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RB Maurice Clarett (B1G Freshman of the Year, National Champion)

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TribuneChronicle

7/14/06

Clarett appears at news conference

By BRIAN LAVRICH Tribune Chronicle


BOARDMAN — The Mahoning Valley HitMen and their general manager/coach Jim Terry has said for weeks that Maurice Clarett will suit up and play this winter.

On Thursday, Terry and the HitMen answered their critics to an extent, as Clarett showed up, but many questions still remain.

‘‘This is a great opportunity for me to get back onto the football field,’’ Clarett said. ‘‘This is a step back to the NFL.

‘‘The one thing I can do is play football.’’

However, the former Warren G. Harding Raider denied signing a contract, but, when asked whether he was going to play with the HitMen, he said he’s, ‘‘One hundred percent sure‘‘.

Clarett and Terry failed to give a timetable as to when the contract might be signed.

‘‘There’s a lot to be worked out,’’ Clarett said. ‘‘It’s not that simple.’’

Neither Clarett or Terry would elaborate on what the sticking point is in contract negotiations. They did reveal that the contract would be for two years.

Clarett said he has been working out, but he’s not ‘‘in football shape.” The former Ohio State Buckeye said it will take him about 10 weeks to get into football shape. The last time Clarett played an organized game was the national championship game the Buckeyes won against the Miami Hurricanes in January 2003.

Clarett said he was in negotiations with the Mahoning Valley Thunder, Youngstown’s ArenaFootball2 team that will play in the Chevrolet Centre, but they didn’t offer enough money.

No one from the Thunder was able to comment as of press time to confirm Clarett’s claim.

Terry continued to mock the Thunder, but said it wasn’t personal.

‘‘I don’t take it seriously,’’ Terry said. ‘‘It’s not serious. Sgt. Slaughter and the Iron Sheik don’t actually hate each other.’’

Clarett was asked why he’s not trying to play in the Canadian Football League or the ArenaLeague and he said, ‘‘They didn’t contact me.’’

When asked to comment on the significance of having Clarett play for the HitMen, Terry said, ‘‘If we were the WWE, he’s our Hulk Hogan.’’

It seems Clarett understands his role with the team.

‘‘People are going to show up,’’ Clarett said. ‘‘Some people are going to want me to fail. Some are going to want me to succeed.’’

Terry, who Clarett himself compared to excitable boxing promoter Don King, tried to quiet his critics further by saying, ‘‘We have not taken $1 from this community. I’m not going anywhere.’’

However, Terry added that the HitMen have sold more than 200 season tickets.

Clarett, who said he plans on playing both offense and defense, added, ‘‘I’m changed.’’

He said his girlfriend is due to have a girl on Aug. 18 and that has made him a better man.

‘‘I’ve made a lot of mistakes as a young man,’’ Clarett said.

Terry, who called his team the Thunder three times during the press conference, added that his league, the Eastern Indoor Football League, now has: the HitMen, the Bay Shore Brawlers (Aberdeen, N.J.), the Pittsburgh Three River Rats and a yet to be named Baltimore team. He’s working on a Columbus team and the Illinois Charletons. Also, every team makes the playoffs.

He added that their will be nine games with six home games. The weird schedule is based around the Pittsburgh and Columbus teams never playing a home game. Next, he said John Guy, from Phoenix, will be the league’s commissioner.

Part of the press conference was dedicated to what Terry said is, ‘‘The three most important things of a football team: a place for your players to stay, a place for your players to eat and your equipment manager.’’

The HitMen have that all covered as the players will be staying at the Comfort Inn in Austintown where they will receive free meals. Also, the squad announced that Bob Guyan will be the team’s equipment manager. Guyan worked with Youngstown state’s staff from 1996-99 and for the Dallas Cowboys from 2000-01. He was also on Don Bucci’s staff at Cardinal Mooney in 1996.

The league will play starting in February and it will have a scrimmage with every team in the league for the media on Oct. 28.

[email protected]
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Clarett, who said he plans on playing both offense and defense, added, ‘‘I’m changed.’’

:roll2: I hope it is true but too many times have we heard that and too many changes have been handed to him to make me believe that for 1 second.
 
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Terry, who called his team the Thunder three times during the press conference, added that his league, the Eastern Indoor Football League, now has: the HitMen, the Bay Shore Brawlers (Aberdeen, N.J.), the Pittsburgh Three River Rats and a yet to be named Baltimore team. He’s working on a Columbus team and the Illinois Charletons. Also, every team makes the playoffs.
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Just what Mo needs. An coach that doesn't know the name of his team and a football league run like tee ball. Everyone wins.
 
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ABJ

7/15/06

Clarett gets shot with HitMen

By David Lee Morgan Jr.

