Ray Lewis visits with 10-year-old orphan

[Spider-Dan]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-riverdeaths-survivor

I hadn't heard about this story, but apparently, a few weeks ago, a 25-year-old woman in NY state drove a van with 4 children in it into the Hudson River after an argument with her boyfriend.  This 10-year-old boy, La'Shaun Armstrong, was able to escape through a window and was rescued by a passing driver.  (He is now living with his grandmother.)  Ray Lewis met with the kid and took him bowling, while another player, former Panthers CB Reggie Howard, took him shopping for a new suit.

But that's not really the reason why I made this post.  The reason why I made this post is because for this article about Ray Lewis making this charitable visit to a traumatized kid in need, of all the thousands of stock photos of Lewis that Yahoo Sports could have used for this article, here's the one they chose:



Come on, Yahoo.  Really?

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

This is the text with the photo.....

FILE - This Nov. 7, 2010, file photo shows Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall(notes) carrying the ball past Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis(notes) during the first half of an NFL football game, in Baltimore. Marshall's wife is accused of stabbing the Miami Dolphins wide receiver and has been arrested on a domestic violence charge, according to a police report. The report, which was posted on The South Florida Sun Sentinel's website, says Michi Nogami-Marshall stabbed her husband with a kitchen knife Friday, April 22, 2011.

Seems like they are working two stories into one. 

[DZA]

I laughed because I thought it was Ted Ginn

[masterfins]

Lewis belongs in jail, he abetted a murderer.

[Spider-Dan]

I laughed because I thought it was Ted Ginn

The receiver in the picture appears to have caught the ball, and is running away from a sideline.  Those should have been your two major clues that Ginn was not pictured.

[Pappy13]

^^ LOL.  Nice one Spider. 

[Phishfan]

Lewis belongs in jail, he abetted a murderer.

He testified in court while recounting a false statement he gave previously. He was punished for obstruction of justice. I think he paid his debt.

[BigDaddyFin]

of all the thousands of stock photos of Lewis that Yahoo Sports could have used for this article, here's the one they chose:



Come on, Yahoo.  Really?

Yes really. Most plays end with Ray Lewis on his ass these days.  He's not the dominant player he was and he was never the all universe linebacker he was made out to be. 

[Spider-Dan]

BigDaddyFin, even if the article was about Aaron Maybin (who was never anything to begin with), I'd expect that you'd show a reasonably decent picture (say, Maybin at the draft) rather than him getting his ankles broken.  The story is about Lewis' charitable work.  No need to kick the guy when he's down.

[masterfins]

He testified in court while recounting a false statement he gave previously. He was punished for obstruction of justice. I think he paid his debt.

Far from paying his debt.  He helped cover up the stabbing, which led to his two friends being acquitted of the murder.  The clothes he wore that night were never recovered.  He paid off the family of the dead man to settle a civil suit.  He is scum!

[BigDaddyFin]

BigDaddyFin, even if the article was about Aaron Maybin (who was never anything to begin with), I'd expect that you'd show a reasonably decent picture (say, Maybin at the draft) rather than him getting his ankles broken.  The story is about Lewis' charitable work.  No need to kick the guy when he's down.

I would agree Spider, but also remember that Journalism isn't what it used to be either.  This is probably what happened.

Yahoo editor: We gotta do a feel good story about an NFL player.
Yahoo staff writer: The only guy I know is Ray Lewis cause he's on that commercial and he has an awesome nickname.
Editor: Yeah he's always in those commercials and was in the news a few years back.  Who does he play for?
Writer: I don't know some purple team.   
Editor: Great that'll add some color to the page.   Ok find a story where he does something nice for a little kid.  That'll bring in the human interest angle.
Writer: Ok I'll use the search engine and see if I can get a picture of the guy.
Editor:  Oh awesome.  The other guy's wearing aqua.  Colors colors everywhere.  This'll be so eye catching.  I'll bet we get a million hits from it.

[EKnight]

Yes really. Most plays end with Ray Lewis on his ass these days.  He's not the dominant player he was and he was never the all universe linebacker he was made out to be. 

