. Even though I do sympathize that they may not have received the recognition they should have gotten but why is the publicity so important to them anyways? Who cares if you don't get a parade? The fact of the matter is that they have medals and titles and should be happy with themselves. If they wanted more respect from the public they didn't get it by how they handled the interview. That could of been their chance to say how they felt without looking spiteful. Lolo face is recognized more because she's been seen more often on top of her accomplishments. I don't think its necessarily a color thing either...I mean Gail and Jackie Joyner weren't light skinned and they were just as famous. You have to be a likable person as well.

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 11:59am EDT

History has a funny way of repeating itself. Harper seems like the second coming of Gwen Torrence -- immensely talented, outspoken, and tone-deaf to how PR works in todays society. This is deja-vu, and a good history lesson for young athletes:

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/TORRENCE RUNS LEGS AND MOUTH %3A GEORGIAN STIRS CONTROVERSY.-a083952780

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 12:10pm EDT

I understand what you are saying and I fully understand Dawn Harper feeling slighted but Dawn and Kelli control their responses not the media, not Lolo Jones. Lolo became the media darling because of her looks, her story, and whatever else the media decided was worthy about her. Dawn and Kelli did not - they could've chosen to respond differently instead they took the low road, which does not do them any favors. It's hard taking the high road, but its worth it.

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 1:03pm EDT

My primary issue here is that in rushing to defend Ms. Wells and Ms. Harper's frustrations and sympathizing with their point of view, they are being held less accountable than they should be here. They won the medals and emerge as the ultimate victors here which is why it looks so very ungracious of them to unfairly attack their teammate especially on the heels of the Gabby Douglas hair controversy.

I agree with Dee1105, they should have redirected the interview back to their respective wins. What needs to be considered here is that they bear as much responsibility for the direction of the interview as Beadle does, more if you ask me as they are all hurdlers which is already a difficult step-child in the sprinter world as it is.

I applaud Ms. Hayes for attempting to defend their point of view and lend her relative experience to the topic at hand.

Here is an article about Olympic gold medalist Sally Pearson where I will highlight relevant quotes that pertains to the topic: "She is easily the most marketable person to come out of the Olympics," he said.

"Sally is a sponsor's dream - down to earth, focused, great communicator and a gold medallist. I can see her doing $2 million in deals within 12 months."


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/london-olympics/pearson-set-for-multi-million-dollar-payday/story-fncv3p7m-1226447089607

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 1:14pm EDT

I agree with Dee, nylse, and Terry about Dawn and Kellie taking responsibility for how they respond in public, regardless of where the interviewer tries to take the interview. Maybe their coaches or PR reps should sit down with them and have a discussion about how PR and marketing works in todays culture.

I did read on another website that Dawn was advised by her PR rep not to talk about her frustrations with media coverage, but chose to anyway. If that's the case, you kinda have to reap what you've sown. Unfortunate, because the window for these Olympic athletes to get nation-wide publicity and turn that into some $$$ is really small and that window may be closing or closed.

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 2:02pm EDT

As an ad guy, I always find the subject of Lolo Jones interesting as it relates to media and marketing. Joanna's story is nice, but the only thing that matters to our advertising clients is whether or not athlete A or athlete B can/will increase the sales of my product. Period! We spend tens of millions of dollars annually to find out consumer preferences, and then double that to get what we pay the athletes to push our clients wares, and double that to get what we pay the networks to air or magazines to print the ads. That's a simplification of the process but accurate.

Look, it does not matter to us if you win/lose/ or draw. What matters is can you sell my clients product?

Any elite athlete should understand that, and if they don't then someone should explain it to them. Joanna, you know that it's about dollar signs to us and nothing else.

Someone asked me yesterday if I thought the comments by Dawn and Kellie would cost them endorsements, and my honest answer is no. And why not? It's like I said above, we've tested consumers to see who they respond to, who gets them to reach into their wallet. And when we polled them on Dawn and Kellie, and others (going back to 2007) Dawns and Kellie's numbers were not as good as Lolo/Sanya/Allison/ or Carmelita. Our clients (or should I say consumers) didn't gravitate to them in 07-08-09-10-11, and they won't be gravitating to them in 2012 even with Olympic Silver or Bronze hanging around their necks. THE NUMBERS JUST DON'T PAN OUT!

