
As has been widely reported today, Ray Lewis has told his teammates that he will retire after this season. By talking about retirement before the season is over he's cheating everything he did in the offseason and cheating every one of his teammates.
Seem a little harsh? It does to me too. Those aren't my words, they're his. Reading about his retirement today I flashed back to our meeting with him before the week 3 game between the Ravens and Patriots. His exact quote (or as close as I got from my notes at the time):
"If I ever talk about retirement during the season, I cheat everything I did in the offseason. I cheat every one of my teammates." -Ray Lewis
I guess 'during the season' doesn't include the playoffs. I'm just having a little fun with Ray. We all know what he's doing, he's giving the 'let's win one for the Gipper' speech in the first person.
Ray Lewis is the heart of the Ravens, maybe more than any player ever has been for any team. He was a Raven before they ever played a game and has played in every one of their 17 seasons. No player inspires loyalty quite like Ray Lewis, the team will be fired up. The stadium, already playing the scorned lover to the team that jilted them, will be crazy. I can't wait to watch it, assuming of course that I don't die of frostbite in Wisconsin.