In 1998, a middle linebacker entering his third season with the Baltimore Ravens signed a four-year contract totaling $26 million dollars, with a $7 million dollar signing bonus. This newly rich man was Ray Lewis, and this made him the highest paid linebacker in the NFL. One might say that is quite a bit of money for a young, professional athlete to handle himself.
In recent years, we have all seen cases of how other athletes act when they think they are guarded by an invincible shield of green. However, in 2000, one of them stood above all of the others. Lewis was a main suspect in a double murder case, but pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and was able to continue playing football. Now, 13 years year, he is getting ready to play the last game of his career in Super Bowl XLVII, and people still can’t seem to stop talking about Lewis’ past.
It is understandable that anyone who is aware of this entire situation and has found themselves incapable of forgiving Lewis would want to see him behind bars, banned from football or punished in some further way that would satisfy their need to see a “murderer” put away for good. Forgiveness, however is a very powerful word, and with that power, it should only be applicable to the people personally involved in this situation. Sometimes we, as outsiders, like to become too closely involved with problems that aren’t ours, especially when it comes to sports.
To be perfectly honest, what happened that night in 2000 is mostly unknown to everyone except for those directly involved, and who are we to determine that he should be hated forever? However, if there is more to the story and Lewis really did get off easy, then it is his burden to live with. So, is it finally time to move past all of the bad that happened all those years ago, and just be happy for Lewis and the fact that the last game of his career is going to be at the Super Bowl? For some, I know that is a question answered all too quickly. They will say he can never be forgiven for what he’s done, and that is the way it will remain.
That also ties in with whether or not this story should just be completely forgotten; put in the books and never brought up again. After all, how many people has he inspired to push through the wall of adversity and overcome the obstacles people face in the game of controversy? Michael Phelps told NBC news that he and Ray have become quite close throughout the last few years, saying he even helped Phelps resurrect his career.
So, how is a “murderer” capable of so much passion and positivity? Some might say it’s through religion, the way he has found serenity in life and how he has moved past a complicated situation, such as the one he got himself involved in 13 years ago. No matter what anyone believes, if you have something to live for and can use that to help others and to make yourself a better person, as well as keep yourself out of trouble, then there is at least a little bit of respect earned in that aspect.
I know that lovers of football will always find a way to hate Ray Lewis, especially fans of rival teams. However, we must remember that this man has done everything in his power to make himself a better person, as well as his life and the lives of those surrounding him. He has overcome the wall of adversity and pushed past the obstacles that life has thrown at him. I know there are probably other people out there actually worthy of the hatred that a lot of people have put in his direction.
So should we all maybe take another look at all of this and admit that at least a small part of us wants him to succeed as he prepares to take on the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII? Maybe this is a story we should root for, a story we could say had a happy ending because this man decided he was going to make his life better, no matter what ridicule and difficulty he knew he would be put through. I would say that if he can’t make anyone in the stands respect him, he sure has made the guys in the other uniforms respect him just a little bit, when he’s busy ringing their bell.
Photo Credits: US Presswire