Friday, August 10, 2012 at 5:25pm EDT

I am surprised the author of this piece ignored the issue of race. Let's face it Lolo Jones is half white and mixed race. American society prefers women to conform to the white beauty image. Even though track and field is athletics a woman has to be feminine and sexy in order to merit media attention. Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells are attractive women and excellent athletes BUT they are dark skinned black women they don't fit the white beauty image.
I totally understand where Dawn and Kellie are coming from they don't hate Lolo they just resent the racism and the sexism of the mainstream media.

I also think the black media is to blame. I don't recall the black media giving Dawn or Kellie a lot of press either. Where are the black sponsors or black companies? Why weren't they supporting Kellie and Dawn.

Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 12:54am EDT

Poloarisgalaxy, Kellie Wells is not a dark-skinned woman. You really need to review Adguy1991's comment as he explains it the best so much so that I believe that the author of this blog should take a deep breath and reflect on what he is saying.

It is hard for many of us in the black community to understand when to raise the color flag of concern and when not to but in this case, it wouldn't matter if Kellie or Dawn were all fair skin. Take a look at Johanna Hayes who is the author of this blog. She is fair skinned and was the Olympic record holder and gold medalist. She is similar in complexion to Lolo Jones and I'll bet even though most people are posting on her blog, you've never heard of her now and are summarily not familiar with her Olympic accomplishments which is why she might have an inroad with being sensitive to Kellie and Dawn's story.

The bottom line comes back to the fact that their stories are not the ones that will sell to advertisers and enable them to get sponsors like Lolo Jones. It has more to do with the fact that Lolo Jones has an understanding on her marketability. Sadly, as Adguy1991 pointed out this is NOT something that is widely understood in the track and field community. It is a low paying sport so there is frustration to be had on all sides however Lolo Jones is not the culprit here.

The media isn't as fond of track and field in America as it should be. Gabby Douglas is dark-skinned but she will walk away with an estimated $90 million in endorsements while our track and field superstars are fighting over the scraps as Usain Bolt will walk away with an estimated $20 million in endorsements.

If these two ladies and the author were really honest, they'd have an issue with the glaring disparate value heaped upon their sport rather than slinging hash around instead of addressing the real issue.

Furthermore, the hard truth that HAS NOT been covered is that American track athletes are MORE well known overseas than they are at home. Why isn't someone covering that topic NOW when it surely relevant.

I'd advise them to get media saavy and get it quickly.

Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 10:01am EDT

Excellent post by AdGuy. As he said the mainstream sponsor contracts and the associated financial rewards were never going to flow to Harper or Wells because they didn't test out and justify investment at a level that would drive income for the advertisers.

This is the oldest story in the book, jealousy, pure and simple. There is an unfortunate and well documented history with black folks of frequently resenting others of their own race if they are "too" successful. It is also frequently based upon the lightness or darkness of their skin. It sucks but its a fact.

Another prior poster was accurate saying that both Harper and Wells should have been smarter in their approach to this. The irony is that I'm betting this will make Lolo even more popular and marketable thanks to the NYT hammer job and her two unhappy teammates.

Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 10:16am EDT

Let me say that I am not sensitive to Harper and Wells due to my lack of media attention as I made a choice not to expose my personal details of my life. Some information was out there and I had opportunities to share. I was not ready at that point in my life to elaborate. People do what they feel is best for themselves and their families, many people have deep and interesting stories and may choose not to share. I made a choice not to hire a publicist. I have also never complained about lack of media coverage. I have a vibrant personality but so far in my life I have used it in other ways. Yes, I am fair skinned and have a white mother however it is clear that I am black and cannot "pass". In 2008 many questioned either what race Lolo was or would say things like "that white girl beat all those black girls!" compare that to people being surprised that my mother is in fact white. Also, there was no other athlete in my event that over shadowed me as in the case with Lolo and the other ladies in the 100 hurdles. Someone said the media "fell at Lolo's feet". Be that as it may, she made a choice to welcome it and build herself up by doing and saying things that she did. She could've turned away and just ran but she welcomed the popularity. Nothing wrong with that! She ceased the opportunity! And let's not forget that her name is LOLO JONES! That name in itself is easily remembered and I think, overall a great name to have.

