The tiring tributes to Ray Lewis ignore one salient point

I understand entirely that the Super Bowl is far more a cultural event than a sporting event; it is as much about the atmosphere than the game in the runup to Sunday.

Sure, it’s overblown and overhyped and over the top in every imaginable way, it has morphed into some kind of national party in the United States – and here in large pockets – that makes it stand out from every other sports event on this side of the globe.

And I honestly don’t know if there’s a comparable event anywhere in the world, perhaps the Champions League final since it’s got weeks to be talked about and dissected and is often a neutral site party as much as a game.

But even it is about the football, more than this one’s about the football, as far as I can glean not having actually covered either one.

This Super Bowl, however, is getting to me and it’s getting to me for one huge, significant point.

Ray Lewis.

Look, I cannot dispute Lewis’s football playing skills, there is an argument to be made that he is among the very greatest players of all time.

But he is being held up as this bastion of God-fearing greatness, the single best motivator among his peers, the screaming and speechifying and emotional outbursts that are lauded as a prime example of a sporting leader.

He was able to shrug off performance-enhancing drug allegations that surfaced this week and go about his business of being himself. He is positioning his post-career life already, remember the reports that he’d agreed to do TV for the remainder of the playoffs had the Ravens not made it this far? Ray Lewis is in the process of growing the Ray Lewis brand and far too many are playing right into it.

The question no one asked and one I don’t imagine many thought of is this:

“Ray, the first time you were at a Super Bowl it ended in a life-changing manner. Two innocent men died, you were indicted for murder and aggravated assault; you flipped on two other defendants, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice charges and no one was ever convicted of those two senseless murders. How have you managed to turn your life, and your image around?”

He wouldn’t have answered, he would have obfuscated or clouded the issue with some trite clichés, I bet.

Remember that the next time someone writes about what a great man, motivator and leader Ray Lewis is.

I have no real rooting interest in Sunday’s game except this:

I hope it’s the last time I have to hear about what a great man Ray Lewis is.

-

Rudy Gay? Rudy Schmay.

Give me Marvin every time.

-

Oh, and in case you were wondering why the odd 2 p.m. game time Sunday against Miami (and I don’t recall a 2 p.m. home game ever), there’s one reason and one reason only:

ESPN.

Yep.

Sure, the game’s on TSN here but ESPN’s Super Bowl pre-game show – which I believe starts this afternoon, I say only jokingly – goes from 10 a.m. until, yep, 2 p.m. and since TSN’s locked in to that show, the Raptors-Heat get moved back an hour or so.

Kind of a pain for us workers trying to find somewhere to go for the game (the writing process probably goes until 5:45 or 6 since it’s probably Gay’s first game) but I bet I can pull a string and find a stool.

-

Mail?

I hear it’s at askdoug@thestar.ca and I can’t wait to get my machine set up after I stop by Mother Star this afternoon so I can access the account and see what all you good people have for me.

Hope it’s fun, I love good mail.

-

Know who I’m most interested in seeing perform post-trade?

DeMar DeRozan.

Ed Davis and DeRozan were tight (DeMar’s reaction in the locker room Wednesday was shock, I didn’t get a chance to talk to him Thursday at practice because he had to run out to an appearance) and this is the first significant trade of a teammate and close friend he’s had to deal with in his career.

And, I’m sure he’s read, or been told about, all the glorious offensive abilities of his new teammate Rudy Gay and how the Raptors see him as a closer and a go-to guy and a first offensive option.

I don’t think DeMar will pout or anything, that doesn’t seem to be in his DNA, but this has been a rather emotional and interesting couple of days for a young man who’s never had to deal with it.

I quite like him and his game, he’s improving in almost every aspect even if he still has great lengths to go; not sure he needs any kind of setback to that right now.

-

I see the little outburst the other night in Atlanta cost Dwane just $25,000.

That’s not bad since the going rate for coaches going off on officials had been upped to $35,000 (Phil Jackson, Stan Van Gundy, Nate McMillan and Byron Scott in the last couple of years) so could say Casey got off easy.

Or you could say he was right.

I don’t imagine there are going to be any repercussions, good or bad, to the explosion, which I would bet was as much a culmination of a long, hard, emotional day as anything. Refs won’t hold it against him, they’re used to being hammered by players and coaches every night, nor are they going to give him any special dispensation as a way of saying they’re sorry for their colleagues blowing previous calls.

-

Yes, the plan is to be back for an IGBT tonight (sorry about the other night but Wednesday at 5 p.m. until Thursday at 5 p.m. was the busiest beat day I’ve had in a very, very long time) and we’re trying to hook up a lunchtime Q and A in the very near future.

