Marinovich Project: ESPN Documentary Shows Issues of Man Raised as a Machine

What's the harm in raising a little boy as if he were a machine? ESPN Films will answer that in The Marinovich Project, which airs on Saturday at 9 p.m. EST on ESPN.

After one college football star is crowned as the Heisman winner, a former college star's story will be told. It's an apropos decision. 

In one aspect, we will see the best of what hard work and dedication can do as one of the five best football players in the nation is given the coveted prize. 

How about the other side? How about the ugly part of work and dedication, when those things become so egregious that livelihood is called into question?

Such is the tale of Todd Marinovich, who was raised more like a collection of nuts and bolts destined to serve a purpose on the gridiron than he ever was a human filled with emotion and desires. 

You see, Marv Marinovich knew what it took to become a success on the field. He was a lineman and a captain for USC during the 1962 national championship season. He also played in the 1963 Rose Bowl. 

I can see that he wanted his little boy to grow up and experience the joy that he had. From birth, little Todd was raised like an athlete, before he could even form the words to state that he wanted such things. 

Marv served as one of the NFL's first strength-and-conditioning coaches for the Oakland Raiders. With his knowledge, Marv began Todd's training as soon as was possible, and it seemed to work as Todd lit up the high school stat lines. 

During that time, he also started to dabble in disastrous extracurriculars. The young man that wasn't allowed a Big Mac or cookie was now drinking in after-game parties and smoking marijuana. 

The delights that were forbidden were starting to become abused. Todd would go on to play college football, and he would live the dream of playing in the NFL. 

However, it was all short of what it could have been as Todd Marinovich fell into heavy drinking, cocaine use and other substance abuse. 

The things about raising a man as a machine is they are still susceptible to human problems. Nobody is indestructible, and that is the bad side of success that ESPN will highlight on Saturday night. 

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