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How did Ray Lewis go from murder suspect in 2000 to NFL royalty in 2013?

Wolf

Wolf

100% Texan
Interesting read. I didn't know whether NFL section was the place or NSZ

Thirteen years ago, Ray Lewis was in the back of a limousine speeding down an Atlanta street, leaving the chaos of what would become a notorious murder scene.
Today, Ray Lewis prepares to play his final minutes in the NFL as one of the most celebrated and iconic players in league history.
These are two sets of indisputable facts, facts that don't seem to connect in any meaningful way. To accept one set, you have to virtually ignore the other. It just doesn't make sense, no matter which angle you take. How does a man implicated in a double homicide end up receiving a congratulatory bear hug from the NFL commissioner in front of thousands of fans wearing his No. 52 jersey? From the other direction: How could a man who's done so much for his team and his community still be held accountable for a tragedy for which he was absolved?
From any angle, though, this question looms over the entire life and career of Ray Lewis: How on earth did he get here from there?
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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--h...murder-suspect-to-nfl-royalty--201947666.html
 
The USA Today piece was also interesting, and a bit more fact-laden, except for this rather jarring comment from a relative of one dead victim:

Cindy Lollar-Owens, Richard Lollar's aunt, says Lewis' pending retirement prompted her Thursday to visit the funeral home, "because that's where my nephew retired."

Ouch. That one hit home.
 
Because he is a great player and charismatic. And because it was not proven that Ray-Ray did anything.

It sucks, but them's the breaks.
 
I don't find him charismatic. I find him to be an awesome player with one of the most narcissistic, look-at-me, can't-pass-up-a-microphone personalities I can think of in modern sports. He just cannot shut up.

At a certain point it stops looking like passion and looks more like somebody trying a little too hard to compensate for something on their conscience. Wonder what that might be, exactly?
 
TexanExile said:
I don't find him charismatic. I find him to be an awesome player with one of the most narcissistic, look-at-me, can't-pass-up-a-microphone personalities I can think of in modern sports. He just cannot shut up.

At a certain point it stops looking like passion and looks more like somebody trying a little too hard to compensate for something on their conscience. Wonder what that might be, exactly?
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Narcissistic? We talking about the same guy??

All I see is a guy that the media goes after all of the time because they knows that he's the leader of that organization and the spokes person. Anyone in that organization mad over that? You see a ton of Ravens players getting into trouble and making an embarrassment of themselves? Nope. Ray's leadership over there has been unquestionably positive on that entire organization. The guy is usually preaching about positivity, god, or giving inspirational speeches about his team. You've got to be a complete hater to bash the guy for all of that.
 
I really like him as a player - but man this whole thing sucks. Nobody but a collected few who were there really knows what happened, but it sure feels like a rich man in the spotlight could just use his name and money to get out of that mess - for which others would have to go to prison for many years and lose their job. Cheering for such a man is hard to stomach if you ask me...
 
ask-a-lawer.480.275.s.png
 
Difference between Mike Vick and Ray Lewis? Lewis had better friends. That's why he didn't go to jail. Friends took the heat, he made the money, and paid them off behind the scenes.

Think what you want but Ray is an NFL icon.
 
Texecutioner said:
Narcissistic? We talking about the same guy??

All I see is a guy that the media goes after all of the time because they knows that he's the leader of that organization and the spokes person. Anyone in that organization mad over that? You see a ton of Ravens players getting into trouble and making an embarrassment of themselves? Nope. Ray's leadership over there has been unquestionably positive on that entire organization. The guy is usually preaching about positivity, god, or giving inspirational speeches about his team. You've got to be a complete hater to bash the guy for all of that.
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Ok I'm a hater. Is that similar to a Kubiak hater?
 
TexanExile said:
I don't find him charismatic. I find him to be an awesome player with one of the most narcissistic, look-at-me, can't-pass-up-a-microphone personalities I can think of in modern sports. He just cannot shut up.

At a certain point it stops looking like passion and looks more like somebody trying a little too hard to compensate for something on their conscience. Wonder what that might be, exactly?
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Personally I find his ra ra inspiration to be more BS than anything else. Being a great player doesn't undo what you did or were a part of. He was involved in the murders of two men. Being a hall of famer, morivational speaker and rediculous pre game ballerina doesn't blind me what he did. Innocent men don't settle out of court in my eyes.
 
TexanExile said:
I don't find him charismatic. I find him to be an awesome player with one of the most narcissistic, look-at-me, can't-pass-up-a-microphone personalities I can think of in modern sports. He just cannot shut up.