-

 

Comments

[coachd]

Hi Doug,
It's because of the over-the- top personality types like Ray Lewis who are considered the leadership prototype in today's sporting climate, that more reserved guys like Andrea Bargnani are often considered to be less involved in the game. I have to admit, I find the chest-thumping, towel-waving, look-at-me mentality of many of today's athletes rather tiresome and dull.

[Peter]

Not to mention they never found the clothes Ray was wearing, or the murder weapon.

[Mad Destroyer]

There are some reports at the spanish media that Jose may try to buy out his contract and become a FA immediately. Did you hear anything like that here?

Blogger's note: Nope

[JT]

Doug,

What's your take on BC doing the media rounds and in not so many words, basically saying Davis reached his ceiling and his trade value is as high as it will ever be (questions about him being a starter or just a rotation player)? I thought it was a bit of a cheap shot considering how young the kid still is because he kept listing off things Ed can't do. Think how long it took Ed to reach his skill set compared with Amir or other bigs. Every team needs a good defensive big and it seems BC doesn't value that at tall.

Blogger's note: Honest answers to questions, I have no problem with it and, frankly, applaud it

[JT]

Doug,

What do you think of Austin Daye? I remember the hype on the kid a few years back and how every time Raps play Detroit and Austin is on the floor, our commentators all say they like his game or that he has huge potential.
I'm almost inclined to say that I'd rather do the Jose to Detroit for Prince and Daye trade rather than getting rid of Davis. Prince would have been an upgrade defensively/offensively and a veteran presence on this team while Daye would be another asset for the Raptors.

Blogger's note: Meh, he's okay right now I guess.

[Lorie]

Good Morning, Doug
Very much in agreement with your thoughts on Ray Lewis. And so much so that for the first time in as long as I can remember, I will not be watching the Super Bowl - not the pre-pre-game, the pregame, the game itself, the half-time, the commercials (and the commercials are the toughest thing to be missing), the post-game and the post-post-game. What I will watch is a Raptors' game. And then take myself out to a movie at the local cinema. So, has anyone been to the movies lately? Got a recommendation for me? Or two? 'Cause I'm thinking there may be more than a couple of hours to fill here. Thank you. And Go Raps! tonight. The story continues...and as Dwane says the 'wagon' rolls on.

[GU]

Doug, did the Raptors send video of the non-call on DeRozan at the end of the Hawks game?
just wondering when the league will send out another apology to the team :)

Blogger's note: Am sure they did; makes no difference if the league does or not, actually

[Tabber]

Hear hear on Lewis, I've been hoping Baltimore would get knocked out before this just because of Ray-ray, but I will watch just to see him get beaten in his last game, then see him no more - I don't watch the pregame shows, so hope I don't have to see that hypocrite any more. Probably won't recognize the criminal out of uniform anyway!

[Mr. Cook]

Thank you for mentioning that about Ray Lewis, Doug. I'd like to pile on by metioning: Nobody in the media particularly challenged the idea that Ray tore his triceps in October and is on pace for a 50+ tackle post-season, a concept that does not accord with human physiology unless he has a little help from PEDs. It wasn't raised until this week, essentially.

Also, beyond the murder, it came out during those proceedings that he has domestic abuse charges in Miami in '94 and '95 and Baltimore in '99. In each case he was alleged to have hit a woman, in each case those women recanted their allegations (this is most commonly known as a symptom of battered-woman syndrom). The details from those police reports of the incidents are nauseating. He is an awful, terrible human being.

[lee in ittawa]

I can't wait for the Super Bowl to be played so I do not have to listen to Ray Lewis. I wish he would play ball and shut up. My goodness its only a game, God really does not care about it.

[David in Oakville]

Good Morning Doug,

Well said as always. I agree the best word to describe Ray Lewis is tiresome. Not sure why more media don't pound the rock with the hard questions about Ray's remarkable salvation. I hope the 49er's win.
+
Rudy Gay... Marvin Gaye.... Oprah... Uma.. whatever. Any day your blog includes Motown is going to be a good day.
+
Have to agree with JT, I thought some of BC's recent remarks were disingenuous with respect to Jose, Ed and Andrea.
+
@Lorie, keeping with the football theme (and dancing) if you have not seen Silver Linings Playbook, go see it! my wife says that Bradley Cooper is easy on the eyes and how can you go wrong with Deniro in an Eagles jersey. I can also recommend Django, if you are okay with Tarantino's idea of humour and over the top violence.

[MC_Brad]

Do you think the Raps would even consider bringing Jose back in the offseason for a vets minimum or one of the exceptions that would still be available to them or would that just recreate the problem they just alleviated themselves of?

