that he wound up in Baltimore and has brought us so many victories and pride in his battles in purple since 1996.
And make no mistake about it, I’m the biggest fan of the Baltimore Ravens you’ll ever meet. I’ve missed four games in 15 years, home and away. My entire life is built around the football team so to some degree Ray Lewis is a central figure in my life and the life of my company and my legacy whether he wants to be or not.
But I know that deep down there’s a good person underneath all of the bombast and larger-than-life Superman persona.
The night he drove across town to do my show at The Barn back in 1997 was unforgettable. The Nice Guy Award ceremony back in 1997 was also a fun night and a great memory.
I actually gave him and his friends a ride at the 1998 Super Bowl in San Diego because he was staying at my hotel and couldn’t get a cab.
But I realize for all of the fame and fortune and glory he’s also had a very, very rough road to now.
And he’s a survivor.
He almost lost EVERYTHING back in Atlanta in 2000.
And ten years later he’s emerged as a superhero.
And being a superhero ain’t easy especially when your life is already complicated and full of demands and needs a full and directed energy 24 hours a day.
It’s not easy being Ray Lewis — that’s NEVER lost on me!
There’s a lot that’s gone into that legendary figure but nothing more important than his long hours of training and commitment to being the greatest football player ever.
Tomorrow, we’ll examine the many complex roles of Ray Lewis and how he arrived at 2010 with a myriad of options for his future legacy, charitable and civic endeavors.
