ESPN's 'Outside The Lines' chronicles Richard Jensen's comeback
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by ESPN.com
Richard Jensen wasn't a great wrestler in high school -- not even the best on his team -- but his underdog mentality pushed him to earn a scholarship to wrestle in college.
However Jensen chose fishing boats in Alaska over schoolbooks in college. He chose a lifestyle which included drugs and alcohol, instead of a wrestler's life that preached teamwork and discipline. And once Jensen chose to try methamphetamine, he succumbed to 15 years of drug addiction. Methamphetamine addiction led him to a life of crime and more than six years of jail time in three different states.
Jensen was left with no fight in his soul or family support at his side. But one desperate phone call changed all of that. A tragedy sparked a turnaround and Jensen decided to not only to end his addiction, but get a grip on life.
It was time for Jensen to go back to school and face another new set of enormous odds: a return to the wrestling mat after a 17-year layoff. "Outside the Lines" (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET) explores Jensen's journey and his extraordinary comeback.
However Jensen chose fishing boats in Alaska over schoolbooks in college. He chose a lifestyle which included drugs and alcohol, instead of a wrestler's life that preached teamwork and discipline. And once Jensen chose to try methamphetamine, he succumbed to 15 years of drug addiction. Methamphetamine addiction led him to a life of crime and more than six years of jail time in three different states.
Jensen was left with no fight in his soul or family support at his side. But one desperate phone call changed all of that. A tragedy sparked a turnaround and Jensen decided to not only to end his addiction, but get a grip on life.
It was time for Jensen to go back to school and face another new set of enormous odds: a return to the wrestling mat after a 17-year layoff. "Outside the Lines" (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET) explores Jensen's journey and his extraordinary comeback.
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