What Is On the Heart of Maurice Clarett?
Let me continue to put things into perspective. I was going to talk about something completely different but I keep seeing the news speak of the three young men lost at sea in Florida. It makes me keep my situation in perspective. I can only imagine, along with everyone else, the amount of pain their families feel. I can only imagine that it would be extremely tough on any human being in that situation, not knowing if your child were alive.
That set of circumstances alone, shows that athletic careers, jobs on Wall Street, and all of the other things that people idolize and fantasize about mean absolutely nothing when it comes to one’s personal health, safety, and security. I am willing to bet my life that their families would give it all away for their safe return. That is an example of why I don’t want people to come here and feel sorry for me. There are much more important issues going on in the world. I am fortunate to be in this position of speaking over the phone to family in order to post this message.
When you think that you have it bad, life sure has a way of humbling you. It is always someone out there who has it worse. You have people all over the world with physical disabilities and others who are diagnosed with incurable cancers and diseases. I am here to let them know that I feel their pain. Maurice Clarett empathizes with them all. In Mexico, you have turf wars. In Zimbabwe, you have outrageous inflation. In Israel, they just stopped a small air assault over the Gaza strip. Russia and Georgia just recently calmed down. More soldiers just moved into Afghanistan. You have all types of eye opening situations going on throughout the world. Take some time to stop thinking about your own personal worries for a while, as I did, and take the time to realize how good you really do have it. Use that energy to keep building on to what is right in your life and understand that the world is bigger than you and your problems.
***My heartfelt prayers go out to the families of the missing boaters in the Gulf of Mexico.***
—Maurice Clarett
March 5, 2009 at 5:31 pm
maurice, i had no idea that you were so insightful. that interests me, and makes me want to read what you have to say.
March 5, 2009 at 6:13 pm
hello maurice, i just want to say you “were” the man. i have alot of respect for you. i watched you blossom to a great football player. i live in lordstown which is minutes from harding HS.i’am 29yrs old class of 98 in newton falls. i watched every home game u played in, also your playoff games. when u chose to go to osu i was so pumped that a local boy is going to kick ass at the next level for my favorite team. i was proud to say that you were from our home town. i no you hear this all the time, but it meant the world to me. i seen what you could do at both levels. i always stick up for you when people talk trash about you. everyone screws up one time or another, its how they deal with it when its done. i want to see you in the NFL. you have the talent to do anything you want. prove to everyone and yourself that you can do it!!!! i would love to meet you some time if ever in lordstown look me up!!! stay positive!!!!
March 5, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Your message rings so true….it doesn’t matter who you are or what you have it all comes down to the love of your family that matters the most at times like those missing boaters in FL. They aren’t just 2 NFL players. They are 3 missing people with families that love and miss them so much.
I’ve been praying every day for them and their families. Such a tragedy.
March 5, 2009 at 9:16 pm
maurice a man told me one time that “a man is what he repeatedly does….do good, feel good, do bad, feel bad……i bet you feel better regardless of the present situation…..everybody is proud of you for that……let me know if you want to talk about it…..
March 5, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Maurice,
Yes, life is humbling. Life is a gift from God. Your desire to help and inspire others to achieve a better life in this world is certainly an admirable use of your gift.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ? If so, have you laid all of your troubles before Him, and what happened next?
Your “CHAMPS” picture from the Dispatch will ALWAYS be hanging on a wall in my home. Thanks for the memories, good luck, and may God bless you!
WV Mick
March 5, 2009 at 9:52 pm
maurice,
i love reading your blog and it really helps put things into perspective for me. I work on wall street and obviously right now times are tough, but the fact of the matter is things are not that bad. rather than dwelling on the tough times and feeling sorry for ourselves, we need to feel fortunate for where we are and use that energy to get us out of the mess that a lot of greed and selfishness got us into. i look forward to reading your blog in the future and hope to be in touch with you. I am very impressed with your knowledge and interest in finance and would love to help you find a job in finance someday if that is something that you would like to pursue.