We interrupt the newest development in Maurice Clarett's football career to bring you this monologue about him that could have been written by David Letterman:

``OK, remember former Ohio State running back and Heisman Trophy hopeful Maurice Clarett?

```He was indicted in February on two counts of aggravated robbery. He allegedly tried to rob two people with a .45-caliber gun on Jan. 1 in Columbus.

``If he's convicted, he could be sentenced up to 25 years in prison.
``In the meantime, Clarett is keeping his hopes of playing football in the pros alive.

``He held a news conference Thursday to announce he will play for an indoor professional football team called the Mahoning Valley HitMen. That's right folks, the HitMen.''

What does it tell you about the Youngstown area that a team would select the name HitMen?

Then again, Youngstown does have a reputation for being a tough town. Years ago, it was called ``Little Chicago.''

I was curious what the team mascot would look like. Some guy dressed in a black pinstriped suit, dark glasses and a toothpick in his mouth? Kind of like Joe Pesci's character in GoodFellas?

And how would the team cheer go? Something like this? ``Umm, I wouldn't do that if I was you.''

Actually, that's not too far off.

On the team's Web site, you can see the logo -- a man in a cap and overcoat carrying a weapon in one hand and a football in the other. A crawler on the site reads: ``Get Whacked Indoors.'' Web links are marked with cross hairs; clicking a link produces a gunshot.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not making light of Clarett's legal situation. I know him personally, and I know he realizes he has made big mistakes, dating to his freshman season at Ohio State in 2002.

Back then, he helped Ohio State to a 14-0 record, when the Buckeyes won the national championship. He rushed for 1,237 yards, a school record for a freshman, and scored 18 touchdowns. It turned out to be the end of a promising career.

Almost everyone knows the story of how things went bad. In 2003, the Ohio State athletic department suspended him for the season for filing a false police report claiming he had more than $10,000 worth of merchandise stolen from his car.

Clarett has fallen a long way from being on top. After Ohio State won the national championship, he frequently was seen at St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball games. The media had the impression Clarett and LeBron James were best friends. Actually, they were acquaintances, young athletes making a national name for themselves who happened to be from the same area. That's all.

As their sports career decisions played out over the years, the choices each made in his life showed his maturity -- or lack of it.

Clarett must have been thinking he could become the LeBron James of the NFL. However, Clarett received bad advice after his suspension. He tried to challenge the NFL's rule on early entry in its college player draft and lost that battle in court.

When Clarett finally was eligible for the draft, the Denver Broncos took him in the third round, a surprisingly high pick. He was cut before training camp was over.

Now, Clarett says he is going to be a ``HitMan.''

``I don't have many options left,'' he said during the news conference held at a bowling alley in Youngstown. ``It's my only option.''

Clarett hasn't signed a contract with the HitMen yet -- the team expects to begin play this winter -- and his pay will depend on the team's attendance.

Until then, he said he will be busy as he enters fatherhood.

He indicated that he will become a parent in mid-August.

``Maurice Clarett has to take a back seat to other people right now,'' he said. ``All the fun and games, they have to take a back road right now.''
Maybe Clarett has matured.

Maybe.
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Maurice Clarett is the most dominant player that I've ever seen at the HS level. That was a LONG time ago and a lot has certainly changed since then, but I really hope that he gets his life back in order. This is a step in the right direction, so hopefully he can stay on track.
 
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Dispatch

7/26/06

Clarett fires his lawyers

Ex-Buckeye without legal help 2 weeks before start of trial

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Bruce Cadwallader
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

20060726-Pc-B5-0700.jpg

Maurice Clarett faces charges from a Jan. 1 incident in which police say he used a gun to rob two people outside a bar.


Maurice Clarett fired his two Columbus defense lawyers and told them he wants to "head in a different direction."

Now, the Youngstown athlete must explain to a Franklin County judge this week why he is seeking new legal help two weeks before his trial on aggravated robbery and weapons charges. No other lawyers have come forward to say they are representing the former Ohio State running back.

Common Pleas Judge David W. Fais has set the matter for a hearing Thursday morning with attorneys William Settina and Robert Krapenc.

The privately retained attorneys filed a motion Monday saying they want to withdraw as counsel, saying Clarett, 22, is not paying their fees and not cooperating in his defense.

In a one-paragraph letter to Settina, filed with court documents, Clarett wrote off the legal team.

"I want to thank you for the work you’ve done up to this point.

Unfortunately, after much reflection and consideration of this case, I have decided to terminate our attorney-client relationship in this matter, effectively immediately," Clarett wrote on July 20.

Clarett would not comment when contacted at home yesterday. Settina declined to comment until the hearing.

Columbus police say Clarett used a gun to rob two bar patrons in an alley Jan. 1 outside the Opium Lounge, 346 S. High St. Police said he took a cell phone from one of the victims and showed them a pistol in his waistband while threatening to shoot them.
His indictment of Feb. 10 accuses him of two counts of aggravated robbery, four counts of robbery and one count of carrying a concealed weapon. He has remained free on a recognizance bond.

[email protected]
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Typical. Now that Clarett's in the big paypacket league, he's probably trying to stall so he can pile some money up before serving time, just in case! :slappy:

And Rugby, keep your attention focused on the future Mrs Rugby, not the charge of the light brigade! :biggrin:
 
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