At a certain point it stops looking like passion and looks more like somebody trying a little too hard to compensate for something on their conscience. Wonder what that might be, exactly?
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I'm in this camp. Agree completely.
 
chicagotexan2 said:
Personally I find his ra ra inspiration to be more BS than anything else. Being a great player doesn't undo what you did or were a part of. He was involved in the murders of two men. Being a hall of famer, morivational speaker and rediculous pre game ballerina doesn't blind me what he did. Innocent men don't settle out of court in my eyes.
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Innocent people settle all the damn time. It often times come down to cost vs potential risk. If you dont understand this then you clearly don't understand how the world works
 
"How did Ray Lewis go from murder suspect in 2000 to NFL royalty in 2013?" Because through God's grace and mercy we are redeemed. Ray Lewis is a Christian, and God has great things instore for believers.
 
Pollardized said:
"How did Ray Lewis go from murder suspect in 2000 to NFL royalty in 2013?" Because through God's grace and mercy we are redeemed. Ray Lewis is a Christian, and God has great things instore for believers.
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Not to start a religious debate, but don't underestimate money and lawyers.

If it weren't for that (if he were a regular Joe), he'd be practicing his faith in Prison.
 
Pollardized said:
"How did Ray Lewis go from murder suspect in 2000 to NFL royalty in 2013?" Because through God's grace and mercy we are redeemed. Ray Lewis is a Christian, and God has great things instore for believers.
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So murder is ok... if you are a Christian?

Sounds good.
 
What did you do with the suit Ray? Where's the suit and why did you feel the need to ditch it?

Dude's a murderer in my eyes. I can't and won't deny his talent but I'll be so happy next year when he's gone.
 
2012Champs said:
Innocent people settle all the damn time. It often times come down to cost vs potential risk. If you dont understand this then you clearly don't understand how the world works[/

I understand perfectly fine I don't believe he's innocent id bet my life on it. Michael Jackson settled too but I'm sure hrs innocent just like ray lewis.
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The only people that will really know the truth will be the people that were in the fight and there. We simply don't know and will never know the truth likely, and they will eventually answer for whatever did happen at some point.
 
Texcore said:
Ray Lewis has been a hell of a player. He was never found guilty of any wrong doing.

People need to grow up and stop acting as if they were there.
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People need to grow up and stop acting like being an exceptional football player makes everything you do is ok. That includes protecting your boys who may have murdered two men. But those two men didn't were not football greats that dont do stupid pregame dances with face paint like john Randall.
 
Nobody held accountable....sounds perfect for today's America.
Hell, if OJ can practically decapitate two, then go play golf in Florida, with his NFL pension untouchable, why can't Lewis live his dream? :thinking:
 
Pollardized said:
"How did Ray Lewis go from murder suspect in 2000 to NFL royalty in 2013?" Because through God's grace and mercy we are redeemed. Ray Lewis is a Christian, and God has great things instore for believers.
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Pollardized said:
Where did I say murder was ok? I said he is redeemed, he is forgiven for his sins. Just like you, me and everyone else is when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and ask for forgiveness.
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Sure sounds like committing murder is no biggie so long as you are Christian.

In fact, it sounds like so long as you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and ask for forgiveness, then you can get away with pretty much anything. Must be nice to see religion as a get out of jail free (literally) card.

*Just to be clear, I am not attacking Christianity/religion here. Only the idea posted above.
 
Roger Goodell was down there on the field, pre game, hugging Ray Lewis for like 45 seconds. Swaying back and forth together.

The NFL "character" system is odd. ODD.

Forget whether he is forgiven or redeemed or saved or whatever. The NFL commissioner is out there embracing him and acting like none of that ugly mess ever happened. It was odd.

I guess it's up for interpretation for Roger Goodell. If I were him, I would have shook his hand, a slap on the back and a "Go out there and give it all you got."

i wouldn't have had as large of a moment with Ray Lewis as Goodell did. Then again, this is the same guy who is dapping and hand jiving draft picks during the first round of last year's draft. It's funny and awkward all at the same time.

LOL.
 
GP said:
Roger Goodell was down there on the field, pre game, hugging Ray Lewis for like 45 seconds. Swaying back and forth together.

The NFL "character" system is odd. ODD.

Forget whether he is forgiven or redeemed or saved or whatever. The NFL commissioner is out there embracing him and acting like none of that ugly mess ever happened. It was odd.