Blogger's note: No idea, but I doubt it

[GK]

Doug,

Can the team (i.e. MLSE) pay Casey's fine? Is that permittable? How about players fines?

Thanks.

Blogger's note: Technically, no

[sam]

To show you how much the Superbowl means to means to me....I don't even know who is playing.

@GU - I heard BC on the FAN yesterday explain how they sent video of the the DD non call in and the LEAGUE mucky mucks have a different interpritation of the play than the Raptors. No apology will be coming.

[Bill]

What's the rationale for punishing a coach (or player) for speaking their minds? Does that reason prevail over the Freedom of Speech?

Then this comes to my mind. The North American press continuously publish articles dissing China for punishing people for saying things that the government does not want the public to hear. However, that is precisely how some North American organizations run their business too.

[truth be told]

So you question Ray Lewis and his past although he never served any jail time like you have fact of his connection with those murders, yet when you get all the chances in the world to question BC and his "vision" for this franchise you serve him softballs and never question his horrible tenure with the Raps which to me is a crime in itself.

Ray is blessed with grace and that's just the way it is.

Blogger's note: I suggested someone should have asked that question. And they should have. You cannot tell the Ray Lewis is a great man story without having that answer.

[DaveB]

I was also wondering about DeRozan's future with this trade. You now have a 1, 2 and 3 that doesn't play defense. The 2 and 3 gambles on defense. In Memphis, they brought in Tony Allen to help cover Gay's deficiencies. As Ross is already a better defender than DeRozan, does this mean more time for Ross at DeRozan's expense?

Two days after the trade I still feel Bryan has ripped the heart out of this team. As many have suggested, Jose was "the Raptors". The only player left that to whom anyone could have any emotional attachment is Amir. Maybe we can get there with Ross, Jonas and Acy in the future, but not yet.

I spend a lot of time reading everything Raptors and watching the Raptors channel (NBA Canada). Lowry is not the type of personality that anyone can root for. At this point I have lost a lot of interest in the team and I have less interest in how they perform the rest of the year. The Lowry/Gay friendship may lead to a very divided locker room.

Enjoy your day.

[DD Sports Talk]

Interesting. This happened over ten years ago, due process happened, he was a public figure in the wrong place at the wrong time, they squeezed him for information.

Since then, his lifestyle has not generated a repeat of any similar actions or situation. His was/is not a lifestyle of repeatedly getting into trouble.

What would you have the guy do? If he was a thug, getting arrested for drunk driving, or back in the bars and clubs brawling, we'd have something real to complain about.

Sheesh, we make more excuses for Ben Roethlisberger.

Clearly, Lewis, his teammates, his peers in the league, the communities that embrace him, have managed to move on in life.

You'd do well to do the same.

[JHK]

M.Grange says RG is in town earlier than expected for physical and there may be chance of him playing tonight?
What's your call? 50/50?

Blogger's note: No clue; will depend on others

[Ian]

Doug,

This trade seems to be the first one BC has made which smacks a bit of desperation. Do you agree?

Blogger's note: No

[D-Mac Ottawa]

I remember The First AFL-NFL World Championship Game, hyped in that winter of 1967 as The Supergame, and it set the tone for the 45 to follow: a 35–17 blowout by the Pack over the Chiefs. I try to catch the two division championship games – that's generally the best football of the season. The truly "super" Super Bowl is a rarity.
Marvin every time indeed! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-5c5o85SGo
Cheers. Go Raps...

[Peter]

There's a link to your story in the Superbowl section of the front page that doesn't work. The new site seems to be a bit glitchy over the past few days, and the mobile site on the Android app doesn't seem to load pictures anymore.

Just thought your tall foreheads should know.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

Ray Lewis drives me crazy and his beatification belies one of the main, awful consistencies of sports reporting: willing to overlook stuff that would have put other people in prison, just because he's a good athlete. Same goes for Kobe Bryant's sexual assault, Ben Roethlisberger, etc.

The Buffalo News did this excellent piece earlier this week on the families of the men who were killed in the Lewis incident:

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20130126%2FCITYANDREGION%2F130129318%2F1082&fb_action_ids=10151492003396454&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582

Reporters have asked Lewis about the murders this week, but he snapped at one of them that it was "God's time," as if Lewis' quest for the Superbowl is somehow divine.

The only sort of divinity I hope is at play here is karma.

AG, Toronto

[PK]

It seems to be the unfortunate culture across the professional sports world to glorify athletes for their on-field performance and charisma but quickly dismiss their off-field transgressions.

[David H]

Doug:

Bruce Arthur's column in Wednesday's National Post indicates that the football grunts did ask Lewis questions about the murders and he refused to answer them.

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/01/29/ravens-ray-lewis-focused-on-future-not-tainted-past/