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.

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Rudy Gay? Rudy Schmay.

Give me Marvin every time.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Comments

[Jo]

Doug, I am in disagreement with your Ray Lewis thoughts. Firstly, he was never convicted of murder, it is discerning that, as a member of the media, you are bending the facts. You always talk against doing this, so now, you are being hypocritical. You are making the assumption, in an article (or Blog - which is basically the new standard for articles), that Ray Lewis murdered these people. He took a plea bargain. Closed case. If you have a problem with it, I suggest you talk about the real issue at hand which is the American justice system. That is where the news story is. Please don't embed these unproven accusations into the minds of the young kids who read your blog. They look up to you, they will now be spreading your outlook to their peers. It is a nasty cycle. On the other hand, if you are going to talk about how poorly the legal proceedings were, it is far more likely to start a pro-active discussion. You saying you don't like the Superbowl because you think the 'star' of the Superbowl deserves to go to jail is just negative bickering and the only outcome of it will be resentment.

Blogger's note: There were no facts "bent" whatsover and I resent your misrepresentation of what I wrote. Please develop better reading comprehension before you bring that weak stuff back. But thanks for reading.

[damian]

Ray Lewis is a very dedicated football player and he brings motivation to his team mates. If he had issues in the past, they shoud remain there.
I hope he will be spectacular at Super Bowl.

[Txema Ybarra]

Hi, as a Calderon fan (I'm from Spain and he is such a nice guy) I move to Detroit. Sorry. But I have to say that I really gonna miss the Doug Smith reviews. Above all, I love the way he sees life and how it is underlined in every aspect of his writing.
Best!

[james]

Sportschic: "After a day's reflection, I'm still sorry to Jose go - and a lot of that has to do with the person he is, as well as the fact that I think he's under-rated by many. Also sorry about Ed Davis, but I can see that you don't get something without giving up something, and his value is pretty high right now. I guess Bryan gambled that Jose's expiring contract is worth more to him as trade bait than it would be in the summer as cap room." Well said; that's where I am too. Lorie: I am told "Quartet" is the perfect 2-hour diversion for Maggie Smith fans (I am one).

[doug]

lot of emotion on here for a b-ball trade form both bloggers and Doug....it's a good thing BC doesn't operate on emotion as any gm shouldn't, Raptors needed to turn the page and try something different as the same old same old wasn't working....it is what it is a b-ball trade that means very little in the scope of things, but kudos for a GM to trying to improve a team as that is his job....saw Jason Bonham's show at Massey last night, to say it was impressive is a under-statement that dude (another Dylan) their vocalist cna sing....what a show, perfect solution to a winters night...@Lori that would have been a solution for a viewing alternative but alas he was at Centennial hall the previous night....cheers..

http://www.tmakworld.com/2013/02/JBLZE.html

[Rob.V]

I realize im late to the party however im surprised that the overall responses over the past couple of days are negative.
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For years you guys cried about the 3 spot.. now you whine about obtaining one?
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Look, I too felt bad in seeing Jose and Ed go. Coach said it best by describing them as 2 "beautiful" men. You generally dont hear that word in sports so that peaks volumes. Having said this here are some very realistic things to consider.
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It was highly, highly unlikely Calderon was coming back...this season is done and he was gone! The 2nd round pick was moot because they rarely pan out, its not a
very deep draft, and we don't need another young player.
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In thinking about this, the trade was Rudy Gay for an emerging Ed Davis. You MUST make this trade.
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We still are deep at PF with Amir and Andrea so we were overloaded at 4.
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And if you take BC at his word (and he generally shoots it straight) we shouldn't be surprised about another trade.
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What if Andrea and filler becomes Gasol?... or maybe its cap relief.
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Let's give this until the deadline to see where we are heading however I think most GM's in the league trade Davis for Gay (dollars aside).
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Dude, in Phoenix now, thanks for the recommendations the other day...will check them out tonight.

[J]

@truth be told:

It says a lot that you could even equate death with something as meaningless as "vision" for a basketball team.

[Geoff Read]

Couldn't agree more on Ray Lewis and the Superbowl. I stopped watching the NFL years ago. How that league has escaped scandal for the fact that I would guess 90% of its athletes are on steroids is beyond me. Just look at pictures of Lewis in his early days and of him today - it's like Bonds circa 1985 and Bonds circa 2000. The steroid use is pretty obvious.

Doug: I think I speak for many when I say any updates you can give us on how Calderon's making out in Detroit in the weeks ahead would be greatly appreciated. Davis too - but especially Jose.

[mc]

DS - I find it funny how most Raptor fans are constatntly wishing to move "no D" Jose and now that he is gone everyone wants him back. I like Jose too but they expect BC to get good players without giving up anything. The armchair GMs live in a fantasy world would you not agree? i think the team at the end of the day will actually get more wins - and isn't that the point of any moves?

[GM]

I just got an email from a friend in Memphis who goes to every single Grizzlies game, and has since they moved there. Here's what he wrote:

"So many NBA commentators (TNT, ESPN, etc.) don't understand why the Grizzlies did the trade, they talk as if it was a pure salary dump. But they obviously have not watched the Griz much. Heck, trading Gay for a Carlos Delfino plus a bag of chips would have helped the Grizzlies. Cutting their ties with Gay's overrated ability is the best thing the Grizzlies could have done. Wait until you get to see his lack of shooting, lack of ballhandling, and lack of defensive smarts every day ......he'll make you sick!

I think Prince is a more valuable player than Gay straight up, and we get a young Austin Daye and Ed Davis too? PLUS Toronto's 2nd rounder, which won't be that far away from a late 1st rounder. I'm giddy!"

[Hope Caper]

Doug I'm not questioning your opinion on whether the trade was born of desperation but I take it differently.

BC is a basketball man and has been around the league for years. Agree or disagree with his moves and while he has been burned he should be able to recognize talent.I'm sure his own coaches, based on their public statements, appreciated and applauded Jose.

So to fly in the face of your coaches and trade him for a move that changes a team (not greatly improves it) seems to me a little desperate.
But of course I could be wrong :-).