For 13 years, middle linebacker Ray Lewis was the heart and soul of a ferocious and intimidating defense that set an NFL record in 2000 by allowing a mere 165 points during the 16-game regular season. His emotional leadership never wavered and was rewarded with two Super Bowl rings, including one secured in his last game in uniform,when the Baltimore Ravens defeated San Francisco in his swan song. In his autobiography, however, Lewis reveals a life and career that has been filled with as many challenges as triumphs, especially off the field. Most notable was his guilty plea on obstruction of justice charges in connection with the stabbing deaths of two men in Atlanta after a Super Bowl party. Lewis today projects a more fatherly, settled image as a devoted dad an ESPN football analyst.
Here’s an excerpt from I Feel Like Going On:
“That final home game – man, it was something. I talked to [coach] John Harbaugh before the game, made sure he was good with me bringing one of those little cameras out there on the field. Didn’t want him thinking it was a distraction, that I was disrespecting the game in any way. You’re not really supposed to do that, you know, take a camera out there with you. But I wanted to capture everything, hold it close, because we weren’t coming back to Baltimore. Whatever happened, here on in, this was my last dance in front of the home crowd – and that stadium was electric. It’s like the whole city was crammed inside that building, everybody hopped up on Red Bull and coffee, jumping up and down. It was exciting. It was emotional. It was crazy. I kept my helmet on, because I didn’t want the whole world to see me crying. It’s like I had my own little suit of armor, my shield. I hid behind that helmet, hid behind that little camera, kept my crying to myself.”