I guess it's up for interpretation for Roger Goodell. If I were him, I would have shook his hand, a slap on the back and a "Go out there and give it all you got."

i wouldn't have had as large of a moment with Ray Lewis as Goodell did. Then again, this is the same guy who is dapping and hand jiving draft picks during the first round of last year's draft. It's funny and awkward all at the same time.

LOL.
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I agree. I have seen Goodell hugging first rounders like some long lost uncle. I don't get it either.

I don't get the Ray Lewis thing. He's a great LB, and he is a great orator. But let's not apply for sainthood just yet.
 
chicagotexan2 said:
I understand perfectly fine I don't believe he's innocent id bet my life on it. Michael Jackson settled too but I'm sure hrs innocent just like ray lewis.
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I wouldnt bet my life on something that 1. I dont have first hand knowledge of and 2. That doesnt actually matter in the end


I wonder why Vic didnt get the same treatment from the justice system, you know since it is all about money and status?
 
2012Champs said:
I wouldnt bet my life on something that 1. I dont have first hand knowledge of and 2. That doesnt actually matter in the end


I wonder why Vic didnt get the same treatment from the justice system, you know since it is all about money and status?
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Because when PETA gets involved someone has to pay! You can't go around killing animals as if they were people!
 
Hervoyel said:
What did you do with the suit Ray? Where's the suit and why did you feel the need to ditch it?
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I like Ray Lewis and I'm glad he turned his life around.

But the above question has always been a splinter in my mind's eye. It's an obvious question that nobody wants to ask anymore.

He knew more about that incident than he admitted. The missing suit speaks volumes to this silence.

I'm not accusing him of murder. However, I'm also pragmatic and understand that his plea of guilty to obstruction of justice in a plea bargain is clearly a more-to-the-story situation.

Since then, though, he's been an inspiration to many and a role model for both players and fans. It's not like he's had a troubled pattern over the years that reveals he's faking it. I think that tragedy focused the man to define what he wanted to be in life and he chose the high road.
 
Because we live in a society where athletic prowess is valued above scholarship and even rule of law. Let's consider a few facts:

1. The prosecution in O.J. Simpson's trial had to dismantle his "nice guy" image. While his temper was famous among his friends, his publicists had spent decades crafting his image.

2. Jim Brown allegedly was known for slapping women around but while he was playing was never charged.

3. Mr. Warren Moon allegedly beat his wife Felicia on more than one occasion but wasn't charged until his playing days ended.

4. Michael Irvin was busted in a hotel room with a crack rock the size of a baseball and mysteriously got community service for a crime which would have sent anyone else to prison.

5. Nate Newton was busted REPEATEDLY with GARBAGE BAGS full of marijuana in the trunk of his car while playing and each time got a slap on the wrist. He wasn't sent to jail until AFTER he left the Dallas Cowboys.

6. Ray Lewis had a double murder occur in the master bedroom of his home but a friend who was at the party/get together went to prison for it. Ray was cleared of all charges as his friend fessed up and Ray testified against him.

7. Ben Roethlissburger was accused of sexual assault.

8. Kobe Bryant was accused of sexual assault.

9. Lawrence Taylor was arrested multiple times with cocaine, but wasn't prosecuted until his playing days ended.

10. Daryl Strawberry was arrested multiple times with cocainebut wasn't prosecuted until his playing days ended.

11. Dwight Gooden was arrested multiple times with cocaine but not prosecuted until his playing days ended.


Athletes who are still playing their respective sports, with the notable exceptions of Dog Boy (Michael Vick) and Plaxico Burress are RARELY charged for any crime of which they're accused and in the rare instances when they ARE charged get feather-light slaps on the wrist.
Go to ANY public school and you'll see student athletes holding their heads high as lions leading their pride as they stride hallways between classes secure in the knowledge that they needn't attend classes as long as they perform.

College athletic departments have frequent headaches caused by student athletes with criminal histories. High school athletics never has a "bake sale" or a car wash to raise money as the funding is always there. College athletics receives THEIR funding before any academic departments. Professors will be fired before a single coach (unless it's women's athletics). More and more colleges are doing away with tenure so that they can more easily rid themselves of pesky tenured profs who will fight to keep their departments alive. A high school chemestry teacher with 20 years gets less respect than Rodney Dangerfield while a football coach with a winning season is treated like a god. A doctor could cure cancer and probably still wouldn't be as highly regarded as a quasi-literate professional athlete.

We coddle people who are good at baseball, basketball, football and hockey from the cradle to the grave and we wonder why so many of them have delusions of granduer.

