By Pete Barrett, The Baltimore Sun
Maurice Clarett took the microphone and worked his way down the stairs on the left side of the stage of the Frederick Douglass auditorium. He wasn't going to put himself on a pedestal, he was going to tell his story about hitting rock bottom, from the ground floor.
Wearing a gray suit, Clarett — in a low, raspy voice — told 69 football players from Baltimore high schools that three and a half weeks after his now-fiancee, Ashley Evans gave birth to his daughter, he was arrested, and subsequently served three and a half years in jail.
Clarett blames his downfall on hanging out with the wrong people. As he travels the country, from his hometown Youngstown, Ohio, to Los Angeles, Houston, New Jersey, New York City and Baltimore to tell his story and inspire young inner-city student-athletes, Clarett spits a signature phrase: "Show me your friends, and I'll show you your future."
As part of an NFL Player Engagement and Family League of Baltimore pilot program, speakers such as Clarett are brought to Frederick Douglass. The program, called 1st and Goal, also placed a tutor at Douglass — Michelle Harper — to focus on academic and career development for student-athletes.
Clarett made clear on Saturday that success need not be confined to becoming a professional athlete.
Read full article here