Ray Lewis HOF GOAT

[DreamKid]

It would feel wrong to not have this thread. Ray Lewis is going into the Hall of Fame, first ballot of course, and even that doesn't seem like a big enough honor. He's going in with Urlacher and though they played the same position the disparity between the two's greatness beckons for another higher tiered Hall to be created. Which would still feel like a form of sacrilege to the game. Ray was the perfect football player. Athleticism, leadership, instincts, intelligence, drive, passion, commitment, durability, longevity, loyalty, bravery, violence, indomitability, accountability, and above all else hunger.

Ray was the sun that gave this franchise life, as well as sustained it. From the moment he got here he established a culture and gave a newborn franchise a lore it took some clubs decades upon decades to imprint, and one others are still trying to obtain. We all saw it. We all saw Ray breathe energy, passion, confidence, and hope into teams and players that never should've been arrogant enough to have it. He made everyone around him better, and convinced them they were a step away from glory every single play. For all the players we hear that about, Ray's the one where it's real and the praise still isn't enough.

Even if we were hyper aware of what Ray brought to the team, and many of the fans are. Still, we're humbled every time we watch our defense go out and play. We watch great defensive performances and always know there's another level. There's another level to everything we're seeing. Ray Lewis redefined what it means to be a leader in sports. Nothing could shut Ray down, play in and play out for 17 years. His feel for the game surpassed any other player in history, he knew what kind of motivation and leadership was required for every moment and every varying situation.

If you asked the most brilliant minds to ever grace the game, "Who would you pick, one player, to start a franchise with"?.......It would be a whole lotta QBs and....Ray Lewis. His greatness as an individual player and also a leader is enough to trump the necessity of sport's most valuable position. Ray is stand alone, with other great players there's asterisks for coordinators, coaches, situations, not him though...not Ray Lewis.

As a linebacker he is the Greatest of All Time at his position, as a defender he is the Greatest Defensive player of All Time, and as football player he is the Greatest of All Time out of every player to ever play the game. Ray Lewis is the greatness of football at it's purest form and the story of this game can never be told free of his own. What he tethered to this Franchise at it's birth will never fade, the call to greatness will always be here, the call to force your will upon doubt will always be here, the call to give every last part of yourself to something incredible will always be here, and above all the call to play like a Raven will always be here. The call to play like The Raven, Ray Lewis.

 

[showtime]

This is freaking awesome.  Two of the greatest to ever play the game.

 

[baltimoreRebel]

This may rub some the wrong way but some may agree. I've loved Ray for a long time, he was our greatest Raven. There will never be another Ray Lewis, that goes without saying. 

Now the harsh part. I felt semi embarrassed during HOF week. I'm not a super religious guy, although my wife is. I'm not trying to make this about religion in the least. I just don't like when he's presented a question about his past, he automatically says something along the lines of "God has a plan" or "God doesn't give bad people good things" it rubbed me the wrong way when he was asked about the trial in an interview. Im not one of these people who think Ray did it, that's foolish. I believe he was an accessory to the fact though. 

I believe Ray turned his life around after the incident though, that's for sure and I don't doubt it. I wish he would just be more open about his mistakes and not try to absolve himself of wrongdoing through his religious beliefs.

I look forward to next year when Reed goes in. No asterisks, no issues. Just a pure baller who's a hell of a guy. 

I'm just curious is anyone sort of felt the same? I felt the speech was over the top as well. Great message but I wish he could've just stood at the podium like everyone else. Seemed a little self serving. Again, I know it sounds like I don't like the guy. I do! I just wish he wasnt so extra. 

[Danand]

I wonder if this gets shut down.

Anyways, I am from Denmark and as most of the nordics around here, I am not a religious person. The religious part of NFL (as well as the relations to the UN defense/army) is something which actually rub us the wrong way as it is very very far from what we believe in and our values.

Maybe some of you feel the same way about our socialism - maybe those two things can be compared.

Ray Lewis is in many ways the symbol and front person when it comes to nordics dislike for the religious part of the NFL. His history as you mentioned is a part of this, and he end up looking like a bit of a hypocrite.

