Todd Marinovich

Todd Marinovich
Todd Marinovich as featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Position(s): QB	Jersey #: N/A
Date of birth: July 4 1969 (1969--) (age 38)
Place of birth: San Leandro, California
Height:  ft  in ( m)
Weight:  lb ( kg)
Career information
NFL Draft: 1991 / Round: 1 / Pick 24
College: Southern Cal
Teams
1991-1992	Los Angeles Raiders
Stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Todd Marvin Marinovich (born July 4, 1969 in San Leandro, California) is a former American football quarterback who played for the Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League. His career also included stints in the Canadian Football League and Arena Football League.He is of Croatian ancestry. He was often referred to as "Robo QB" and "Todd Marijuanavich" by detractors. Marinovich's great play in college did not transfer into the pros, and therefore he is labeled as a “draft bust” by many critics.

High school career

During Marinovich's successful high school career at Capistrano Valley High in Mission Viejo, California, stories emerged that he had been raised to be the "perfect" quarterback by his father Marv Marinovich, a former NFL lineman. These claims became nationally known after an article in Sports Illustrated magazine that appeared during his college recruitment. The article cites his father's desire to have his son be the first high-school athlete to have his picture appear on a box of Wheaties cereal. The claims also included strict workout regimens during his early years and complete abstinence from fast food. While Marinovich's mother was pregnant with Todd, her diet was also under close scrutiny, she was to eat only lean meals high in protein and her husband forced her to give up cigarette smoking, although she admits to having "to sneak into the garage for an occasional puff." In 1987, Marinovich racked up a national record 9,194 passing yards at Capistrano Valley High. He was awarded the Dial Award for the national high-school scholar-athlete of the year in 1987.

College career

His college choice was no surprise, joining the team his father formerly captained at the University of Southern California and wore the number 13. On his decision to attend USC, Marinovich joked, "Well, they're my favorite rain coat, now they'll be my favorite team!"^[1] Marinovich's college career took a bad turn after he led his team to the Rose Bowl as a freshman. He led the USC Trojans to a victory over the Michigan Wolverines in Bo Schembechler's final game as a head coach. His relationship with then USC coach Larry Smith became increasingly rocky; he was suspended from the team on multiple occasions — ostensibly for skipping class — and rumors of recreational drug use — hence the moniker Marijuanavich — became well established.

Professional career

In 1991, he left USC to test the waters of the NFL draft, finding a home in the first round with the Los Angeles Raiders and signing a 3-year, $2.27 million deal. He did not start a game until the final week of the season, where he impressed with 3 touchdown passes against the Kansas City Chiefs in a close loss. Because of this great debut he started the following week against the Chiefs in the playoffs, but was very poor, throwing for just 140 yards with 4 interceptions in a 10-6 loss and smashing a locker room mirror with his helmet after the game.

After an 0-2 start in 1992, former starter Jay Schroeder was benched and Marinovich, the fan favorite, became the starter. He threw for 395 yards in a loss in his first start that season and lost the following week as the Raiders started 0-4. He then won 3 of his next 4 games before falling to the Cowboys. The following week Marinovich started against the Eagles, seeing 3 of his first 10 passes intercepted. Jay Schroeder then took back the starting job; Marinovich never played again in the NFL and was eventually released by the Raiders.

After his departure, Marinovich had stints in the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League but was always followed by scandals. He had problems with drugs, paternity suits, and even rape charges; authorities once arrested him during practice with the Los Angeles Avengers. In 1999, he partnered up with sports marketing agent and IBL San Diego Stingrays owner Scott Atkins in the QB12 Sports Collectors Art Series. QB12 was a limited edition sports art lithograph series with Marinovich as the sports artist. The series featured, Ken Stabler and Joe Montana. The project was cancelled due to Marinovich's legal troubles, including court-ordered child support to three separate women. In 2000, Marinovich was named to the AFL's All-Rookie Team, but lackluster play and off-the-field problems led to his release in 2001.

Despite moments of brilliance, Marinovich's professional career is widely considered to be a bust. In 2004 Marinovich was included in ESPN.com's list of The 25 Biggest Sports Flops, coming in at number 4 on the ESPN.com editors' list, and number 7 on the readers' list.^[2] His name, along with that of Ryan Leaf, is often used as an eponym for a highly vaunted football player who turns out to be a huge disappointment.

Legal troubles

Marinovich has had several run-ins with the law, most of which have been related to his ongoing drug and sex problems. He was arrested in 1991, while still a student at USC, on charges of rape and substance abuse. In 1997 he was arrested on suspicion of growing marijuana and served three months in jail after pleading guilty. In April 2000, Marinovich was arrested for sexual assault,^[3] followed by a 2001 arrest on suspicion of heroin possession, which forced his exit from the Avengers.

Marinovich was arrested in a public bathroom in Newport Beach, California in May 2005, after being found with apparent drug paraphernalia and child pornography. He fled on a child's bicycle, but was caught a few blocks away. He gave his occupation as "unemployed artist" and "anarchist" on the police report, which stated that his pupils were dilated and his behavior "erratic."^[4] He was ordered to undergo six months of drug rehabilitation followed by six months of outpatient treatment as a result.^[5]

In August, 2007, Marinovich was arrested and charged with felony drug possession and resisting a police order after being stopped for skateboarding near the Newport Beach, California Pier boardwalk, where skateboarding is forbidden by local ordinance. Marinovich ran away when officers tried to stop him. He was found hiding in a carport about six blocks away. He had a guitar case, and inside officers found about a gram of powdered methamphetamine, a metal spoon and a hypodermic needle, Sgt. Evan Sailor said. Marinovich was arrested and pleaded not guilty to felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor counts of unauthorized possession of a hypodermic and resisting a police officer. ^[6]

Memorable moments

At USC

• In 1990 after being sacked by a UCLA defensive lineman Marinovich flipped him off after the lineman offered to help him off the ground.
• Todd Marinovich defeats Tommy Maddox in the 1990 UCLA vs. USC game 45-42 after rumors surfaced that Marinovich would go pro after the season.
• In the 1990 match-up against Notre Dame, Todd Marinovich playfully shoved a Notre Dame defensive lineman while celebrating a touchdown, then gave the finger to the image of "Touchdown Jesus" on the Theodore Hesburgh Memorial Library.
• In Marinovich’s final season at USC, the Trojans entered a game in late September against the University of Washington Huskies ranked #5 in the country. Following a 31-0 beating from Washington’s “Purple Reign” defense, Marinovich was quoted as saying, “All I saw was purple. No jerseys, no numbers, just purple. I thought I was at a Prince concert.” Marinovich entered the game as a Heisman Trophy candidate, but his performance that day effectively ended his Heisman hopes.
• Upon his departure from the Trojans, Marinovich was quoted as saying, "Well, I may not be the best quarterback ever to don the Trojan uniform, but there's little doubt I was the prettiest and the one who used them (i.e., Trojan Condoms) the most."

Another Marinovich hits the field

Marinovich has a younger brother named Mikhail Marinovich who plays as a tight end and is reportedly being offered scholarships from UCLA and USC.

See also

References

1. ^ Sports Illustrated, 1987
2. ^ The 25 Biggest Sports Flops, ESPN.com, July 20, 2004
3. ^ Marinovich Released on Bond After Arrest Associated Press, April 26, 2000
4. ^ Former NFL QB Todd Marinovich Arrested Associated Press, May 26, 2005
5. ^ Marinovich ordered into drug rehabilitation program Associated Press, June 3, 2005
6. ^ Ex-USC star Marinovich arrested in Newport Beach OC Register, August 29, 2007

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