Marinovich Issues Public Denial
Quarterback Todd Marinovich returned to the Los Angeles Avengers on Thursday for the first time since being arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.
After the team’s two-hour practice at their West Los Angeles College facility, Marinovich, who is scheduled to be arraigned May 16, gave a brief denial to the accusation he forced himself on a 19-year-old woman at his apartment on Tuesday.
“My attorney has advised me not to comment,” Marinovich said. “But my gut feeling tells me I must respond to the accusation that I did it. Absolutely not is my answer. And anyone who knows me knows this [accusation] couldn’t be further from the truth.
“That’s all I have to say.”
Avenger Coach Stan Brock and the players reiterated Thursday that the incident has not been a distraction as they prepare for Monday’s game against the Oklahoma Wranglers, nor would they let it become one.
“There’s no doubt that this is very serious,” Brock said. “We don’t downplay the allegations at all. All I know is once we walk into our [facility] we can’t have it be a distraction. We have to stay focused on what we have to do and why we’re all here.”
Owner Casey Wasserman said Thursday that the allegation has not affected ticket sales. “I’ve gotten one e-mail asking why Todd was still being allowed to practice, but that’s it,” he said. He did admit to being irritated by those who have tried to draw a correlation to the team’s early titillating billboard ad campaign.
“There’s nothing about our ad campaign that implies our team accepts that kind of behavior,” he said.
Wasserman added that Marinovich, who has had previous troubles with the law, did not have written clauses regarding behavior that would enable the Avengers to take any action now if they so desired. “Todd signed the regular league contract,” Wasserman said.
Arena officials are hoping the Marinovich situation does not become the second serious sexual misconduct problem to hit the league this season. On April 13, Iowa Barnstormer linebacker Basil Proctor pleaded guilty to sexual battery on a 15-year-old emotionally disturbed girl in Florida and must serve an eight-month jail sentence after the season.
Proctor has been suspended (with pay) from the Barnstormers, and league officials say there could be a permanent decision regarding his future next week.
“The two incidents are unrelated,” Arena Commissioner David Baker said Thursday.
In other news, the Avengers released rookie lineman Cedric Jefferson. They also activated defensive specialist Ken Haslip, the first player signed by the expansion franchise. Haslip had been unable to play while a contract dispute with the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos was settled.