All the best,
Nick
March 5, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Thank you, Maurice, for sharing your compassion and selflessness with others. It is truly amazing to read your words and see, without doubt, the massive transformation you’ve undergone.
I have one of your national championship jerseys hanging in my closet but stopped wearing it when things started looking bleak for you. I didn’t get rid of it because I looked forward to the day when #13 would make a change, become proud of who he is, and by determination and affirmation, do battle with your demons and emerge victorious.
I found your blog for the first time tonight. I’m glad I did because now I see that my hope for you was not a wasted dream or wishful thinking! God bless you for what you’ve come through! God bless you for who you have become! And God bless you for what you will yet accomplish!
“How Firm Thy Friendships, O-HI-O!”
~ Stormspotters
March 5, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Maurice…I stumbled upon your site from Hawkeyenation.com. Yes I am a Hawk fan, but I was loudly cheering your NC win and wincing at the sight of your injury.
I must say I am glad I have stumbled upon your site. I look forward to your writings and I will be checking back. A little ensight on me…I am a step-father of a 10 yr. old mulatto son whose father is incarcerated for minimum of 18 yrs, maximum of 25. His son is hurting in ways that I cannot explain. I have looked for answers for him in many places, in books, in conversation, in my heart and mind. I haven’t found good answers for him or his hurt. I try to my best ability, but his hurt is conveyed in anger and resentment. I fear that he his leading himself down paths that aren’t going to help him in the future. I’m worried about fearing this when he is only 10. He has many tough years ahead of himself and I hope and pray I can guide him to my best ability.
Anyway, nice finding this site. Glad to hear of your positivity. Feel free to write me if you have any advice, if you have time.
DJ
March 5, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I found your blog today when it was highlighted in The Lantern and I’m glad to hear about you because I often think about you and how you are doing. When you were in court and your newborn child was there my heart broke at the situation and I’m so glad you are all doing okay. Keep blogging & good luck.
March 5, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Brother, I just wanted to offer my respect and admiration for the progress you have made in your life. I am not in prison literally, but have come to understand self-imprisonment that comes both through ignorance and poor choices, as well as through experiencing life in America as a Diasporic African (or black man).
I am truly touched by your reaching out to the young brother you mentioned in your earlier blog. I am in awe and draw strength from the courage and self-reflection it took to reach out to him.
Though not similar on the surface, I can recognize similarities in our circumstances. I live in St. Louis, Missouri. I didn’t grow up rich, but having both parents at home I was given a solid foundation for growth. I had my runs in the streets here and there, but by no means was I a gangster. I was blessed with natural intelligence, but used it to get into (and out of) trouble far more than for self-reflection and improvement. After getting kicked out of my first highschool (Normandy – notoriously bad) for carrying a gun to school, I was blessed to have the opportunity to go to Cardinal Ritter (a black Catholic high school in St. Louis). After that, I went to Mizzou.
As far back as I remember I’ve always had a sense of pride in our people, heritage and culture – though I hadn’t appreciated this pride nor always expressed it in my daily living. While at Mizzou on a full academic scholarship, I spent most of my time drinking, smoking, and partying – while hypocritically “leading” the black student body politically. I was president of the Big 12 Council on Black Student Government while being on academic probation at the same time. It was like that for me – as I know you can relate – simultaneous highs and lows – so while I was popular and smart, I was also cocky – never attending class, chasing females, etc. I would be on academic probation one semester, then be on the Dean’s list next semester only because I did what I needed to do, when I needed to do it – but never what I COULD do. Having lost an ex-girlfriend while at Mizzou (she was strangled by her then-boyfriend, who has never been prosecuted for it), and a mentor (who kept his homosexuality from all of us until he was also murdered while at home in Kansas City), I realize just how much more I could have done and want to do.
