Chiefs MELLINGER | Lewis is indicative of what's good and bad about NFL - Page 2

**Tribal Warfare** · 01-29-2013, 11:37 PM

MELLINGER | Lewis is indicative of what's good and bad about NFL
By SAM MELLINGER
The Kansas City Star
NEW ORLEANSControversy surrounds Ray Lewis again, because of course it does. This is how it always is with him, isn’t it?

You probably made up your mind about him long ago. Most football fans have. An all-time great or an all-time outlaw. Charismatic or self-obsessed. A football warrior or a 21st-century drama queen.

Either way, Lewis is this Super Bowl’s most dominant personality. Along with the Har-Bowl angle, Lewis is one of two inescapable story lines in our country’s grandest sporting event, which is quite an accomplishment considering he plays a defensive position devalued by the NFL’s tilt toward passing.

But he has the upcoming retirement. The missing white suit from two unsolved murders 12 years ago for which Lewis paid a settlement. And now, refreshed accusations from Sports Illustrated of banned substance use.

“I wouldn’t give that report or him any of my press,” said Lewis, a Ravens linebacker.

Lewis has made himself a focal point here, again, and the whole thing is picking up momentum in no small part because of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s public declaration that he’d like to hire Lewis as a “special adviser” and that he’s “a tremendous voice of reason.”

Lewis has long been one of the NFL’s most visible ambassadors, and that strikes so many as wrong. They’re missing a critical point.

Reporters asked Ray Lewis about the latest swirling controversy during media day here, and his answer gives you a hint on who the man is.

His first reaction — and you have to believe he and Ravens officials developed a plan before the questions — was to ignore it. Avoid answering. He called it a 2-year-old story, even if the SI story said he used the banned substance this season to return as quickly as possible from a triceps injury.

So he derided the question, and said he wouldn’t lessen “my speeches or my moment.” He referenced a maniacal work ethic, and that he never failed a test. But whether it’s parsing words or not, he didn’t say: “No, I never used or was given any banned substance.”

But if you know Lewis at all, which is to say if you’re a football fan at all, you knew he could not leave it there.

To review: He got angry about defending himself from a charge he didn’t completely deny. And then he went on to talk about one of the team cooks — Miss Gloria — complimenting the team’s manners. And about a sick boy who has become a friend and source of inspiration.

Lewis is among the NFL’s defining players and personalities of the last two decades, and he used the platform in the Superdome to wrestle back what he openly called his moment. So much of the talk around Lewis has been about whether you should root for him. Whether you believe him. Whether he’s worthy of your adulation.

In the end, it would be very difficult to prove Lewis took the substance. And besides, if we follow Goodell’s lead, we see another critical point that people seem to be missing.

The NFL is exhilarating, and it is captivating. It is the greatest spectacle in American sports, with an ugly underbelly we’re learning more about every day. The operation looks glorious on Sundays, but there are hidden mechanisms and sacrifices and even lies that fans only see occasionally but keep the trains moving on time.

Sound like a particular linebacker you know?

Goodell had some within the sport wondering about his wisdom when he talked of hiring Lewis as an adviser. This was the commissioner of a wildly successful and powerful sports league making an official ambassador of a fabulous linebacker with undying charisma who settled a civil lawsuit stemming from a double homicide and who has faced multiple charges of banned substance use.

You know, when you think of it like that, Goodell may have just identified football’s perfect representative — for better and worse.

**GloryDayz** · 01-30-2013, 08:59 AM

Praise God. Praise Jesus. Thank ya Lord Jesus for the birds and the bees and hard hits and square pieces of sod laying on turf grass and bitches and my posse and payoff money and bitches and cars and for deers and for their antler things and for the hunters who shoot them mother****ers so as to fix my arm 'n shit and all that other good shit I love. All praise be to you for blessing me and the guys who off peoples I don't like. You are the reason I'm here and able to be a role model for all the bitches and kids in the world. God, you're one badass doode, and I love ya for it. You and your son are the foshizzle, you should join my posse... So all praise be to ya, because without you, I'd be nothin... Thank ya Lord!!

**HemiEd** · 01-30-2013, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

I am so glad I don't get NFL Network or ESPN anymore. This week would be unbearable.

I just don't turn them on. Moonshiners FTW!

