Ravens fly towards a 2nd Super Bowl Ring

i know i'm late with the post but Congratualtions to the Baltimore Ravens on winning the 2nd Super Bowl in franchie history beating the San Francisco 49ERS 34-31!! Special shoutouts to Joe Flacco,Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Joe Flacco became a Superbowl MVP which was something i'd never thought i would say. Kudos to him for having the confidence to say he IS a franchise QB and then going out and proving myself and the rest of the world he is by performing like on e in the postseason. Ray Lewis will end is career a Champion and Ed Reed is finally what he has always played like year in and year out and that is a CHAMPION!!

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

Throwback Thursday:Terrell Davis

With the NFL playoffs quickly approaching I’ve began to discuss who I think will win the super bowl amongst friends of mine and I usually bring up the Denver Broncos Peyton Manning is playing like an MVP. Which made me think about the Broncos super bowls in the 90's and the MVP Players on it. Terrell Davis in particular who was so dominant is the subject of today’s throwback Thursday.

He was one of those guys that when you look on the back of his topps football card and saw where he got drafted you would be shocked that he was a 6^th round pick. If you look further down that card you would see that he was a straight up beast and the best Running back in the NFL for a little bit. He was an impact from day 1 in his rookie season in 1995 he became the lowest drafted Running back ever to gain 1,000 yards in a season with 1,117 yards and 7 touchdowns. Two years later he found himself with 157 yards and three touchdowns in one of the greatest Performances in super bowl history. In the span of 2 years he went from 6^th round draft pick to Super bowl MVP, I Know it's crazy!

It gets better though in the following season of 1998 he went out and decided to dominate the game like few running backs ever have. He joined the exclusive 2,000 yard club rushing for 2,008 yards and score 21 touchdowns. He was the focal point for a Bronco team that won a 2^nd straight Super bowl. With A 2,000 Yard rushing season, A rushing title, MVP and Super Bowl MVP and 1,000 yard seasons all I have to say is “SCOUTS DO YOUR HOMEWORK”. It may have only been 7 season but “T.D” left his mark on the league.

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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Ryan Kalil "The guarantee "

@RyanKalil

This past Wednesday Carolina Panthers Pro-bowl center Ryan Kalil said the boldest words I’ve ever heard anybody ever say in a Panther uniform. He took out an ad in the Charlotte Observer too proclaim that the Carolina Panthers would claim the franchises 1st ever super bowl. In the letter he wrote he thanked the fans for the unwavering support they continue to receive year in and year out. I love his prediction for so many different reasons. For so many years as a diehard fan of this team I have seen us fall short of the ultimate goal plenty of times. In 2003 we fell too Tom Brady and the New England Patriots by a goal. Then in 2005 we fell to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC championship game. Then in 2008 after dominating the NFL to a 12-4 record going in as the 2 seed we get steamrolled by the Arizona Cardinals in Jake Delhommes worst game ever. Where I’m trying to get at is I love this guarantee because Kalil has now set a standard and a good kind of pressure for everybody who puts the black and blue on to do the little things right day in and day out. Personally just as a fan I think this team has more talent then the one that made the super bowl in 03. The guarantee gave something I have never seen any Panther team exude and that is supreme confidence. I don’t care who you are you don’t say what Kalil said without having confidence and the backing of a whole locker room. He isn’t as crazy as people think he is this team has potential to produce 4-6 pro bowlers there is plenty of talent on the Panthers to compete with just about anybody in the NFL. When you have a guy like Cam Newton running your offense you know you are gonna put points up on the board, The only problem with the Carolina was the Defense didn’t do its part. Hopefully with the upgrades of Reggie Smith, Nakumarua, Luck Kuechely and a healthy Jon Beason the defense should be solid they don’t need to be spectacular but they need to stay middle of the pack like 15th-20th and they will be fine. Most of the Panthers toughest out of division opponents are all playing them at home. Giants, Broncos and the Dallas Cowboys all make a trip to the Queen city where historically the Panthers play better. Kalil and his promise have endeared him to the fans and that is why he made the promise in the first place the fans. He said “It was for them we haven’t given them a whole lot to cheer about the last few years”. He is right fans continue to support the team regardless of the record, Carolina is on a 90+ consecutive sellout streak at Bank of America stadium. People look at the 6-10 record from the previous year but don’t realize that the Panthers lost 6 games by a touchdown or less, so it wasn’t like teams were steamrolling us. With upgrades at the teams weakest positions this team is primed and ready to take on the NFL’S elite and I believe as a fan that this could be a special year. We have the talent to do so and now we have new found swagger that I’ve never seen before so im looking forward to a great season and too what I hope is the coronation of the Queen City with a Super Bowl Trophy.

Throwback Thursday: "Broadway" Joe Namath

Today is Thursday and you already know that means it’s throwback Thursday here at the Tru school. Just want to thank everybody who read and gave me love on last weeks article on Muggsy Bouges, This week though we take a look at the Hall of Fame Super bowl champion  “Broadway” Joe Namath.

@RealJoeNamath

Very few players represent a standard that future players need to live up too but when you play for the NY Jets and you start at quarterback you will always be compared to Joe Namath. He is the Gold standard for anybody who puts on a uniform to play QB New York Jets. Namath in many ways represents New york city while he achieved greatness on the gridiron his blooming personality and appeal to women allowed him to get a career in acting. Appearing on shows such as the Brady Bunch Namath earned the nickname “Broadway”. As much as he was Broadway he was still a football player. He was most famous for his super bowl 3 prediction when he came out and guaranteed a victory against the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. Joe earned lots of criticism and people thought he was crazy for saying that. When the clock was done ticking and the smoke had cleared Joe “Broadway” Namath arose victorious shocking the sports world in what was called “The greatest upset in pro football history”. When the game ended Namath stormed off the field rasing his right hand running towards the tunnel at the orange bowl his hand had the #1 telling the Miami crowd that his Jets were the champs. He was later named the super bowl 3 MVP. Jets fans usually have goose bumbs when talking about him. Why wouldn’t they? He brought the organization its 1st and only Vince Lombardi trophie. Namath represents a lot of what the Jets and New York is full of and that’s a bunch of Underdogs who triumph over all the overbearing odds too achieve a common goal. That goal is too simply be called “Champion”