Right now, I am living in the “inner city” of St. Louis – the hood, to keep it simple, been here for about a year and a half. However, I didn’t grow up in the part of town, and my brother is a police officer – he too used to living in the same building I currently live in – so I’m kind of an outcast to some degree in “tha hood” – brothers out in the streets don’t bother me, rather they avoid me like the plague – I assume partly out of fear of getting caught up with the police, and partly out of respect for the way I handle myself. I speak, but few speak back. I began to resolve within myself that this is just how its going to be.
But the ancestors won’t let me rest – I know I have been called to lead, but up to this point have been unable to adequately lay out what it is I am supposed to do – which is why your blog has touched me so much. Just like you, I walk by brothers and sisters out here in the streets everyday, knowing they need guidance and can use my help. Like you, I’ve chalked my inactivity up to lack of time, or have just written people off as not being capable of understanding. I am ashamed to even say these things, but it is the truth. I’ve wanted to help – I’ve always wanted to help, but allowed fear, self-indulgence and a sense of entitlement (coming from gaining enlightenment and insight that, because I attained it early in life has been hindered by immaturity) to prevent me from doing the will of our ancestors.
So your story of reaching out to the brother, under the circumstances you are in and where you are, was truly inspirational to me. I am thankful for having read your blog, and appreciative of your reading this long-winded comment. I thank you for your growth, your refusal to allow others to define you, and the strength it gives others like my self to step outside my own cell (symbolically or literally), and talk to that brother on the block – be it the literal prison block or the mental prison block known as the streets.
March 5, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Maurice,
Good luck to you in your efforts. I hope you find peace and happiness.
Russ (U of Michigan 1973)
March 5, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Since I have come across your site, I have been inspired to pull myself out of the moral and spiritual stagnation that has gone on for too long in my life. Though our life’s paths may be different by circumstance and events, I find the thought process you describe to be relevant and inspiring. Thank you and God bless.
March 5, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Maurice I am sure your blog is going to be viewed by many more people as yahoo has written about it. I think that is great. Their are only very few people that have God given talent like you do and it is obvious that your talents extend beyond the football field. Keep living the truth and your words will not only help you grow as a man they will help others. God Bless
Matty
March 5, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Maurice,
Wishing you the best! I honestly believe that if you put your heart and mind to it, a return to playing football is in your future!
Michael Smith
March 5, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Along with you, My thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of those lost at sea….
March 5, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Hey, keep up heart. People are reading this blog – it was put up on Yahoo! News, right on the front page, you’re going to have tons of readers.
And I really like the insights that you write – very sharp, acute, accurate and perceptive. More people need to read this.
God bless.
March 6, 2009 at 12:34 am
Hey! I actually stumbled upon here, and I must say, your posts are very deep. That last paragraph really, really touched me. I’m here complaining, doing nothing really at home besides school work, and yet I often whine of how hard it is to put in an hour or so of studying books. It really is a gift to be here in the U.S. I’ll be looking forward to your next post.
-Blessings from California
March 6, 2009 at 3:59 am
Dear Maurice,
I found your blog after reading a rivals.com article this morning. I was happy to see a renewed and thoughtful Maurice. At a time when life is growing tougher for people around the world, it was nice to be reminded that my problems are not the only problems around, because it is easy to forget that fact when the world seems to be on your shoulders. As a Buckeye fan, I know your story and followed it closely, and wanted to let you know that we all have our moments frozen by time. Just making sure that we are remembered for our good deeds might be life’s biggest challenge, and I think you are on the right path. Thanks for the memories and look forward to hearing about your future successes.