Chiefs Pantalones · 01-30-2013, 09:09 AM

Why does First Take have someone that isn't associated with sports talking about sports issues right now? They have a producer Pete Rock on asking him about this situation and other sports topics. Shoot me.

RyFo18 · 01-30-2013, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefs Pantalones

Why does First Take have someone that isn't associated with sports talking about sports issues right now? They have a producer Pete Rock on asking him about this situation and other sports topics. Shoot me.

I would say that a producer of a "sports" show is qualified to talk about sports issues.

If everyone stops watching this show, it will go away.

Chiefs Pantalones · 01-30-2013, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyFo18

I would say that a producer of a "sports" show is qualified to talk about sports issues.

If everyone stops watching this show, it will go away.

He's a rapper.

Dayze · 01-30-2013, 09:14 AM

NFL A.M. might be the worst show ever.

good god. I worked from home a while back, and tuned in; all I could think was "WTF is this"?

RyFo18 · 01-30-2013, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefs Pantalones

He's a rapper.

Ok sorry. I misread that as "First Take Producer" (and had never heard of him otherwise) .

Chiefs Pantalones · 01-30-2013, 09:19 AM

Ray Lewis is a well-liked OJ Simpson.

**GloryDayz** · 01-30-2013, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefs Pantalones

Ray Lewis is a well-liked OJ Simpson.

Praise God, praise Jeeeeezus.... Praise chunks of sod on fake grass! Praise deers!

mikey23545 · 01-30-2013, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dayze

he'll zip line onto the 50 yd line with a gold cape.

What makes you think he needs a line?

Chiefs Pantalones · 01-30-2013, 03:29 PM

If the Ravens win, as the clock hits 00 you'll see him take a knee as the camera crews approach with his fist on his forehead. Then Ed Reed runs up and lays the white blood stained suit on Ray's back like a cape. The media will applaud and light up twitter land with how heroic Ray's last ride was and totally ignore the return of the white blood stained suit.

houstonwhodat · 01-30-2013, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrtonsPiercedTaint

The NFL Network will fall another notch when he becomes part of their crew. They will find a way fit it his "I'm mentally ill" dance every week.

I thought he was going to the evil 4 letter network.

But yeah you right I bet whatever network he goes to will lose a lot of viewers.

houstonwhodat · 01-30-2013, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefs Pantalones

Why does First Take have someone that isn't associated with sports talking about sports issues right now? They have a producer Pete Rock on asking him about this situation and other sports topics. Shoot me.

Because they're ****ing stupid

houstonwhodat · 01-30-2013, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

I am so glad I don't get NFL Network or ESPN anymore. This week would be unbearable.

It hasn't been TOO bad.

Sunday is going to suck though whether the birds win or not.

If they win I'm turning the TV off for at least 1 hour till they get done idolizing Ray Ray.

