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For some, it had been a long time coming.
In August, USC head football coach Steve Sarkisian appeared intoxicated at a pre-season event in August but, blamed his drinking problem on a medication.
And it has recently emerged that he had a history of drinking around his former players at University of Washington and various booster events while coaching there.
Come Monday, Sarkisian was fired, after he appeared intoxicated at Sunday’s team meeting.
“After careful consideration of what is in the best interest of the university and our student-athletes, I have made the decision to terminate Steve Sarkisian, effective immediately,” USC athletic director Pat Haden said in a statement.
“I want to thank Clay Helton for stepping into the interim head coach role, and I want to add how proud I am of our coaching staff and players and the way they are responding to this difficult situation. Through all of this, we remain concerned for Steve and hope that it will give him the opportunity to focus on his personal well-being.”
Dr. Damon Raskin, M.D. — a nationally recognized doctor specializing in addiction at Cliffside Malibu treatment center in Los Angeles — believes that Sarkisian’s firing might very well be the best thing for him in the long-term, healthwise.
Says Dr. Raskin, “Alcoholism has always been an equal opportunity disease affecting every socioeconomic strata of our society. Coach Sarkisian clearly needs help, and hopefully he will get the proper treatment he needs to face his issues. Too often I have seen how alcoholism can devastate talented professionals and bring chaotic endings to promising careers. With the right treatment, he can get back on track and act, as a good example to those suffering from similar conditions.”
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Cliffside Malibu is internationally known for treating Hollywood celebrities professional athletes and other high-profile figures. As an expert in addiction and its treatment, Dr. Raskin has been appeared widely in major media including ABC “Good Morning America,” NBC “Today,” ABC “Nightline,” Fox, E.T., The Insider, KTLA, U.S. News & World Report, Yahoo! News and The Huffington Post.