March 6, 2009 at 6:50 am
Inside Maurice is a good heart…
March 6, 2009 at 8:10 am
Maurice, I must first state you were one hell of a running back. You took advantage of your skills and became a superstar. Myself, I was a baseball player at University of Nebraska in the early 90′s. I also had great gifts but decided not to apply myself in school and become consumed with alcohol. It is very simple to state…I blew my opportunities! It took me until the age of 36 to quit alcohol and drugs and my life is Clean. I have a great wife and family. Finacially, we are struggling, however that is OK because we live an honest and clean life. Even now I live through mistakes I made when I was your age. Guilt, defeat, sadness, anger, confusion, and remorse are all feelings I have for past transgressions. They are still there and I handle them and continue to hope for the best. Always remember that you are a good person and a great athlete! No matter what happens you must make the most of your abilities and not get hung up on “what could have been”. Maurice, I really hope you come through this an even better person! You will mend the mental anguish through time…Stay positive…Get through your incarseration safe and quiet…Just make positive decisions about you life.
Best Regards…John E O
March 6, 2009 at 8:20 am
Couldn’t agree more. I just can’t imagine the heartache from loosing one of my kids. All parents worlwide share the same idea.
March 6, 2009 at 8:41 am
yes im an ohio state fan and im a fan of you now because your a great person and i just hope you continute to make better decisions and i firmly believe you will
March 6, 2009 at 8:43 am
God bless you Maurice Clarett. I hope those same people cheering you nonstop, are praying for you now that the cheering has stopped. I know personally what it feels like to have hit rock bottom. Stay strong and focused. Keep God first! You can and will succeed. I’m always just an email away. If you ever need anything, please have your family contact me. I’m not a freak, nor a crazy religious dude. I’m just a 40 year-old brutha that has traveled down a similar path. God Bless!
March 6, 2009 at 8:55 am
My only comment is this In the bible the quote is this” Come to me. all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
March 6, 2009 at 8:56 am
Maurice
I am humbled by your words. You have found inner strenght that is un-imaginabe and courageous given your situation. You have a bright future in the years ahead of you. Keep the faith, and good things will come your way.
Jack from California
March 6, 2009 at 9:10 am
Maurice,
I just found out about this blog and wanted to say I appreciate your approach to what you are writing (and this is coming from a real cynic). Unrelated to the current blog I wanted to respond to your new found interest in reading and suggest a couple titles I think are good reads. If you appreciate being able to read books by people on both sides of spectrum, the right and wrong, good and “evil” I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to flip through Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto but it is fascinating how much it coincides with the direction the U.S. may or may not be going in. Also, on a lighter note, if you can get your hands on a copy of Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” which was probably written a couple hundred years ago. None the less it is an amusing collection of tales told by several people from different walks of life while they sit around a camp fire, a lot of it is humorous, a lot of the tales have to deal w/ humility and what we can learn from it as people.
I’m a Youngstown boy myself. I was pissed off to see you go from a hero for Buckeyes fans across the land and to see how far out of control it got. It seems like this is your redemption and I wish you the best.
March 6, 2009 at 9:43 am
Great blog. Everyone should kep things is perspective. There are those without jobs and/or home in foreclosure. Most should thank God for their health and strength.
March 6, 2009 at 9:46 am
Dear Mo,
I am happy this blog was brought to my attention. Since the first days of your trouble I have had hope for you. I am a buckey fan – but not one of those crazy ones, I use to be. I have found that there are more important things in life than Ohio State Football – I can see you also have found that as well.
You are an incredibly blessed man. Your speed, size and strength is amazing. You are still young. There were those that picked on you. There were those that made you the punch line of jokes. My feeling is this – you are like family. Once in the family you are always in – kind of like with God. Once in you are always in. That is family. Through the good and bad.
I never wished you ill will or bad outcome. I am hoping and praying that you can still use that talent God has given you. It will be hard work – but YOU ARE NO STRANGER TO HARD WORK. I am an athelet so I know in part what it takes to be where you were. You were gifted with abilities that you worked hard, hard and harder upon. You made it out of high school early, you were in college early and training even harder. You know about hard work and you also know about how hard work pays off.
Seed time and harvest time Mo. The seed is planted, wait a while and it can be harvested. Hard work then harvest.