I also am not defending the Harper/Wells interview, I was trying to give insight to what may be going on behind the interview. What the world see's is a beautiful girl who has been a victim her entire life and now two "mean girls" are victimizing her in her own sport: the place she felt the safest. I agree that Harper and Wells did not act as they should have in that interview, they came off as jealous, and catty. Big mistake. They allowed the media to get them caught up in drama and controversy. You can tell by the line of questioning and comments by Beadle that the interview was supposed to go that way. A Win for the network, can't be mad at them because their job was accomplished. The women could have turned it around and made the interview about themselves without even addressing Lolo and none of this would be happening. The interviewee has the power to change the direction of any interview it just requires us to take a deep breath and think before we answer, but sometimes emotions get the best of you or that spot light has you nervous and you forget what you are supposed to say, it all happens so fast. Many people have never been in that position and cannot relate to that part of it. So, I just wanted to help explain that, because they do deserve some benefit of the doubt.

Adguy's post was very informative and I can certainly agree because numbers don't lie. My question is. Does that particular poll give insight as to why some are more marketable than others?

I left out the color topic because my blog was about insight into the women and back story to why they may feel how they do. Does it exist? Sure, to some degree. That is a deep debate and much more goes into it than just saying it's a dark skin light skin issue. Terry, you raise valid points about track and Field and it's popularity and I agree. But, for me to bring up every possible topic and reason would have been too much and too long as there are some guidelines to writing blogs. However, I am glad that this topic has sparked so much interest and opinions have been expressed. I believe to say that Kellie is not a dark skinned woman is incorrect, she is not as dark as Dawn, never the less she, according to main stream society would be considered dark skinned.

Good points about color were raised but bringing up someone like Allyson Felix to argue the color issue will not work because she is more decorated than any other USA track and field athlete in the 2012 Games. in addition, the story of the "run off" was a big deal. Comparing her to Carmelita Jeter because of color is unfair. Again, do I think there is something to the color argument? Yes. To the beauty argument? Yes. If you search Lolo's name on twitter the majority of the tweets are about her looks and how "beautiful" she is. Also many state that the other women are jealous of her beauty because they are "ugly". So, obviously this Lolo, Dawn, Kellie topic is extensive but for Harper and wells to feel disrespected or overlooked will not change because of "why" it is. It is merely feeling or response to "what" it is.

Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 2:19pm EDT

And Terry, I hope I was clear that Kellie would be considered dark skinned according to main stream society. As African Americans we separate more into light skinned, brown skinned, and dark skinned. SO I apologize if I seemed overly argumentative about that.

Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 3:05pm EDT

Hi Joanna, thanks for writing your article, seems like it brought up lots of different topics. It's cool that you're trying to shed light on the subject as an elder/veteran in the TandF community. I'm hoping you can educate us on an aspect of professional TandF that's kinda related to this Dawn/Kellie/Lolo thing, and that's the money side of things. I'm assuming someone like Allyson or Usain gets the multi-million dollar deals, but could you give some general comparisons of a normal annual contract endorsement dollar range for someone like Dawn Harper or Aries Merritt as a gold medalist, vs. maybe Leo Manzano or Kellie Wells as a silver or bronze medalist, vs. maybe Christina Manning or Tyler Mulder as good national competitors but not competitive yet on the world stage. Seems like some of the responses to your article deal with the money side of things, and there's been alot of press on difficulties TandF athletes have with funding. I must claim ignorance to how the whole compensation things works. I'm also curious of how TandF athletes have fared in the past and if there's been progress for your community. Are Dawn and Kellie and Lolo better able to support themselves now compared to if they'd been hurdling 10 or 20 years ago? Any perspective you can give would be great! Thanks.

Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 6:51pm EDT

I meant to say "contract plus endorsement dollar range" above.

Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 6:54pm EDT