Jon Jones and Bros. Genetic Heritage

[SWK]

I'm writing something, and I would be very grateful if someone could point me to the right information and sources.

As far as I know, Jon Jones' parents are a pastor and a nurse. Were any members of the previous generation of the Jones family athletes? It's quite improbable that one family can produce one dominant UFC Champion (a GOAT Candidate at that), and two NFL players. If you could suggest other examples of athlete families, that would also be very welcome.

And it's scary to consider that Jones was probably the black sheep of the family, the least gifted of his brothers in "pure athleticism" (to the extent that's a useful term at all to describe raw speed, agility, strength, endurance, co-ordination, etc).

Just for laughs, here's the famous clip of Jon Jones getting plonked on the head by a basketball that he himself tried and failed to dunk.



And again in jest, "Bones" was probably a diss for that gangly and awkward kid (at least compared to his brothers).

 

[roman2314]

Gronkowskis:3 sons IN NFL

 

[straight6]

yeah saw that vid before as well and was surprised to see how awkward he looked with the ball. he can grab rim pretty easy without it. this was couple yrs ago and he was like what early 20s, solid 6'4 with wingspan of someone close to 7 ft, pro athlete in top shape ("athletic and explosive") yet not even close to dunking...

these days there are some 5'10 high school kids (black, white or Asian) that can throw it down with a running start.

 

[fearoth]

Maybe it was the first time he touched a basketball?

 

[HOLA]

If you could suggest other examples of athlete families, that would also be very welcome.

/QUOTE]

Yoel Romero-World champ in wrestling, his brother, IBF and The Ring champ in boxing.

 

[surgeyou1]

Maybe it was the first time he touched a basketball?

You really think that a black kid from Upstate New York with an athletic family has never touched a basketball before? LOL

 

[RayLewis52]

You really think that a black kid from Upstate New York with an athletic family has never touched a basketball before? LOL

Don't disagree, but (depending on the town) upstate NY is more farmland than anything else.

 

[brisko21]

This video is misleading. Jones is jumping off the wrong foot. I'll bet he can dunk with ease. He's 6'4" and has the longest reach in the UFC. A longer reach than Stefan Struve. There is some fukkery with this video. I would guess that they are trying to convince people that Jones is a good fighter without his "Black" physiological advantages. Hell, I'm a 5'10" white guy with a few extra pounds and I can touch the rim. Jon Jones can surely dunk a basketball.

 

[brisko21]

And reach is just as important as height and jumping ability when it comes to dunking. Once again why blacks commonly can dunk more often. They tend to have a longer reach.

 

[RayLewis52]

This video is misleading. Jones is jumping off the wrong foot. I'll bet he can dunk with ease. He's 6'4" and has the longest reach in the UFC. A longer reach than Stefan Struve. There is some fukkery with this video. I would guess that they are trying to convince people that Jones is a good fighter without his "Black" physiological advantages. Hell, I'm a 5'10" white guy with a few extra pounds and I can touch the rim. Jon Jones can surely dunk a basketball.

Not sure about the motivation for the video, but I too don't believe that he can't dunk. He's 6'4 with a long reach and is a good athlete. He would only need to jump a foot or so to dunk.

 

[teilatulitooth]

Mannings,Mayweathers,Hulls,Williams sisters,Griffys,Ripkins,(reggie)Millers,Earnhardts?Alomars.Howes,Staals and the 6 Sutters and there 2 kids!!!

 

[SWK]

An interview at least suggests Jon Jones has played football and basketball, but knew he'd never make it pro in either. Quotes from him:

"Basketball," the champion says, "I just don't have [the ability]."

"Football, I just don't have it," he says. "I can't catch. I can't throw. I just can't. I really can't do it."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mma--t...n--the-immense-power-of-belief-181748782.html

I think it's very plausible that this wasn't just a Jon Jones false-humility-public-relations-job. With his wrestling, he's not really out-muscling anybody, he's throwing people effortlessly because he felt an opening in balancing and leverage. And with his striking, he's not known for his natural power (in boxing, you do see tall fighters with freak power, but it doesn't look like JJ is one of them).

