“Leave your mark.” Ray Lewis spoke these words and, though they may be small words, they prove a big meaning. Lewis has been the leader of the Baltimore Ravens since 1996, in which he played his entire career, and is the last remaining player on the team from their 2000 Super Bowl Championship against the New York Giants.
The Baltimore linebacker has an impressive resume’ with 13 Pro Bowls, named an Associated Press All-Pro ten times, NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2000 and 2003, and was the second linebacker to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award and the first to win the award on the winning Super Bowl team. Impressed yet?
How about 1,567 career solo tackles, 41.5 sacks, 31 interceptions? He also led the 2000 Baltimore Ravens defense in what was arguably the best defense in NFL history. He even makes a damn good Visa commercial; I wonder if he would like my dress.
Lewis struggled this season when he tore his triceps on October 14, 2012 during a game against the Dallas Cowboys. His return game continually got pushed back. The Ravens' fan base was worried we would never see him play again, because not too long after his injury he announced “This will be my last ride.” The retirement of Ray Lewis was inevitable, but still took your breath away. Much like the players on the receiving end of his tackles.
With him on the sidelines, you would hypothesize the Ravens would fail as a team. However, the leadership and love for the game of football was always shown in his voice. He would lead the Ravens before a game in an intense pep talk which was a mixture of a religious sermon and a father lecturing his daughter before a first date. Even if he wasn’t wearing a Ravens uniform, he was making an impact on the team. After all, even with the #52 jersey absent from the field, those boys in purple did make the Super Bowl with a difficult playoff schedule.
The Super Bowl this weekend is a special one. Not just because of the Harbaugh brothers, or a phenomenal second year quarterback Colin Kaepernick, or knowing this “Harbowl” was called from the beginning as the Big Game match up. It’s about a veteran linebacker who is respected by more than just Ravens fans. Despite controversy, Ray Lewis has maintained a sense of belief and pride in himself, and that has to be remembered going into this game. You may not love the Ravens, but you need to remind yourself both teams that are playing this game deserve to be there playing each other.
Remember to take a look at Ray Lewis before the game (and his sick gold cleats), he may be tearing up, because that’s what he does, but you also deny his love for the game.
After all is said and done, he will certainly leave his mark in the NFL, and it’ll have you “Raven about Ray Lewis.”