It’s a conversation I don’t enjoy having with people, but it seems to always come up on Sundays during football season.
A white and black jerseywith No. 52 printed on the back shows my devotion to the Baltimore Ravens, but it also displays my support for one of the greatest football players I’ve ever seen — Ray Lewis.
“How can you support a murderer?” “You know he stabbed a guy, right?”
For years, I’ve heard many criticize the man I looked up to throughout my childhood —the man I will watch enter the NFL Hall of Fame on Saturday night.
There aren't too many football fans I know who are bigger Ray Lewis fans than me. I have multiple Lewis jerseys, a signed copy of his book and a poster of him on my wall. I even learned his signature pre-game dance when I was younger.
But the opinion of Lewis seems to be either you love him or hate him — there’s no in between.
For the most part, the latter stems from one night in Atlanta in January 2000. Lewis was present at a nightclub when a fight broke out, resulting in a stabbing and the deaths of two individuals.
Days later, Lewis and two friends were indicted on murder and aggravated-assault charges. During the trial, murder charges were dismissed against Lewis in a plea agreement, and the Ravens’ linebacker was found guilty of obstruction of justice.
A year later, Lewis was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV, leading the Ravens to their first championship in franchise history.
For nearly two decades, Lewis was the most fierce and dominant linebacker in the NFL, racking up numerous pro bowl selections, two Defensive Player of the Year awards and a second Super Bowl trophy in the final game of his career.
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Since Lewis was first announced as an inductee for the 2018 Hall of Fame class, I’ve heard several people say he doesn’t deserve it because of his controversial past.
But Lewis deserves to be in the hall of fame regardless of what he did off the field. The esteemed honor should be based off what a player did while wearing pads and a helmet — just ask Terrell Owens.
Unlike the baseball hall of fame, the NFL’s biggest fraternity doesn’t have a “character clause.”
Even if there was one, it’s this Ravens fan’s belief that Lewis still deserves a spot in the hall of fame.
Lewis has been veryactive in Baltimore, starting the Ray Lewis 52 Foundation which helps disadvantaged youths. He also received an “Act of Kindness” awardfor his work throughout the area.
He’s inspired many young athletes, helped families throughout Baltimore and left a permanent mark on Ravensfans near and far. I mean, he’s one of two players with a statue in front of M&T Bank Stadium — the man is larger than life.
I feel it’s safe to say there are more Ravens fans throughout Delmarva than fans of any other NFL team. The Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles definitely have their share of fans, butBaltimore still holds the crown.
Lewis is more than a football player to Ravens fans. Recently, he’s become a reminder of brighter days when the team was consistentlycompeting for a Super Bowl crown.
The linebacker made fans feel like they were part of the team, part of the Ravens’ family.
When the cameras zoomed in on one of Lewis’ famous speeches to his teammates, you felt like you were in the huddle, preparing to head out on the gridiron and tackle the quarterback.
Since 1996, when you thought of the Baltimore Ravens, you thought of Ray Lewis.
While several teams have a player like that — the New England Patriots' Tom Brady, the Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton and the New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees — it doesn’t necessarily mean that player has a strong impact throughout the NFL.
But that’s not the case for Lewis — he changed the linebacker position during his 17 seasons. Just ask any athlete who plays the position today.
So, let Ray Lewis and Ravens fans have their day. It’s been a long five seasons without him, and we need something to celebrate.
The additions of Lamar Jackson and others have given fans hope for the future, but I think it’s still a stretch to say the Ravens will be playing for a Super Bowl in 2018.
You may hate Lewis for what he did off the field, how he helped defeat your favorite team or for some other personal reason.
But regardless, there’s no denying it — Ray Lewis deserves his hall of fame induction.
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