After Battling Demons, Marinovich Has New Outlook
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Former USC quarterback Coach Todd Marinovich will never forget the last time he spoke with coach Steve Sarkisian at a campus event two months ago.
Seconds before Sarkisian was to take the stage, "I went to the person who was introducing our team and said we need to pull the plug and right when I said that, I heard on the speakers, 'ladies and gentlemen, your head coach,' and my heart sank because I had the feeling this is not going to go well," Marinovich said.
It didn't go well.
Sarkisian was forced to apologize after slurring his words and using expletives at a team event in August.
Fast forward to Monday, when USC dismissed its troubled head coach after a number of similar incidents.
However, Marinovich believes that with treatment, Sarkisian's career is far from over.
"He can rebound from this and have whatever he chooses to do and be far more successful," Marinovich said.
After setting passing records at Capistrano Valley High School, competing for the Heisman Trophy at USC and being selected in the first round of the NFL draft, Marinovich was out of the NFL within two years of arriving.
He was struggling with a severe heroin addiction.
"I know the feeling of being a slave to something that you can't break free of and feel hopeless and feel so without worth," Marinovich said.
The Orange County high school product says his addiction began in his freshman year, starting with alcohol and marijuana.
"When my coach said you can't do these things, I looked at him like OK I wont, but to myself, I said how can I not?" Marinovich added.
His addiction stemmed from feelings that he was not a good enough player and that he was letting people down, Marinovich told CBS2's Stacey Butler.
So, what turned Marinovich's life around?
Painting and Alcoholics Anonymous.
"Really, what art is about, what breaking free from addiction is about, is a connection with human beings," he said.
Marinovich now supports his family by selling his paintings, although that is not the reason he paints.
"Someone who has been as lost as I have found his way, and I would love and I feel the obligation to share it with others who are struggling," Marinovich added.
From athlete, to addict, to artist, Marinovich knows that he shattered his own path but continues to fill in the cracks day by day.
"I can be human today," Marinovich said.
"I can make mistakes and we can learn and it's a beautiful existence this way." he added.
For more information about Marinovich and his art, go to www.toddmarinovich.com.