So I think there's a good argument to say JJ is not athletically gifted in the traditional NFL running-jumping-throwing sense (just because he's ripped doesn't mean he's strong and fast). What he does have is long limbs, and a natural ability to feel the nuances of his technique and his opponent's (e.g. outfeinting and knocking down Machida, life-long striker).

 

[Bojka]

There are 3 (4?) Staal brothers in the NHL. And at least 2 of them are quite good.

Manning family of QBs. There are a lot. It isn't that rare.

 

[Sean]

yeah saw that vid before as well and was surprised to see how awkward he looked with the ball. he can grab rim pretty easy without it. this was couple yrs ago and he was like what early 20s, solid 6'4 with wingspan of someone close to 7 ft, pro athlete in top shape ("athletic and explosive") yet not even close to dunking...

these days there are some 5'10 high school kids (black, white or Asian) that can throw it down with a running start.

Lately people on this board are making too much of "athleticism". Just because an athlete excels and one sport doesnt mean that transfers to all sports. The difference at the highest levels of sport is talent, usually specific to that sport.

 

[brisko21]

Not sure about the motivation for the video, but I too don't believe that he can't dunk. He's 6'4 with a long reach and is a good athlete. He would only need to jump a foot or so to dunk.

Yeah, that's just a guess. I just remember Jones even saying a few years ago that he couldn't dunk. I found it kind of strange that he would even mention that. Now this video pops up. It led me to guess that he wants people to think that he can't dunk. Maybe I'm on to something, or maybe its a clear case of confirmation bias.....Either way, the dude can dunk. His brothers are in the NFL. Like they didn't play basketball growing up? C'mon.

 

[Kingfarthur]

An interview at least suggests Jon Jones has played football and basketball, but knew he'd never make it pro in either. Quotes from him:

"Basketball," the champion says, "I just don't have [the ability]."

"Football, I just don't have it," he says. "I can't catch. I can't throw. I just can't. I really can't do it."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mma--t...n--the-immense-power-of-belief-181748782.html

I think it's very plausible that this wasn't just a Jon Jones false-humility-public-relations-job. With his wrestling, he's not really out-muscling anybody, he's throwing people effortlessly because he felt an opening in balancing and leverage. And with his striking, he's not known for his natural power (in boxing, you do see tall fighters with freak power, but it doesn't look like JJ is one of them).

So I think there's a good argument to say JJ is not athletically gifted in the traditional NFL running-jumping-throwing sense (just because he's ripped doesn't mean he's strong and fast). What he does have is long limbs, and a natural ability to feel the nuances of his technique and his opponent's.

Yeah, running and jumping isn't what you necessarily need for MMA. Look at Mitrione; he played in the NFL but can't even sniff Cain's jock strap. Shit, he couldn't even beat Schaub.

 

[aus101]

An interview at least suggests Jon Jones has played football and basketball, but knew he'd never make it pro in either. Quotes from him:

"Basketball," the champion says, "I just don't have [the ability]."

"Football, I just don't have it," he says. "I can't catch. I can't throw. I just can't. I really can't do it."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mma--t...n--the-immense-power-of-belief-181748782.html

I think it's very plausible that this wasn't just a Jon Jones false-humility-public-relations-job. With his wrestling, he's not really out-muscling anybody, he's throwing people effortlessly because he felt an opening in balancing and leverage. And with his striking, he's not known for his natural power (in boxing, you do see tall fighters with freak power, but it doesn't look like JJ is one of them).

So I think there's a good argument to say JJ is not athletically gifted in the traditional NFL running-jumping-throwing sense (just because he's ripped doesn't mean he's strong and fast). What he does have is long limbs, and a natural ability to feel the nuances of his technique and his opponent's (e.g. outfeinting and knocking down Machida, life-long striker).

Yeah, you don't need great ball sports ability to wrestle. I suck at ball sports (and am an average jumper) yet was a natural wrestler, the two sports don't have much crossover at all.

 

[High Test With da Best]

Makes me think of a ufc combine event

 

[teilatulitooth]

Jones has the legs of Kate Moss so I am not the least bit surprised that he has zero vert, combine that with the fact he didnt even take a run up and you get this vid.It also looks like he is holding the ball in his off hand and isnt sure which foot to take off with.

 

[teilatulitooth]

The HEART FOUNDATION!!!!