How the once mighty have fallen
In the past few days I have been trying really hard not to write about any of the negative controversies that have been dominating the sports media, whether it be Floyd Landis coming up with new excuses for his positive tests, Justin Gatlin doing the same thing, or former Australian cricket star Dean Jones calling a South African cricket player (who happens to be a Muslim) a terrorist while commentating, but I’m caving in today. I read this article on Maurice Clarett on espn.com this morning and thought it was really well done.
In the space of 4 years, Clarett has gone from this:
Clarett with some bling
to this
Clarett with some newer bling
Clarett became the next big thing in 2002, when he led Ohio State to the National (college) Championship, scoring the winning touchdown against Miami in the second overtime. Clarett unsuccessfully challenged the NFL’s rule that you must be out of high school for three years before entering the draft and was left in the wilderness for the next few years. After being drafted by the Denver Broncos last year, Clarett was cut before a preseason game was even played - effectively ending any chance he had of playing professional football.
On January 2 of this year, Clarett turned himself in to police after an armed robbery of two people outside of a nightclub. Couple that with the arrest (armed with an AK-47, two blocks away from the residence of a witness who will be testifying against Clarett in relation to the armed robery charges) two days ago and you have one of the most dramatic falls from grace in recent memory.
If Clarett had have spent the two years after winning the National Championship with Ohio State instead of thinking he was bigger than the league and an exception to the established rules, he would no doubt now be a millionaire many times over. Now, instead of living in a mansion, he’ll be living in a 6′ by 6′ room that he can call his own. Kids, stay in school!
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