Wonder how the Chargers and Darren Sproles feel about that? Ray was one of the best linebackers I've ever seen. The Ravens D he anchored didn't allow a 100 yard rusher for 51 straight games. 51...think about that. That's sick! Either way, not sure why some of the other members are so negative. Ray didn't murder anyone. He didn't aid and abet. He was found guilty of a misdemeanor eleven years ago. Get over it. He hasn't had any issues with the law at any other point is his career. No domestic violence. No drug charges. No failed test for PEDs. Continuing to say he murdered someone is libel. -EK

[BigDaddyFin]

Wonder how the Chargers and Darren Sproles feel about that? Ray was one of the best linebackers I've ever seen. The Ravens D he anchored didn't allow a 100 yard rusher for 51 straight games. 51...think about that. That's sick! Either way, not sure why some of the other members are so negative. Ray didn't murder anyone. He didn't aid and abet. He was found guilty of a misdemeanor eleven years ago. Get over it. He hasn't had any issues with the law at any other point is his career. No domestic violence. No drug charges. No failed test for PEDs. Continuing to say he murdered someone is libel. -EK

wasn't referring to his issues with the law, although another poster did.  And I would contest that the anchor of that defense hasn't been Ray Lewis in a long time but rather Ed Reed.  I do however feel that Lewis is overrated and here's why. 

Ravens run a 4-3 defense with Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa whose job it is to simply keep blockers off Ray Lewis:  Ray Lewis is an all-pro.
Ravens switch to a 3-4 in 2002 and Ray now has to fight off blockers on his own:  He's an average linebacker all of a sudden. 
Ravens go back to a semi 4-3/46 hybrid.  Suddenly he's all-pro again. 

Weakness in Ray Lewis's game: he doesn't fight off blockers well and never really did.  He's also mediocre in pass coverage unless your name is Kerry Collins.  Does anyone remember any other "elite" middle linebacker who couldn't fight off blockers?  Anyone at all?

Is Ray Lewis a good player?  Yes he is.  Does the NFL pump the shit out of him?  Yes they do.  Is he as good as his press?  I don't think so.  The Ravens' reputation does a lot for them, and unless the Dolphins can be mentally tough enough to get beyond that, they're going to continue to have problems with Baltimore.  Notice they haven't been back to the Superbowl in a very long time.  They run into the Colts, Steelers or Patriots in the playoffs and that's pretty much the end for them. 

[Spider-Dan]

I do however feel that Lewis is overrated and here's why. 

Ravens run a 4-3 defense with Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa whose job it is to simply keep blockers off Ray Lewis:  Ray Lewis is an all-pro.
Ravens switch to a 3-4 in 2002 and Ray now has to fight off blockers on his own:  He's an average linebacker all of a sudden. 
Ravens go back to a semi 4-3/46 hybrid.  Suddenly he's all-pro again.

Lots of MLBs benefit from big boys up front, yet they aren't in the discussion of best middle linebacker of all time.

Is Ray Lewis a good player?  Yes he is.  Does the NFL pump the shit out of him?  Yes they do.  Is he as good as his press?  I don't think so.  The Ravens' reputation does a lot for them, and unless the Dolphins can be mentally tough enough to get beyond that, they're going to continue to have problems with Baltimore.

The Ravens are not the Cowboys or Steelers or Packers.  The only reputation they have is what Ray Lewis himself was personally involved in establishing (he was literally the first draft pick of the Ravens' franchise).

That's like saying that Belichick and Brady aren't that good... they are overhyped because of the Patriots' mystique.

[BigDaddyFin]

Lots of MLBs benefit from big boys up front, yet they aren't in the discussion of best middle linebacker of all time.
The Ravens are not the Cowboys or Steelers or Packers.  The only reputation they have is what Ray Lewis himself was personally involved in establishing (he was literally the first draft pick of the Ravens' franchise).

To answer, Spider:

And yet with all the hype people still mention him among the names Butkus, Nitschke, Singletary and Lambert.  That's the point I was making.

and I disagree.  Brady and Belichick ARE that good, not because of their mystique but because they've been back to the Superbowl 4 times.  If you still disagree with me Spider, try it this way and see if you understand what I'm getting at. 

I contend simply the following:
Ray Lewis is not Dick Butkus, or Ray Nitschke, because Ray Nitschke and Dick Butkus were better than average in pass coverage and could shed blockers

and The Baltimore Ravens have been propped up to be the new version of the "Raider Mystique."  The better teams in the AFC particularly don't give in to that, and that the Dolphins shouldn't give in to it if they want to be a legit Superbowl contender again.

If you still find flaw with my logic, that's cool, or maybe I'm way off in my instincts.  That's just the way I see it.