It makes for a great headline, doesn’t it? “Lolo Jones says she can last a minute in the octagon with Ronda Rousey.” It plays into all the hot takes the sports world has developed. It marries the unstoppable force of Ronda Rousey with the continuing narrative that Lolo Jones is egotistical and arrogant. I mean, someone would HAVE to be arrogant to say they could hang in the ring with Rousey, right?
No, Lolo Jones didn’t say she could last a minute with Ronda Rousey ... stop being dumb, Internet
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Sorry if you clicked these, because you got duped.
Here’s the deal: Jones was kidding, CLEARLY kidding. It wasn’t a jab at Rousey’s ability as the above headlines portray, or some sort of egotistical chest-puffing that she is better than a stable of UFC fighters. Here’s what Lolo Jones actually said on Saturday night:
How much are these chicks paid to get knocked out in seconds? I cant fight but I'll prolong it and run circles for least a minute #UFC190
— Lolo Jones (@lolojones) August 2, 2015 “I can’t fight but I’ll prolong it.” Hardly the words of someone throwing shade at Ronda Rousey. Here’s the problem: These headlines keep playing into the disdain for Jones from the Internet, and if this continues we’ll hit the point where athletes don’t give their opinions because even harmless jokes are getting them skewered.
Don’t believe that? Look at how different the reactions were to Jones’ tweet right after it happened, and then when these headlines were written.
Immediately following the tweet
@lolojones Lmaooooo
— Eric (@EricMUTBerry) August 2, 2015 @lolojones I'd be willing to bet you could outrun @RondaRousey :)
— Ocular Nervosa (@ocularnervosa) August 2, 2015 @lolojones sounds like a challenge!
— Evan (@EvanAsano) August 2, 2015 @lolojones hahaha just like Mayweather does
— Kat_4Real (@Kat_4ReaL) August 2, 2015 @lolojones I don't know if we could call it a fight but I would watch that contest
— kort hansen (@khansenpow) August 2, 2015 After the headlines
@lolojones she would kill you lol smh
— Jay-B (@jbrading) August 2, 2015 @lolojones How much do you get paid to do absolutely shit? So you run around and Ronda KOs you or Subs you in a minute and 5 seconds.
— LaGrange Poly (@smithnya) August 2, 2015 @lolojones you would pass out just standing across from her. Come on now
— UFCLV (@UFCLV) August 2, 2015 @lolojones no longer relevant so attempts to inject herself into Ronda's #UFC190 slipstream. NEWS FLASH... she would destroy you in <30sec.
— Todd Ingram (@taingram) August 2, 2015 @lolojones ... If you don't trip.. You'd last maybe 10 seconds - cmon now
— Jessica (@AlwaysSFGiants) August 2, 2015 * * *
Whether intentional or not, the reaction changed after the headlines came out. No longer was it people laughing along with Jones, it was folks being malicious. The same tweet, no additional snark from Lolo Jones -- the headlines were just a lens to focus people’s hatred.
There will be more headlines. Heck, it’s likely we’ll hear “Could Lolo Jones last in the octagon?” pop up on a radio station or talking head TV show, and it will be unfair. Just remember when you hear them that it is all crap, and the kind of crap designed to continue a tired narrative.
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