Is anybody else a bit uneasy with all of the positive attention Ray Lewis is getting?

[ralaw]

But I do think the incident needs to be brought up when the conversation strays from "football career" to "man of character and substance".

Its like Bill Clinton...nice president, shady character.

I agree. I don't think media people especially in sports should speak about the "goodness" of an athlete, because we really never know. However, much of the positive talk about Lewis's character centers around what he does within the game of football and not necessarily his character as a human being. I guess you could say it all blends together, but IDK.

I have learned that some people will hold something against you that you did the rest of your life regardless even if you've seemingly redeemed yourself, while others will let it go and give you the benefit of the doubt. It is all relative and based on perspective.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

My understanding of the situation is that as with most cases like this there were dozens of eye witnesses. Not just Lewis. Unfortunately none of them really lined up to much of a story. I dont think there were any witnesses saying Lewis did the actual killing. I couldn't possibly care less about obstruction of justice or lying to cover for his friends. The guys that were killed ,Lewis , and all his friends were all scum as far as Im concerned. Long as no truly innocent people were hurt oh well. Isnt Ray Lewis more of a Kato Kaelan than OJ Simpson here ?
Again this is based on vague memories , wikipedia ,and ESPN/NFLN so facts may be skewed.


I felt really uncomfortable watching my football life episode with him. While I think his turn around and faith are genuine his obvious uneasiness when he talks about the case even all these years later makes me question just wtf really happened.Somethings off I just dont know to what extent.

As for the media. Fuck em. Sports media is a joke. The fact bleacher report still gets hits should be testimony to that. I cant fathom talking about Lewis career and not bringing up how it almost didn't happen. His faith and leadership without mentioning the crime he was involved in. Just pure laziness and stupidity not to mention it. It'd be like an article about how heroic Darth Vader was for killing the emperor and forgetting to mention he killed a bunch of children.

 

[bucky]

I agree. I don't think media people especially in sports should speak about the "goodness" of an athlete, because we really never know. However, much of the positive talk about Lewis's character centers around what he does within the game of football and not necessarily his character as a human being. I guess you could say it all blends together, but IDK.

I have learned that some people will hold something against you that you did the rest of your life regardless even if you've seemingly redeemed yourself, while others will let it go and give you the benefit of the doubt. It is all relative and based on perspective.

How do you redeem yourself from being involved in Murder? That should stay with you forever. Keeping things in perspective is saying, nice he turned his life around and been a model citizen since, but he still was in some way involved in the double murder. That's keeping things in perspective. Not completely ignoring the fact of the double murder.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I think the disconnect here is that people think I want Lewis back on trial or constantly reminded about what happened in Atlanta. That's not the case. Like I said a million times, he went through our (shitty) justice system, and he's kept his nose clean since. I believe he's redeemed himself and I believe he's genuine.

Even Vick, I find what he did deplorable, disgusting, heinous. But he did his time and I would never be one of these goofs who protests and say he doesn't belong back in the NFL. He has a right to make living, you have a right to not buy a ticket.

But you can't go on and on about how great of a person Lewis is if you are either going to ignore or not bring up what happened in Atlanta, you just can't. I mean c'mon, these media types are just not being fair, and in the case of the NFL television partners, the pandering is agenda driven and transparent. Once you cross the line from football praise to talking about character, I can't take you seriously if Atlanta doesn't enter the conversation.

 

[CCBrink]

It isn't brought up because no one wants to hear about it.

 

[ralaw]

How do you redeem yourself from being involved in Murder? That should stay with you forever. Keeping things in perspective is saying, nice he turned his life around and been a model citizen since, but he still was in some way involved in the double murder. That's keeping things in perspective. Not completely ignoring the fact of the double murder.

Involved?

However, I agree it should stay with you forever........as it pertains to Lewis' legacy I've never argued that it shouldn't; however, I do believe it should be brought up in the right context. I don't see the point of bringing it up in a football discussion, but as Senser said if the topic sways into how much of a great man he is than it should be brought up.

 

[bucky]

Involved?

Yeah, involved. He either was or was not directly involved, but he was involved in obstructing. He was at least indirectly involved. I'm not saying he committed the murders.

And I agree with not having to mention this when ONLY talking in a football context. And though this should be mentioned when speaking on the mans character, all he has done since then should also be mentioned. Say all the good things you want about him, those things should be said, I'm just not going to give a free pass on the murders. That's pretty significant.

Anyway, I don't think we are disagreeing in any way. You just didn't like my use of the word "involved".

 

[Senser81]

I have learned that some people will hold something against you that you did the rest of your life regardless even if you've seemingly redeemed yourself, while others will let it go and give you the benefit of the doubt. It is all relative and based on perspective.

