There is a good explanation for throwing away a chance
“McCowan has no answer for why he threw away his second chance. ‘I really want to give you a reason, but there’s no good explanation.’â€
So said a Los Angeles Times report on defensive back Howard McCowan, on track in 1990 for starting position with the USC Trojans and a likely NFL draft pick, now in High Desert State Prison in California for life for committing a third strike felony offense. After spending seven years in prison for a one-night crime spree and almost completing his degree at USC afterwards, he robbed a liquor store with a handgun. He has no idea why. If the criminal justice system focused on prevention, it would have monitored him for alcohol or other drug use after the first offense. Because it didn’t, Howard McCowan gets to ask a question for which he has no answer. It’s tragic that he has to ask.