Todd Marinovich, former quarterback in the NFL, opens up in his new book “Marinovich: Outside the Lines in Football, Art and Addiction,” which is co-written by Lizzy Wright.
The timing was just right for Marinovich to share his story.
“Every year the Raiders have a reunion and I ran into Lizzy's husband Steve, who played offensive line when I played with the Raiders,” he told KNX News’ Margaret Carrero. “And he had just got done with the experience of writing a book and with Lizzy's help, and he said, ‘why don't you do it?’”
From there, Wright and Marinovich dove right into telling his story. Marinovich explained how he just moved to Hawaii at the time and was in a good place.
“Well, I really feel so lucky because Todd was willing to really go deep on this project. And that really shows on the pages and as a writer, to get someone willing to go that deep is pretty remarkable,” Wright expressed.
When writing this book together, Wright and Marinovich already had a foundation of trust through Wright’s husband.
“I was very lucky that, you know, the fact that Todd and Steve Wright, my husband, their relationship goes back so far. I think it, you know, this idea of once a raider, always a raider. In the Raider family, you know, Todd treated me like an insider, which, I think, is such an advantage as a writer,” she said.
Marinovich noted how he probably wouldn’t have been so open if he were writing a book with someone he didn’t completely trust.
And the writing process was very cathartic.
“It was a long time coming. I had been, you know, in recovery, I visit some uncomfortable places and, you know, getting to share that with Lizzie and knowing her heart and she just did a masterful job. I couldn't be happier,” he said.
It was important to Marinovich to not point the finger at his dad. He felt his dad had been misrepresented in the role he played in his life. Marinovich saw the book as an opportunity to set the record straight in regards to his father.
“One of the special things about that relationship is just the arc of their relationship, which we really detail in the book, in terms of going all the way, you know, through childhood to a very different experience towards the end,” Wright said.
She expressed how remarkable it is Marinovich was able to have the journey from childhood and the rigorous training to doing art with his father later in life.
“There were some seriously hard moments throughout that with him having dementia and it was a struggle, and I'm just so grateful that I did show up for that because there were some moments that were just, like I said, priceless,” Marinovich explained.
He compared creating art to athletics.
“Time is nonexistent, and I absolutely am super grateful that I have this gift where I can let go and find places like that,” he said.
Marinovich doesn’t miss playing football at all. However, his son does play high school football.
“It's super cool to see him have his own experience with the game, cause I had mine and his is gonna be completely different, and he's enjoying himself and, and getting to feel what it's like to be on a team, which I think is really important for our youth,” he said.
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The feedback Wright and Marinovich have gotten so far has been remarkable, Wright said. They've received letters from people who are struggling, coaches, parents, and young athletes.
“It's really touching a pretty wide swath in all different ways from, and that's why we talk about football, art, and addiction, because those are, you know, uniquely different,” she said.
Marinovich said he hopes his story can connect with at least one person.
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