Marion Jones in Europe for the Business of "Breaks" and Basketball

Marion Jones is in Europe - and not to play ball with some of her friends from the WNBA, where she played a season and a half. Rather, she is there on official business from the United States State Department. Jones is making a series of diplomatic visits to Serbia and Croatia promoting her "Take a Break" message. 

"It paints a very positive picture of who we are as a country and the fact that she's here on the invitation of the United States government shows that our country believes in people always having opportunities to come back from adversity," Ryan Rowlands, a public affairs officer for the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade who helped arrange Jones' visit, told the AP. "So that's been a great part of this message."

According to the Associated Press, she is delivering the message of how she's rebuilt her life for the people who have lived through wars and earthquakes and now must rebuild their country. Along with promoting the Take a Break message, she participated in basketball clinics in Nis and Belgrade, with rather large crowds both on the court and for her presentation.

"I surely hope that this is just the first of many opportunities that I get to share my message, talk about my journey and help people just live a better life," Jones told Jeff Latzke of the AP.

Her time in the WNBA with the Tulsa Shock was shortlived. After signing a multi-year deal on Feb. 16, was released from the team on July 21 in favor of center Abi Olajuwon. She still continues to express interest in either playing in or working for the WNBA again in the future. Since being waived by Tulsa this summer, Jones has been living with her family in Austin. Jones spoke to Austin Fit magazine about her time off the court and away from basketball, her membership to the YMCA and what she deems her greatest accomplishment.    

"My proudest accomplishment is finally realizing that my priority in life is not to be the fastest, strongest person in this world, but that my priority is God, family, and making people's lives better. That absolutely is my biggest accomplishment, the realization, because some people never get it."

Personally, I am glad to see Marion do what she has been talking about since the moment I met her at Tulsa's 2010 media day. She's carved a hard path in life by her own admission and through her own poor choices, and still lives with that stigma that follows her around everywhere. But she's also proving that she's more than a disgraced athlete, she's a stand up woman who is doing her best to right her own wrongs while preventing others from following the path she took early on in life.

As one of her contemporaries, I grew up admiring Marion's strength and speed on the track, wishing I could be her. I later saw her admit her guilt and wrongdoing and go to jail, and I was oh so glad I wasn't her. After interacting with Marion through her stint in Tulsa, my admiration is back. I've seen her take heat from columnists, commentators, fans of women's basketball, or just doubters of her sincerity. But she proudly holds her head high despite the oftentimes hateful comments, staying the course to continue her mission to make people's lives better in any way possible.

You can read more of my thoughts about her book, "On the Right Track", her continuing desire to play basketball before the 2011 season, and last fall's 30 for 30 documentary at Swish Appeal.