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发帖数: 758 | 1 http://deadspin.com/5967649/how-maurice-clarett-lost-his-way-bo
Clarett made the team as a freshman as a backup running back. Tressel told
him that in the team's first game—at home against Texas Tech—Clarett would
get three series of work. "I did nothing in my first two series," says
Clarett. But on the third one, he broke a long run. The home crowd went
crazy. "The fans put you in games, at least at Ohio State," he says. He
finished that game with 175 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
He was a hard worker in practice and in games. But off the field, he was
living a completely different life. "I took golf, fishing, and softball as
classes," Clarett says. "Away from class, anything you can think of I did in
my 13 months at Ohio State." Drugs and women were two of the things. Cars
were another—he owned three of them at a time, including a brand-new
Cadillac and Lexus. "I was living the NFL life in college," he says. "I got
paid more in college than I do now in the UFL."
In the 2003 national championship game against Miami, Clarett made the two
crucial plays that led to Ohio State's win: He stripped the ball from Sean
Taylor's hands after the Miami safety had intercepted a pass in his own end
zone, which led to three important points for the Buckeyes. Then he scored
the championship-winning touchdown in overtime. The sky seemed like the only
limit for Clarett.
Instead the sky fell on him. Clarett was suspended from the team for
receiving what were deemed "improper benefits." He also falsely alleged that
$10,000 worth of goods had been stolen from him. (He later pleaded guilty
to the lesser charge of failure to aid a law enforcement official.) Clarett
tried to enter the NFL Draft. But by NFL rules, a player had to be at least
three years out of high school to become eligible. He sued. His case
eventually went to the Supreme Court. He lost. |
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