That takes nothing from Lewis performance and career and ability to lead and motivate, but to answer your question: Nordics very much felt the same way you did when watching/listening to his speech and religious approach in general.

[berlin calling]

an icon as a player, a blessing to the city of Baltimore, yet seems totally over the top if he actually means the things he's constantly giving out in TV / media.

i agree to what was said above.
religion is personal believe and a freedom of choice in modern society and should be kept privately. no need to make everything about religion or try and connect everything to whoever-you-believe-in.

i am not so sure i'd still want him coaching my team, as i was absolutely in favour of the idea of him joining the Ravens coaching staff. that was for his unmatched ability to motivate and lead, i'd rather have him as far away from "my team" as possible now that i've learned more about his personal believes through his media presence.

[DreamKid]

Ray's beliefs aren't any different than many of the players in this league. He's just an over the top guy, and that aspect of him bleeds into every interest and thought he has. Also like many other players in the league, he just isn't very bright. He isn't going to be able to articulate something in a way that doesn't come out a bit wacky. Ray is oddly enough just being honest. He came from severe poverty and familial dysfunction, and like many other people with that background in and out of the league, considers his faith a guiding force that has helped him navigate a tumultuous life. 

As far as Ray's crimes go, I really don't think he did anything bad. Being present for a routine club scrap that results in a few stabbings is pretty tame by league crime standards. He was only charged with murder so that they could get him to cooperate. Which he did and then it was all over. I think he's acknowledged the proper level of fault. Nothing to see here. 

Look with Ray there's a simple rule to follow- Ravens and Football, Good. Outside of that, Meh or Mute.

I don't think he's fit to be a coach but it would be great to have him come on as a special defensive expert or something. The team could use his motivation, especially the defense. He won't be interested in that though, and it's a hard sell for many coaches in this game to allow something like that. 

[baltimoreRebel]

Just want to say I really appreciate the replies in this thread. I sort of put my real personal opinion out there and wasn't sure how it would be received or understood in the manner I had meant. 

Breath of fresh air to have mature and articulate replies. Appreciate it. 

[diamondbull424]

On 8/14/2018 at 9:41 AM, baltimoreRebel said:

This may rub some the wrong way but some may agree. I've loved Ray for a long time, he was our greatest Raven. There will never be another Ray Lewis, that goes without saying. 

Now the harsh part. I felt semi embarrassed during HOF week. I'm not a super religious guy, although my wife is. I'm not trying to make this about religion in the least. I just don't like when he's presented a question about his past, he automatically says something along the lines of "God has a plan" or "God doesn't give bad people good things" it rubbed me the wrong way when he was asked about the trial in an interview. Im not one of these people who think Ray did it, that's foolish. I believe he was an accessory to the fact though. 

I believe Ray turned his life around after the incident though, that's for sure and I don't doubt it. I wish he would just be more open about his mistakes and not try to absolve himself of wrongdoing through his religious beliefs.

I look forward to next year when Reed goes in. No asterisks, no issues. Just a pure baller who's a hell of a guy. 

I'm just curious is anyone sort of felt the same? I felt the speech was over the top as well. Great message but I wish he could've just stood at the podium like everyone else. Seemed a little self serving. Again, I know it sounds like I don't like the guy. I do! I just wish he wasnt so extra. 

Disagree. The reason he’s so extra is the exact reason why the Ravens have some kind of an identity while teams that have been around for 50+ years still haven’t found one.

Ray being over the top gives confidence to those people that lack it to feel as though they have it. His energy migrates into the being of others to empower them.

The other part I’m not religious, but I still disagree with. No benefit befalls him by opening himself back up to the court of public opinion. Best case is people saying “good to know” whereas worst case is the media once again dragging him into the mud. Religion has historically been useful for covering up against tough questions and thus I have no issue with him using it for the same purpose... especially since he seems to actually genuinely be a believer and religion has helped to guide his life onto a better path. I’m sure in private he’s much more forthcoming to the people who need that part of his story.

What’s more IIRC he has told that part of his story in the past when doing motivational speeches and certain news coverings back in the day.