Ray Lewis: The Faith The Leader The Champion

Passion-Strong and barely controllable emotion

This word has defined Ray Lewis his whole career. From his pre game speeches to his moments of humility after reigning victorious it is the Faith driven passion that has willed the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl appearance and goal of Making Ray Lewis go out on top as he already announced this will be his last season in the NFL.

17 years of accolades doesn’t do this man justice his impact stretches far beyond the gridiron. He is a man driven by faith as I stated earlier and that Faith has inspired many people to do great things. Watching him speak to teammates in the huddle isn't just something football players can appreciate, it's something humanity can appreciate. “Love Conquers all, but if love doesn’t try hard work” was an eloquent quotation from the future hall of famer that resonates with me. Its something we can apply to in our everyday life. Ray Ray is a public speaker who has gone through many hardships in his life off the gridiron, when you sit there and listen to the passion in his voice and witness the intensity in his eyes you realize you are in the presence of greatness.

It has been 17 seasons of being one of the most feared Line backers and best defensive players to ever put on pads in the NFL. Through all the up and downs here Ray Lewis sits 1 win away from further Cementing his legacy in NFL lure and going out a on top a Champion with his 2^nd Super Bowl Ring. Football fans all across America have relished and enjoyed every second of #52's Career and for one last time we get to see the Passion, Alpha Dog mentality and love of the game. I don't care if you are Ravens fan or a 49ERS Fan you have to respect what this guy has done for the game.

To many times I don't think we celebrate athletes for being great people but that is exactly what Ray Lewis embodies to football players,People and Leaders every where. His work with His Ray Lewis 52 foundation has done so much for the disadvantage youth in Baltimore. Giving families thousands upon thousands in turkeys for thanksgivings as well as backpacks and school supplies for kids. The most impressive thing to me is how he awards kids with the most priceless thing ever which is an education rewarding underprivileged kids scholarships to go get their college education.

So as Ray Ray steps on to the field at the Superdome in New Orleans gives us one last hoorah and shows the 25 gm's who passed on him in the draft in 96 that they were wrong think of Lewis as more then a football player. Enjoy the Passion and the swagger he brings to the Ravens defense and be ready for what I expect to be the Cherry on top of a great Career.

• 13 time pro bowler
• 2 time Defensive player of the Year
• 2,050 TACKLES
• 2000 Super Bowl Champion
• 2 time AFC Champion
• #Greatness

R.I.P Sean Taylor

It was about 2:34 on a Saturday afternoon in mid November in South Florida and just like most Saturdays this time of year I was glued to the TV watching “The U” play. So what made this particular day about 8 years ago so special? I watched  Sean Taylor Light up a receiver coming across the middle for the 1st time on that day. I had fallen in love with defense that very moment. I knew then at 8 years of age that this guy was different then  most players…..He was Special.

This past week marked the 5 year anniversary of Former UM great and Washington Redskins Sean Taylor’s Death unexpected death. It was a shock to everyone in the world of football. I never knew Sean Taylor never met him but he seemed like a great person I heard nothing but great things about him off the field and saw nothing but greatness on it. When the Washington Redskins drafted him i knew they had found a leader and a franchise player for that defense for many years to come.He had some of the best instincts any football player could have, was a fundmentaly sound tackler, and had all the athletic gifts in the world  to cover the field he was a true quarterback of a defense.He was an incredible football player and had he not been shot there is no doubt in my mind that he would have went down as one of the greatest safeties to ever play the game of football. In sports it’s very seldom that we use the term “Class Act” when referring to athletes but Sean Taylor was a class act. He was a true talent and to this day it pains me to watch highlights of him because I think “What if” but every year around this time I feel its right that this man get his just due for being great on and off the field. To many times we criticize athletes for being one dimensional in terms of behavior off the field and performance on it this guy was consistent. So even though I know I am a bit late I feel it’s right that I respectfully say R.I.P to Sean Taylor My favorite UM player and safety ever!!