Yeah, I remember people who groaned me back in 2007....Kalilou, what gives?

 

[ralaw]

Yeah, involved. He either was or was not directly involved, but he was involved in obstructing. He was at least indirectly involved. I'm not saying he committed the murders.

And I agree with not having to mention this when ONLY talking in a football context. And though this should be mentioned when speaking on the mans character, all he has done since then should also be mentioned. Say all the good things you want about him, those things should be said, I'm just not going to give a free pass on the murders. That's pretty significant.

Anyway, I don't think we are disagreeing in any way. You just didn't like my use of the word "involved".

Yes, for the most part I agree with you, W2B, KOF, Senser, etc. Even as a Ravens fan I still think about the case and his “involvement” in it. I do believe he knew what happened, because it would make sense for an athlete to simply tell the truth if he wasn’t truly involved.

TBH, Lewis is the reason that I am a Ravens fan, because I followed him at Miami and I told myself where ever he went I'd be a fan of that team. I really like the way Lewis plays the game and I admire the leadership that he displays for the Ravens and other players, but I really don't concern myself with who he is off of the field. IMO him going around doing motivational speeches and speaking about God is a bit contrived.

 

[s@ppisgod]

Oh, so OJ Simpson is back promoting rental cars? I must have missed those commercials. Surprised he hasn't appeared in more Naked Gun movies, either.

OJ hasn't exactly kept his nose clean. Also, my only point with OJ was his immediate name association with his crime, which you seemingly misunderstood. Oh well.

 

[ram29jackson]

the same thing happened to KingofFootball

 

[Juggernaut]

I see no problem whatsoever with people bringing up the murder cases when discussing Lewis. The only issue I take with it is when people bring it up on purpose to use it against Ray's character. If anything, Ray has been the model player for the league the past couple years.

View the same as Kobe's case, he's been the consistent model player and not a repeat offender.

For whatever reason, I'll never forget that Donte Stallworth killed an elderly man while driving. However, I'd never use that to make a case against him, he had his court date, I only know what I've read.

 

[BigBucs]

This shit is comical.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Warner is my nigga...but for real, this fuckin guy thinks everybody who ever went through the court system is fucking guilty and their charges must be stated on their head stone, despite not being convicted. This guy is a stay at home mom with too much time on his hands and watches news to the point he creates his own stories sometimes.

"Hey guys, don't it make you a little awkward that in Ray Lewis' life story that no one mentions he was convicted of obstruction of justice and you know, now that I think of it I think could have killed a guy or two a decade ago?"

No, bruh, it don't.

Groan me.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

^admittedly biased Miami graduate, disregard

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

^admittedly biased Miami graduate, disregard

Bruh, I said the same exact thing to you with that chick that was charged with killing her daughter and was acquitted.

Dude wasn't guilty of anything but obstructing police and you need that to be on his headstone. Its silly.

 

[Sven Draconian]

Bruh, I said the same exact thing to you with that chick that was charged with killing her daughter and was acquitted.

Dude wasn't guilty of anything but obstructing police and you need that to be on his headstone. Its silly.

You do know that OJ got off.

Right?

Acquitted =/= innocent.

Another interesting hypocracy is the Alex Karras coverage. Guy was suspended for gambling on football; the same offense that got Pete Rose banned for life. Yet, he was put on a pedestal all week while Rose will still be a punching bag. Not that I feel like the Karras thing was a major offense, I don't, but the unequal treatment is really amazing.

The point is that there are certain things I do not want to hear about;Bill Clinton talking about the importance of family or integrity. Michael Jordan talking about dignity (or family....) Randy Moss talking about work ethic ect...

It's very similar to the Woody Hayes treatment. He is revered, often for his character as if somehow people just gloss over the fact he assaulted a player on an opposing team and had previously gotten in trouble for assaulting one of his own player.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

You do know that OJ got off.

Right?

Acquitted =/= innocent.

LOL @ the one rebuttal everyone has "well, OJ got off"...

Acquitted also =/= guilty. And, I am not sure what country you reside...perhaps, Iran, but here in the United States of America, you are innocent until proven guilty.

 

[Cornelius]

It's very similar to the Woody Hayes treatment. He is revered, often for his character as if somehow people just gloss over the fact he assaulted a player on an opposing team and had previously gotten in trouble for assaulting one of his own player.

Your boy, Bo, would never speak ill of Woody, nor should you.

 

[RosettaStoned]

The point is that there are certain things I do not want to hear about;Bill Clinton talking about the importance of family or integrity. Michael Jordan talking about dignity (or family....) Randy Moss talking about work ethic ect...

Yes, a hall of fame professional athlete probably doesn't know anything about hard work.