I have read only bits and parts of your entries. IN my excitement I just wanted to write you hoping that you would have this read to you. What I did read was very positive. I can see a young man who has grown. I too have been through hard times. I too have been blessed greatly – just like you – but in other areas. I too fell a LONG LONG LONG way. But by God’s grace He took a broken and humbled – very very humbled me – and is building me up. I have nothing to boast of but the work He has done in me.
God bless you Mo. We have never met. I hope someday we can. Honestly, I think I could be a help to you. As iron sharpens iron so can friendships sharpen each other. I have faith that you have inside you what you need to make a positive influence in this life.
Above all, remember this – God has a purpose for your life Mo. Psalm 57:2. He has a specific purpose for you bro.
God bless you
matthew pittman
columbus, ohio
March 6, 2009 at 10:36 am
Maurice,
I just found out about this blog and have spent the last 3 hours reading some of your posts. Let me begin by saying I have been a huge Buckeye fan since Woody’s last season and remember like it was yesterday the day I read a story about you signing your letter of intent to tOSU! I couldn’t have been more excited to see the Buckeyes landing a big, fast, quick-footed RB to fill in where Eddie George left off. I honestly pictured you winning a Heisman (or 2)!!! It was a joy to watch you run over, around and through people! I followed you that season (figuratlively) all the way to Tempe and cried like a baby, as I’m sure most other Buckeye fans did, when Cie Grant pounded Dorsey on that 4th down play.
So it was with a great deal of sadness that I followed your downfall after that glorious ’02-’03 season. Never in all my years of following sports had I witnessed such a huge waste of pure talent. Tony Mandarich, Todd Marinovich and Brian Bosworth are few names that come to mind. I guess because this situation affected my beloved Buckeyes is why it hurt so much.
Today, after reading this blog, it overjoys me to see, at least from my perspective, how much you have grown. Taking responsibility for ones actions and then growing from them is one of life’s hardest lessons. I’ve done my share of stupid things, one of which almost cost me my marriage and children (still not out of the woods yet). But I too have grown a great deal over the past few years and reading your words about love, appreciation of others and distancing yourself from negative energy will most definitely help me in becoming the better person I’m striving to be.
So, keep up the good work, keep putting out the positive vibe, and I hope to hear about you in a better light when you finish your time in Toledo.
In the meantime, Go Bucks!!!
March 6, 2009 at 10:54 am
I am proud of you Maurice. Stay Strong -
March 6, 2009 at 11:10 am
Maurice,
I never expected to hear such words of wisdom from you. You have really grown as a person. My fiance whome I have a daughter with recently left me for another man. I have been consumed in self pity but you have really put things in perspective. If you can be this upbeat and positive about life after what you have gone threw and lost why can’t I.
Thank you and God bless, I will pray for you that you may continue on this path of rightousness.
March 6, 2009 at 11:17 am
front page of yahoo today
March 6, 2009 at 11:46 am
Very nice work Maurice. You’re an inspiration to the inner cities across the U.S. Please continue to give direction and guidance to the younger crowd.
God Bless and we look forward on welcoming you back dawg.
Dr. Hoopz
-read an article on Yahoo! that referenced your site-
March 6, 2009 at 11:57 am
Maurice,
I have to say first and foremost God Bless! You are in a situation that I have no knowledge on except the stories that I have heard from family members, t.v., and movies. I admire the fact that you have chosen to continue to educate yourself despite your current prison term. I encourage you to stay prayerful and always positive. Your words have encouraged me to change things about myself. I have followed your story and I honestly thought you were another athlete who didn’t care about the consequences of your actions because of your talent. I was younger then and didn’t really care about looking into the whole situation of why you may have put yourself in these situations. I feel like athletes are always scrutinized by the public when they do something wrong. It seems like no one is there to lend them a helping hand when they are down. I thought humanity was helping one another. Thats how I feel. Anyway, I am glad I read your blog and I will continue to read it daily. I was wondering if you ever had any free time if you could write a letter to my friend Pete. He is my best friend and currently suffering from meningitis along with depression because he cannot work to support his family of 5 and he is only 31. He is currently in a hospital in Bakersfield California about to have emergency surgery on a shunt in his head that has failed for the third time. Things are looking bleak. I pray everyday for him. I think words of encouragement and support could only help at this point. I thank you in advance whether you can or cannot reply to this message. my email address is sgvp08@yahoo.com. Thank you for your time Maurice, I will keep you in my prayers. Be safe and God Bless! God’s Love is stronger than any linebacker you have ever encountered on the football field!! He has a plan for your life.