Yes I am aware of the Irony of decrying professional atheletics on a message board for a professional football team.
 
Dread-Head said:
3. Mr. Warren Moon allegedly beat his wife Felicia on more than one occasion but wasn't charged until his playing days ended.
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On tangent...sorry...

Story I heard from an officer on scene was that the wifey made a trip to the galleria and spent almost a 1/4 million dollars on clothing, perfume, and other unnecessary crap. Warren flipped when he found out.
 
Dread-Head said:
Athletes who are still playing their respective sports, with the notable exceptions of Dog Boy (Michael Vick) and Plaxico Burress are RARELY charged for any crime of which they're accused and in the rare instances when they ARE charged get feather-light slaps on the wrist.
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I don't know whether Plaxico got charged light or ordinary. Vick actually got off light. What he ultimately confessed to the feds, i.e. almost an automatic conviction, was up to 25 years in state law violations and they decided not to prosecute at all.
 
rmartin65 said:
Sure sounds like committing murder is no biggie so long as you are Christian.

In fact, it sounds like so long as you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and ask for forgiveness, then you can get away with pretty much anything. Must be nice to see religion as a get out of jail free (literally) card.

*Just to be clear, I am not attacking Christianity/religion here. Only the idea posted above.
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Not to get this too far into Christianity but what I think he means is yes you will be forgiven for your sins, however you must atone for what you have done. This is done through sacrifice, forgiveness of others, confession of sin and repentance. These things must take place in the eyes of God, not man.
 
powda said:
On tangent...sorry...

Story I heard from an officer on scene was that the wifey made a trip to the galleria and spent almost a 1/4 million dollars on clothing, perfume, and other unnecessary crap. Warren flipped when he found out.
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I'd have been pissed too! Not spousal battery pissed...but pissed.
 
Ray Lewis had a double murder occur in the master bedroom of his home but a friend who was at the party/get together went to prison for it. Ray was cleared of all charges as his friend fessed up and Ray testified against him.
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Story I heard from an officer on scene was that the wifey made a trip to the galleria and spent almost a 1/4 million dollars on clothing, perfume, and other unnecessary crap. Warren flipped when he found out.
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First time I head of these accounts. Heard a lot, but not these versions.
 
infantrycak said:
I don't know whether Plaxico got charged light or ordinary. Vick actually got off light. What he ultimately confessed to the feds, i.e. almost an automatic conviction, was up to 25 years in state law violations and they decided not to prosecute at all.
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Te part of the Vick case lost on most people is that Vick was part of a huge gambling operation.

This was NOT lost on the NFL.

Burress got what the law called for- there was no 'play' in his sentence.
 
playa465 said:
Not to get this too far into Christianity but what I think he means is yes you will be forgiven for your sins, however you must atone for what you have done. This is done through sacrifice, forgiveness of others, confession of sin and repentance. These things must take place in the eyes of God, not man.
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I plan to repent on my death bed.
 
Pollardized said:
Where did I say murder was ok? I said he is redeemed, he is forgiven for his sins. Just like you, me and everyone else is when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and ask for forgiveness.
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Question, if he were innocent why would he need to be forgiven by God for this crime?

If he is not innocent then how can he be forgiven by God if he is not repentant? To be forgiven the Bible says one must repent and turn around from his sin. Part of repenting is admitting your sin or guilt.

If Ray Lewis truly committed this crime and truly became a Christian, the first thing he would need to do to have a clear concience and standing before God would be to admit this heinous crime and turn himself in to the authorities. As a Christian he must render his "due to Cesar" and pay for his crime.

One can claim to be a Christian, accepted Jesus .. blah blah. However if you don't act in harmony with your belief it means nothing. Merely claming the latter is not some magical get out of jail free card.
 
Hookem Horns said:
Question, if he were innocent why would he need to be forgiven by God for this crime?

If he is not innocent then how can he be forgiven by God if he is not repentant? To be forgiven the Bible says one must repent and turn around from his sin. Part of repenting is admitting your sin or guilt.

If Ray Lewis truly committed this crime and truly became a Christian, the first thing he would need to do to have a clear concience and standing before God would be to admit this heinous crime and turn himself in to the authorities. As a Christian he must render his "due to Cesar" and pay for his crime.

One can claim to be a Christian, accepted Jesus .. blah blah. However if you don't act in harmony with your belief it means nothing. Merely claming the latter is not some magical get out of jail free card.
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Funny thing about the "deathbed repentence" it only works if it's sincere. If you plan in advance to do it and hope to get in on a "technicality" it doesn't work.
 
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