Q&A With Marinovich Author Lizzy Wright

In Marinovich: Outside the Lines in Football, Art, and Addiction Lizzy Wright dives deep into the life of her subject and co-author, Todd Marinovich, the ultra-talented but troubled quarterback. In the 80s, Marinovich was a media sensation. His Dad, Marv, had Todd on a strict regimen as soon as he could crawl, and they essentially went viral. Lizzy took a moment to discuss Marinovich, among other fun stuff. This is Lizzy’s second book. She co-wrote her first, Aggressively Human: Discovering Humanity in the NFL, Reality TV, and Life, with her husband, Steve, an ex-NFL player. Before that, Lizzy worked in intelligence, so she has a colorful background and much to say.

STADIUM JOURNEY:

What did you know of Todd before you started working with him?

LIZZY WRIGHT:

I knew quite a bit about Todd because my husband, Steve Wright, was Todd’s teammate with the Raiders. In fact, when Todd was drafted, my husband was asked by the coaches to keep an eye on him. That, of course, proved to be an impossible task. Once Todd and I reconnected at the 2023 Raiders Reunion, we started talking about the writing process for my first sports memoir, Aggressively Human. He’d always been told that he should write a book, but now he had someone he knew and trusted to do it with him. What I didn’t know or understand: addiction. That was the most challenging part in the writing journey, as Todd still struggles. But I am incredibly proud of his honesty about his battle. It takes real courage to speak the truth, even when it’s not pretty.

STADIUM JOURNEY:

What made Todd write the book now?

LIZZY WRIGHT:

It really came down to timing. Todd had recently moved to Hawaii and was in a great headspace to reflect and share his stories. It took us 9 months of meeting weekly by phone. Most of the time, I came with specific questions about a period of his life, but sometimes we did some freewheeling just to see where it would lead. While Todd appreciated my rigor and discipline most of the time, his free spirit wanted some space to run, too. We did hit a few challenging spells when the subject matter was too difficult and painful for Todd to relive. I had to trust my instincts and adjust when I sensed he needed a break. The periods of heavier drug use and cycling in and out of rehab were examples of some difficult memories to share. That said, we committed to tackling everything, as I believe the sign of a good memoir is the humility and willingness to expose it all: the good, bad, and ugly. I firmly believe that people seek honesty and can tell when there’s purposeful misdirection or avoidance of difficult topics.

Marinovich and Wright with NFL Alumni. Photo courtesy of Lizzy Wright.

STADIUM JOURNEY:

If anything, what surprised you about football players?

LIZZY WRIGHT:

As someone who didn’t grow up with football - my high school didn’t have a team - I’d never watched the sport. By the time I made it to college, I was too focused on working my way through Harvard, so I only went to a handful of games. That all changed when I met my husband. I wanted to better understand his world, so I doubled down. The thing that fascinated me most was how the vast majority of the players are gentle giants off the field. One minute, they’d be ready to close the line, someone, and then they’d be signing autographs and kissing babies. The juxtaposition fascinated me. It’s actually what stirred me to write my first book, Aggressively Human. I wanted to understand how my husband could be a mad dog killer who started bench-clearing brawls, but also be the man who will do anything to save a hummingbird. In MARINOVICH, I had a somewhat different fascination: how could a shy, artistic kid like Todd Marinovich be an incredible team leader in the huddle? There was an unexplainable metamorphosis, an alter ego of sorts. And man, could Todd turn it on when he needed to before falling back into his more natural disposition. I see it as a real talent to lean into whatever is needed in the moment.

STADIUM JOURNEY:

What were you into as a kid? Who were your mentors? Was there a Marv in your life?

LIZZY WRIGHT:

I was focused on school and athletics. I needed sports as an outlet for a whole lot of angst. I was lucky to have a big brother who modeled how to apply my energy with discipline and focus. His guidance, along with some great coaches, kept me on the straight and narrow during my formative years. I never had someone like Marv in my life, and frankly, I’m glad. I’m not sure that kind of intensity is healthy in the early years. To be clear, I have a great deal of respect for Marv’s training methods, especially in the later years, but his early rigor was something to behold. I mention the latter years specifically because it’s hard to argue with the results. Troy Polamalu was Marv’s prize pupil, and wow, what an athlete. In many respects, Troy is one of the best I’ve ever watched. This is where it got tricky, writing in Todd’s voice versus my own. I had to park my feelings about Marv and focus exclusively on Todd’s perspective. In fact, I went so far as to cut off interviewing some family members because it was influencing my thinking. I started to actively dislike Marv and knew I was entering dangerous waters as a writer of memoirs. 

STADIUM JOURNEY:

So Harvard made the FCS playoffs this year. Let's play what if. What's life like for Todd if he turns down SC and Stanford and attends Harvard?

LIZZY WRIGHT:

I think a few minds would have been blown at Harvard if that had come to pass. But, playing it out for the sheer fun of it, Todd would have been the glory of the Ivy League. Off the field, I’m betting he would have spent his time partying at Boston College and dating girls at Wellesley. And since he’d only wear flip flops, he’d have his fair share of frostbite. All that to say, Todd made the right choice.

Marcus Allen Holds a Copy of Marinovich. Photo courtesy of Lizzy Wright.

STADIUM JOURNEY:

How did you find government intelligence work, or did it find you?

LIZZY WRIGHT:

I was recruited during my senior year at Harvard. I naively assumed that I’d do legislative affairs work on the hill for No Such Agency. Day one on the job, I got the shock of a lifetime: no hill work for me. I was to track Osama bin Laden. And this was pre-9/11. Within a few months of working at the Agency, I was assigned to the USS Cole Bombing Assessment, and everything escalated from there. So much of it feels like another lifetime as I reflect on those years. While I can’t talk or write about specifics of my assignments, I’ve found a creative way to share my experience: writing fiction. That’s how Saffron Spy, my upcoming espionage thriller, came into existence. I use the book to tease out the moral complexities and trade-offs that are made by those of us who worked in intelligence. This isn't the classic 'Bond stops a nuke and gets the girl' story. It dives deep into the underbelly of deceit, the space no one likes to talk about, where moral compromises are made daily, if not hourly. Intelligence is a tough line of work, and I want readers to grapple with some difficult questions: Do the ends justify the means? And is espionage really a necessary evil? I used my experiences to shape the story, but I want readers to question conventional thinking and hear from an insider.

STADIUM JOURNEY:

What's the status of your upcoming spy novel?

LIZZY WRIGHT:

Unlike my first two books, I invested in a developmental editor for Saffron Spy. Tiffany Yates Martin is one of the best in the business, and I know my baby is in great hands right now. If all goes to plan, I will have it out on submission very soon. I cannot wait for readers to get their hands on this one! 

To find out more, check out LizzyWright.com and follow her on social media: Facebook |Instagram |YouTube

Jon Hart is @manversusball