Pubdate: Wed, 03 Oct 2001
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Ed Willes
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

MARINOVICH WAS ON HEROIN

GQ Article Recounts His Drug Use In '99 Vancouver Sojourn

Shortly into the great Todd Marinovich project, it was obvious to the B.C. 
Lions that something was wrong.

Marinovich, the former Oakland Raiders first-rounder who'd been brought in 
to back up Damon Allen, was showing up late for quarterback meetings. Or 
sleeping through them. Or blowing them off altogether. "He had the attitude 
he didn't really care," Allen said.

"We just thought he was smoking B.C. pot or something," said Daved Benefield.

Marinovich, in fact, never made an impact on the Lions, never saw live 
action in a regular-season game and was released after the '99 season.

At the time it seemed kind of weird, because the Lions had had big plans 
for Marinovich.

In the light of a new day, however, it's more understandable, especially 
when you consider Marinovich was a full-time junkie while he was with the 
Lions.

In the most recent issue of GQ, writer Peter Richmond details Marinovich's 
five-year battle with heroin, which reportedly started when the former 
Southern Cal star was still with the NFL's Raiders, continued through his 
year with the Lions and was halted some time this year when Marinovich 
finally kicked it.

The article isn't forthcoming on details, and attempts to reach Marinovich 
weren't successful.

But Richmond wrote that Marinovich was injecting heroin six to eight times 
a day while he was in Vancouver, bought cosmetics to cover the track marks 
on his "golden arm," and wore long-sleeved sweatshirts for the same reason.

"This was easy in Vancouver," Richmond wrote. "Not only was the drug 
readily available but one of its many gifts is that you can function when 
you're using ... so long as you've had some practice. And in British 
Columbia that's all Todd had to do -- practice."

"I'm not surprised," said Winnipeg (and former Lions) offensive lineman Moe 
Elewonibi, Marinovich's closest friend on the Leos, who's also undergone 
successful rehab for drug addiction.

"He kept that side from me, but he and I were doing a lot of the same 
things -- painkillers, alcohol. I never did heroin, but I was probably 
headed down that road."

Marinovich, it seems, was successful in keeping that side from most of the 
Lions. Prior to the '99 season, he told GM Adam Rita he was looking for an 
opportunity to revive his career.

He then worked out with Lions wide receiver Alfred Jackson in southern 
California under the eye of Marinovich's father Marv, a personal trainer 
who'd groomed his son to be a quarterback.

Vancouver and Marinovich, however, proved to be an unhealthy mix once the 
'99 season started.

The quarterback was essentially brought in to knock Khari Jones out of the 
No. 2 spot behind Allen, but quickly lost interest.

Offensive lineman Dan Payne said: "He was always off in his own little 
world. He wasn't a part of team functions."

Benefield said: "I just looked at him like he was a stoner."

Rita and Allen also tried talking to Marinovich. But they should have saved 
their breath.

Marinovich was so enamoured of the Vancouver heroin scene that he stayed in 
the city after the '99 season before Elewonibi drove him to Los Angeles. 
There, Marinovich's parents attempted to put him in rehab. Elewonibi, who 
returned to B.C. after the trip and sought help for his own addictions, 
said Marinovich wasn't "100 per cent clean" when he last saw him.

Informed the GQ article said Marinovich had been sober for four months, 
Elewonibi said simply: "I'm happy for Todd."

Allen, for his part, can only shake his head over Marinovich. As the 
Raiders' first-round draft choice, Marinovich was given opportunities Allen 
has dreamed of in his 17-year CFL career. Allen has pledged his heart and 
soul to the game, has worked like a farmer throughout his career and never 
had as much as a courtesy call from the NFL.

Marinovich had it all served to him on a platter and threw it away because 
he wanted to get high.

Allen has a hard time understanding that choice. "I tried to help him, but 
it comes to the point where a guy has to help himself," Allen said.

At 32, Marinovich finally seems to have done that.

You might say it's about time.