01-29-2013, 11:37 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $1046700	MELLINGER \| Lewis is indicative of what's good and bad about NFL MELLINGER \| Lewis is indicative of what's good and bad about NFL By SAM MELLINGER The Kansas City Star NEW ORLEANSControversy surrounds Ray Lewis again, because of course it does. This is how it always is with him, isn’t it? You probably made up your mind about him long ago. Most football fans have. An all-time great or an all-time outlaw. Charismatic or self-obsessed. A football warrior or a 21st-century drama queen. Either way, Lewis is this Super Bowl’s most dominant personality. Along with the Har-Bowl angle, Lewis is one of two inescapable story lines in our country’s grandest sporting event, which is quite an accomplishment considering he plays a defensive position devalued by the NFL’s tilt toward passing. But he has the upcoming retirement. The missing white suit from two unsolved murders 12 years ago for which Lewis paid a settlement. And now, refreshed accusations from Sports Illustrated of banned substance use. “I wouldn’t give that report or him any of my press,” said Lewis, a Ravens linebacker. Lewis has made himself a focal point here, again, and the whole thing is picking up momentum in no small part because of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s public declaration that he’d like to hire Lewis as a “special adviser” and that he’s “a tremendous voice of reason.” Lewis has long been one of the NFL’s most visible ambassadors, and that strikes so many as wrong. They’re missing a critical point. Reporters asked Ray Lewis about the latest swirling controversy during media day here, and his answer gives you a hint on who the man is. His first reaction — and you have to believe he and Ravens officials developed a plan before the questions — was to ignore it. Avoid answering. He called it a 2-year-old story, even if the SI story said he used the banned substance this season to return as quickly as possible from a triceps injury. So he derided the question, and said he wouldn’t lessen “my speeches or my moment.” He referenced a maniacal work ethic, and that he never failed a test. But whether it’s parsing words or not, he didn’t say: “No, I never used or was given any banned substance.” But if you know Lewis at all, which is to say if you’re a football fan at all, you knew he could not leave it there. To review: He got angry about defending himself from a charge he didn’t completely deny. And then he went on to talk about one of the team cooks — Miss Gloria — complimenting the team’s manners. And about a sick boy who has become a friend and source of inspiration. Lewis is among the NFL’s defining players and personalities of the last two decades, and he used the platform in the Superdome to wrestle back what he openly called his moment. So much of the talk around Lewis has been about whether you should root for him. Whether you believe him. Whether he’s worthy of your adulation. In the end, it would be very difficult to prove Lewis took the substance. And besides, if we follow Goodell’s lead, we see another critical point that people seem to be missing. The NFL is exhilarating, and it is captivating. It is the greatest spectacle in American sports, with an ugly underbelly we’re learning more about every day. The operation looks glorious on Sundays, but there are hidden mechanisms and sacrifices and even lies that fans only see occasionally but keep the trains moving on time. Sound like a particular linebacker you know? Goodell had some within the sport wondering about his wisdom when he talked of hiring Lewis as an adviser. This was the commissioner of a wildly successful and powerful sports league making an official ambassador of a fabulous linebacker with undying charisma who settled a civil lawsuit stemming from a double homicide and who has faced multiple charges of banned substance use. You know, when you think of it like that, Goodell may have just identified football’s perfect representative — for better and worse.
Posts: 25,661

01-30-2013, 08:59 AM	#16
GloryDayz Clark, do the right thing(s).. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Lee's Summit, MO Casino cash: $77838	Praise God. Praise Jesus. Thank ya Lord Jesus for the birds and the bees and hard hits and square pieces of sod laying on turf grass and bitches and my posse and payoff money and bitches and cars and for deers and for their antler things and for the hunters who shoot them mother****ers so as to fix my arm 'n shit and all that other good shit I love. All praise be to you for blessing me and the guys who off peoples I don't like. You are the reason I'm here and able to be a role model for all the bitches and kids in the world. God, you're one badass doode, and I love ya for it. You and your son are the foshizzle, you should join my posse... So all praise be to ya, because without you, I'd be nothin... Thank ya Lord!! __________________ Come on Clark Hunt, you can do this... Glass is doing shit over at the K, so if you do something awesome here, this city could go back to having awesomeness abounding in it's teams (and lots of support from the fans too). Come on buddy, do this thing...
Posts: 10,762

01-30-2013, 09:09 AM	#18
Chiefs Pantalones GO CHIEFS!!!!!! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Arrowhead Casino cash: $90345	Why does First Take have someone that isn't associated with sports talking about sports issues right now? They have a producer Pete Rock on asking him about this situation and other sports topics. Shoot me. __________________ Looking for lower level seats for the Cowboys at Chiefs tickets for the smelly pirate hooker Cowboys fan wife and I!
Posts: 21,874

01-30-2013, 09:14 AM	#21
Dayze Poop Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $1181722	NFL A.M. might be the worst show ever. good god. I worked from home a while back, and tuned in; all I could think was "WTF is this"? __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial.
Posts: 16,069

01-30-2013, 09:19 AM	#23
Chiefs Pantalones GO CHIEFS!!!!!! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Arrowhead Casino cash: $90345	Ray Lewis is a well-liked OJ Simpson. __________________ Looking for lower level seats for the Cowboys at Chiefs tickets for the smelly pirate hooker Cowboys fan wife and I!
Posts: 21,874

01-30-2013, 03:29 PM	#26
Chiefs Pantalones GO CHIEFS!!!!!! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Arrowhead Casino cash: $90345	If the Ravens win, as the clock hits 00 you'll see him take a knee as the camera crews approach with his fist on his forehead. Then Ed Reed runs up and lays the white blood stained suit on Ray's back like a cape. The media will applaud and light up twitter land with how heroic Ray's last ride was and totally ignore the return of the white blood stained suit. __________________ Looking for lower level seats for the Cowboys at Chiefs tickets for the smelly pirate hooker Cowboys fan wife and I!
Posts: 21,874

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