Throwback Thursday:Vince Lombardi

Its been a few weeks since I actually posted anything for Throwback Thursday because of school and all this homework and studying. So instead of 1 like usual im going to do 2. The NFL season is this Sunday and im really excited Fantasy football will be in full swing. More importantly the Dolphins and Panthers will open up the season in they’re quest for the Vince Lombardi trophy (Superbowl) . That’s who we will talk about today Vince Lombardi  and all the great things he did with the Packers for football.

Lombardi- A name that identify’s  with greatness both past and present. Players who lift up the Superbowl Hardware are lifting up up the most famous trophy in all of pro sports with his name on it. It exemplifies the pain struggle and all adversity all champions had to go through in order to obtain the ultimate team prize. He once exclaimed the famous quip “ Winners never quit and quitters never win” this still holds true to this day in anything you do in life. Who is Vince Lombardi? Many do not know of this mans intelligence and what he did for the game of football. There is a reason that the Green Bay Packers became arguably footballs most iconic franchise, Vince Lombardi was a huge reason why. The Packers captured 8 championships in his time as head coach (6 NFL Championships and 2 superbowls). Coaching the likes of Lambeau Legends Bart Starr and Jerry Kramer the Packers in the 1960’s were one of sports most dominant dynasties. “ Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing” . How many people know about the “ Packers Sweep” ? It was basically a running play using misdirection and some down blocking to create seals and seems in the defense to create alleys for running backs to find daylight and run up the field for a big chunks of yardage and touchdowns. Lombardi breaks it down in the video below you need big tough physical offensive line men willing to get there hands dirty in order to create room for the running back. “You need a seal here, and a seal here and try to run this play in the alley” . The sweep is rarely used anymore because the NFL has become a pass happy league driven by quarterbacks. It was still a huge development in the game of football. Vince Lombardi left an indelible mark on the NFL with the Packers Winning a 149 games, 8 Championships and produced multitude of hall of famers. He made the Green and yellow famous

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The Starting point:2012 NFL Season

Tonight marks the starting point of a Long and gruesome journey known as the NFL regular season. In Canton,Ohio Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints take on Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals at 8:00 on NFL Network in the annual hall of fame game. The result obviously doesn’t matter but for football junkies across the nation seeing the pigskin being thrown, the sound of pads hitting each other is a welcome sight. Over the next 20+ weeks the unexpected will happen. Careers will end,careers will come out of nowhere. Upsets will happen and critics will be proven wrong. Guys who we didn’t know months ago will become household names. Fantasy Football leagues will start up soon. People will come out victorious and some will be humiliated. The boss at the office will be the main target in the company fantasy football league. With Football returning tonight we are closer too the holidays. Thanksgiving Football creeps closer and you and the family will gather around with the welcoming odors of mash potatoes, Pumpkin pie and hopefully if your team is on the gridiron that day a win. The beginning of the week tradition known as “Monday Night Football” is inching closer and im sure many in our country are anxiously awaiting too see some of the leagues most electrifying players slug it out in primtime. The start of preseason marks the Sunday tradition of regular season tailgating inching ever so close. Hot Dogs, burgers, Bratwurst  and passing the football in stadium parking lots is rapidly approaching. Waking up in the mourning and immediately putting on your favorite players jersey as a ritual is weeks away. Inner family rivalrys arguing who’s team is better you say the 1985 Chicago Bears are the greatest team ever. Looking in disgust your brother from Wisconsin says they shouldn’t even breath the same air as the Vince Lombardi Green bay Packer teams. Its rival fans arguing who they think is better like Tom Brady or Dan Marino. Its 70,000+ fans yelling “Who dat who dat who dat say dey gon beat dem saints”. It’s guys like Maurice Jones-Drew and Cam Newton making the impossible look routine. The upcoming season will bring us moments we never thought were even imaginable like “music city miracle” or David tyree’s catch. It’s the trash talking between rivals like Steelers-Ravens and Jets-Patriots. As fans we will experience many emotions this year Pain, Suffering , Nostalgia, Euphoria but as diehard fans we will wear our colors proudly. Whether you are sporting the Black and Electric blue of the Carolina Panthers or the Black and silver of the Oakland Raiders we will be there for our teams. The next 20+ weeks will take teams fans from every fan base through a seemingly never ending rollercoaster of emotions. So sit back try to relax, grab a coke and a smile and enjoy the 2012 NFL season