Todd Marinovich Documentary on ESPN

[SolidSnake84]

I was up late last night, watched this thing in its entity. Todd's story was funny, sad, and inspiring at the same time.

Most emotional part for me was when Todd was telling of when he finally started for the Raiders, they won the game, and Marv (his dad) tells him that he loves him and is so proud of him. Todd says he worked his whole life to get to that moment and he knew right then that it was the beginning of the end, as he now asked himself "what do I do now. what next".

Observations:

Almost everyone Todd played with on that USC team went on to play in the NFL. Literally each person's story that was interjected into the documentary, they made it in the NFL.

Todd was a phenomenal player who was way before his time in terms of football knowledge and natural ability. Surprised that Al Davis cut him for using drugs when it was well known at the time that many other Raiders had substance problems. Typical raider player back then would be drug tested 2 times a year, Davis had Marinovich tested 3 times a week.

Very surprised that no other NFL team gave him a tryout in 1993 when he looked promising, and the games he played in he played well.

Steelers, Seahawks, and Chargers were still interested in him in 1999 after being out of the league for 7 years.

His 10 touchdown passes in a single game with the LA Avengers in 2001 is still the record today. He did this while suffering from severe heroin withdrawal.

In Closing: Surprised that they (his agents, family, etc.) tried so many times to re-start his football career, all with limited success (He played in the CFL, played very well in the AFL), but guys like Jamarcus Russell & Vince Young may never get another chance to show they've matured.

A sad and cautionary tale....