March 6, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Maurice,
I found out about this blog from a Buckeye Alumni post on LinkedIn. I saw much promise in you your freshman year and still have and wear your jersey number on game days. I’m happy to see that my instincts then are being proved out now. Keep the faith man. Everyone makes mistakes and the trick is to learn from them and become a better man.
SD
Buckeye Alum Class of ’77
March 6, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Great blog! Keep sharing your thoughts. You will pull through this!
March 6, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Maurice – much love man from florida….happy to have found your blog…(news update on rotoworld.com) always been a huge fan….let me know if there is anything you need – no homo
March 6, 2009 at 1:03 pm
mo c, You are taking us on one hell of a ride. I was a fan, not a fan and now I’m very much a fan again. You are still young enough to have a positive and productive life and maybe be more effective without without football.I wish you and your family all the best.
March 6, 2009 at 2:10 pm
1st, i would like to thank you for this blog! I think it’s an awesome way to pay it forward & get your message out!
you have an amazing gift in your writing, please continue to blog so that people may learn!
The entry above was the 1st one i’ve read & i’ve put you in my blogroll so i won’t miss any posts at all!
YOU are completely right, we do need to stop & think every now & again!
March 6, 2009 at 6:38 pm
I’M HAPPY TO HEAR A YOUNG AA MALE COMING TO GRIPS WITH LIFE AND UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR IN THIS WORLD WITH ONLY FAM. i HOPE TO WATCH YOU RUN THE BALL AGAIN OR BE A GOOD ADVISOR TO YOUTH. I WISH YOU LUCK IN LIFE AS 2PAC ONCE SAID “KEEP YA HEAD UP” AND I SEE YOUR DOING THAT.
March 6, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Well Maurice, I too feel for the families of the victims. I hope you too realize that you are lucky to be alive and in good spirits. This is my first time reading any of your posts, and I am truly glad that you have taken this route. Hope to keep in touch with ya and help ya in any way.
March 6, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Dear Maurice,
Just found out that you had this blog up – I am Megan Hall’s father she graduated a year behind you at WGH. I want you to know it is really encouraging to read your thoughts and see the level of maturity and humility they convey. May God bless you and your family.
Mark
March 7, 2009 at 5:45 am
I was born and raised in southeast ohio, am a big BUCKEYE and fan of yours. i still considered you an all time great buckeye, even when all your troubles happened. i’ve been reading your blog daily since espn ran a story on espn.com the other day. your post have been very enjoyable and informative to read. the keeping it in perspective post is my favorite and is something i have also discoverd though through hardships of a different narture. i shared it with a friend of mine who works at TEXAS A&M and he agrees with you 100%. he has been reading your blog also and like me wishes you nothing but the best in the future. looking forward to reading your blog everyday. keep up the good work
April 9, 2009 at 9:39 am
i feel what you sayn Reese and this is a side ov my Big homie i aint never seen b4 even when we ran summer track for the Jags but keep ya head up… errday is a different task to tackle just remember what Coach Melvin woulda said…..”its all about how u finish the race that matters most” so keep runnin pimpin lol and F*UCK wut errbody else yakkin bout Youngstown is still behind you 10 thousand% we got the FREE CLARETT stickers posted up errwhere holla at me when u get y7a wings back homie its ya boy Malc Floyd!!! R.I.P Q.P