According to a tweet from this past June, Jones direct-messaged Bubby Lyles to tell him everything was good to go if he could get the re-tweets. He reportedly raised the 150,000 re-tweets in two weeks after Jones confirmed she would go on the date.
If I get 150,000 RTs @lolojones will let me take her on a date! Help me out! pic.twitter.com/j9hFfxqlCi
— Bubby Lyles (@harrylylesjr) June 20, 2013
He also told NBC OlympicTalk in July that Jones asked for his contact information after her final scheduled track meet of 2013. “I’m looking forward to meeting you, and I’m looking forward to our date,” Jones allegedly messaged Lyles.
“I couldn’t just tweet her and say ‘Let’s go out on a date,’” he told NBC. “She wouldn’t do that just on the fly. I thought, give her some incentive. What’s an outrageous number most people would think would be unreachable? I came up with 150,000, and it went from there.”
Good looking out @elsupersanchez, looking forward to it @lolojones
— Bubby Lyles (@harrylylesjr) July 5, 2013
After learning that Lyles had reached the magic number, Jones reportedly even offered to pay for the date.
Lyles said no. “I really want to pay for it because I feel that’s the gentlemanly thing to do,” he said. “I appreciate that offer. … I’d never let a woman pay for a date.”
Now, even though the Winter Olympics are over and Jones’ schedule should be clear, it appears the date is off.
I am sorry to let you all know that the date with Lolo Jones is not going to happen. Thanks for the support that you all have shown me.
— Bubby Lyles (@harrylylesjr) February 24, 2014
Although the date isn’t happening, what we did was still amazing, and I appreciate every last one of my 150,000 wingmen that offered up a RT
— Bubby Lyles (@harrylylesjr) February 24, 2014
If you see me in the street, in the gym, on campus, wherever, and you retweeted me, please stop me so I can personally thank you.
— Bubby Lyles (@harrylylesjr) February 24, 2014
While Jones failed to medal at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, it appears that she did take something home with her.
Norwegian curling pants. gonna be so amp to sweep my kitchen floor in these RT: @jrmantia: those pants haha… pic.twitter.com/xBNdVL22el”
— Lolo Jones (@lolojones) February 20, 2014
If Jones is hanging out with Olympic speed skater Joey Mantia back in the States, perhaps that explains why Lyles is getting stood up.
Evan Bleier is a freelance writer based out of wherever he can plug in his laptop. You can send him questions, comments and Buffalo wing suggestions @itishowitis or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook
Photo Credit: Getty
