The Sad, Sad Story of Maurice Clarett
With news coming from Here and Here, the story of former Ohio State star Maurice Clarett has reached pathetic stage. Already in trouble for alledgedly robbing 2 men behind a Columbus nightclub, his trial date is rapidly approaching, Clarett led police on a high-speed chase early this moring in Columbus. That isn’t the worst of it. Clarett was carrying 4 loaded guns and a hatchet. Police tried to subdue Clarett with a taser which was unaffective because Clarett was wearing a bullet-proof vest. The police used mace instead, and even after getting Clarett in the paddy-wagon he continued to kick the door and try to escape.
Four guns, one a loaded AK47, a hatchet, wearing a bulletproof vest, drunk on vodak, it is easy to see that Clarett was up to something big and the end result would not have been pretty. The underlying theme though is just how sad of a story this is. I wrote a column yesterday about Lenny Cooke, and basketball phenom that was led down the wrong path by the advice of people who supposedly “cared” about him. Cooke has been to hell and back and now seems to have his life back in order. I talked about LeBron James, and the positive influence his support group had on him growing up. We can see the end result of that.
Maurice Clarett, who graduated high school the same year as LeBron, sadly has followed a path similar to Cooke’s, but the fall has been alot farther, alot faster. Clarett entered Ohio State in the spring, graduating early to get a head start on his college career. He was the starter at tailback from day 1 and it looked like he was going to be the next great running back at Ohio State, the next Archie Griffin, the next Eddie George. As a freshman Clarett garnered Heisman consideration before injuries cut his playing time. He was healthy by the the the Buckeyes faced Michigan, and Clarett made several huge plays enabling the Buckeyes to play for the National Championship. In that game, Clarett scored the winning touchdown in 2OT as the Buckeyes upset the Miami Hurricanes. The world seemed to be Clarett’s oyster, until the summer of 2003.
At the same time that friend LeBron James was signing a $90 Million shoe deal, Clarett was detailing cars at a local used car dealership, probably making $10 an hour. Clarett often compared himself to LeBron. Fact is, Clarett picked the wrong sport. The NFL had rules prohibiting underclassman from entering the NFL draft. Players had to be a full 3 years out of high school. Clarett was extremely jealous and bitter about that. His first trouble started that summer when a car he was “borrowing” from that car dealership was broken into and the audio equipment stolen. Clarett filed a false police report, then lied to the NCAA about it. Ohio State was already beginning to distance itself from Clarett after he was critical of the University for not allowing him to attend the funeral for a gang-banger buddy of his from hometown of Youngstown the week of the Fiesta Bowl.
It’s at this point that the story turns sad. Clarett was receiving advice from somewhere, and it was bad advice. If he had come clean, he probably woould have been reinstated and resumed his football career. Instead, more allegations arose involving Clarett receiving special treatment in classes. Ohio State then suspended Clarett for the entire 2003 Season. He was not aloud to practice with the team or workout at the team facility. In my opinion, a mistake by Ohio State. Sure, he made a bunch of mistakes, but it was obvious Clarett needed help. Instead of setting up a support system and helping Clarett, Ohio State turned it’s back on him.
More bad advice, this time from Jesse Jackson and others who used Clarett to forward a political agenda against the NFL. Clarett sued to be included in the 2004 NFL draft. After initially winning the case, hiring an agent and losing college eligibility, the ruling was overturned and Clarett was left with no where to play. There was talk of Canada, but again, Clarett was advised againt it. Instead, Clarett sat out 2004 and waited.
His chance finally came in 2005 at the NFL Combine. Clarett once again runined an opportunity. After running a poor 40 Clarett quit the combine and left, further fueling the fire about his toughness and willingness to work. He held a private workout for teams later, and was impressive. There seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel. At the 2005 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos surprised everyone when they drafted Clarett with the last pick of the 3rd Round. Was there a better situation for a running back than the Denver Broncos?
Things soured quickly in Denver. Clarett signed an incentive laden contract that included NO signing bonus. That left no liability for the team. After a couple of practices Clarett injured his groin. Even after given a clean bill of health by the training staff Clarett refused to practice. Teammates begain to question Clarett. Denver wasted no time and cut Clarett outright. Once again, Maurice was out of football.
There were rumors of tryouts, but Clarett once again blew an opportunity, on January 2, 2006 the same day Clarett was due to sign an NFL contract he turned himself in to Columbis Police regarding an Armed Robbery charge. He was released on $50,000 bond. On July 26, just weeks before Clarett’s trial was to being he fired his legal counsel, again on the advice of his “advisors”.
This all leads back to early this morning and the latest arrest. Has anyone so high fallen so far, so fast? In January 2003 Maurice Clarett was on top of the world. Just 3 1/2 years later he is looking at serious jail time and the end of a promising career and life. It is true that Clarett is a man and is responsible for his own decisions. But there were people and establishments along the way that could have stepped in to help someone that was crying out for it. Instead the system chewed him up and spit him out. A sad, sad story indeed.
August 16th, 2006 at 4:01 am
I think that you are doing a bit too much whining for this grown man. I don’t really see where any of his actions were crying for help. If anything, he acted in a way that made him appear very arrogant, nasty, temperamental, and ignorant. There are millions of people that had dreams that they never saw realized. Good hard working people that never even came close. This man blew SEVERAL unbelievable chances because of his terrible attitude and his inability to be a man and just roll with the punches. I am ashamed and saddened at these things, if they have indeed unfolded the way they’ve been reported.
But my point was, that there is no one to blame but him. At some point and time, you have to stand up and claim some responsibility for your own life. Especially when the things that happen, happend because of decisions you made. I am sure that whomever raised him, taught him right from wrong. He chose to rob, carry guns, not go to practice, etc. . . Maybe he should have just listened to God, instead of all those people around him. He’ll have plenty of free time to turn himself around now. Let’s just pray that he does.
August 17th, 2006 at 10:16 am
Thanks for the comment Brandy. You bring up some very good points. In the end, it was Maurice Clarett that is to blame for the problems Maurice Clarett has had. My point was the there were people along the way that let him down. The Caterer in Youngstown that alledgedly was paying his bills, etc. The Car Dealer that gave him cars. Ohio State. Jim Tressel and Co. knew the type of person Clarett was and if it were me I would have had someone with him 24/7. I think he is a good person at heart, but some people need more help than others to avoid temptation.
Thanks again, and check back often!
TSG