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http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=11905
This is an old article, but new to me.
http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=11905
This year will mark Ray Lewis’ 10th holding down the defense of the Baltimore Ravens. Throughout that decade, the Florida-born linebacker has dug deep roots in the city he now calls home. He opened Ray Lewis’ Full Moon Bar-B-Que in Canton in 2005, has preached at various local churches, and has been giving back to at-risk kids and their families through his Ray Lewis Foundation, the organization behind the second annual Ray’s Summer Days charity event that’s happening at various locations around the city this weekend. But a telephone chat with this linebacker of steel reveals that under that tough physical exterior is a man who’s concerned about kids in this city and abroad, and his own four children. For Lewis, life is not all about football.
City Paper: Why are you having Ray’s Summer Days?
Ray Lewis: Ray’s Summer Days was kind of a branch off of my Ray Lewis Foundation weekend that I used to do by itself. My cause for Ray’s Summer Days is linked to my cause for the Ray Lewis Foundation, to benefit at-risk youth here in Baltimore. I love to go out and see kids, and I love to go out and create smiles. And that’s what my foundation is based off of.
Growing up—I wasn’t the richest kid. So for me, to go back and give to a kid who has less material things—shoes, clothes, toys . . . during Thanksgiving I tried to feed over 400 or 500 families. And on Christmas I try to do Christmas drives. And for back-to-school, I try to give backpacks and pencils. I [also try] to give back to my high school and to little league teams. There are so many things that I like to do [under the foundation].
What does it feel like when you see a kid you help melt into smiles?
It’s what drives me to never quit in anything in life. Most kids don’t realize it, they touch [my heart] when they tell me they love me and they watch me [play football on TV] all of the time. They don’t realize how much strength that gives me to keep going on.
You also plan to have an EA Madden Challenge, and whomever wins will get to play you. How is it playing Madden 2006 and being yourself? Does the Madden player in the virtual world really capture the real Ray Lewis?
No! (laughs) I believe it does, to a certain extent. I do play [Madden] from time to time. My kids know more about more moves than I do.
Are you as competitive about Madden as you are about the real deal?
In everything I do in life. I don’t care what video game it is. If you tell me you can drink a glass of water faster than me, I’ll bet you.
After a season of knocking out big husky players, don’t you ever just want to get fat like the rest of us? Don’t you just want to go to the nearest Baskin-Robbins, pick up a spoon, and just hang out?
Hmmn-nnn. No. . . . Years ago, I used to go in the stores and pick up bags of candy. Snickers, Twix, and everything. I used to eat a whole pint of butter pecan ice cream. But now, I don’t do it for health reasons. I can’t walk around eating all of that stuff or I’ll go out on the field and pass out.
How many tries did it take to get that Ray Lewis pregame dance down to a science? Do you practice it in front of a mirror at home?
Yeah, I practice my intro! I’ve been doing that dance for years. Even in my days of being in my dance group, which I won’t go into . . .
Aside from yourself, who has the best dance moves in the NFL?
You know who I really love to see do something is Chad Johnson. He is so creative. And it’s funny, because I treat him as my younger brother. He always calls me and says, “Give me something else to do.”
Some players go back to their homes elsewhere in the off-season. Why have you decided to make Baltimore your home? Does that mean that you would stay in Baltimore?
For the rest of my life. I’m never leaving Baltimore. Baltimore is me. God let me know that He has a divine purpose for me being here. I used to just drive downtown and see the things that [kids] were going through, the poverty, the confusion and crime. And my number one thing was, “You know what, [God]? I know why you have me here. To be a light in the midst of darkness.”
Ed Reed has emerged as a leader on your team, and Steve McNair may become the new quarterback. But up until now everyone has considered you the voice or the leader for the Ravens. If McNair comes on board, will you still see yourself as the leader?
I see myself as one of the leaders. We have different leaders in different areas on our ball club, which is very strategic. [But] there’s a difference in a leader and a voice. I’m not afraid to be a voice for us. And that’s why I think I’m kind of catapulted into the leadership role most of the time, because I’m going to be the one to speak out. I’m not afraid to tell you, “Oh yeah, we’re going to beat them. Oh, they won’t get a hundred yards. Oh no, they will not.”
There’s been some talk about your being dissatisfied with the defense. What do you want them to do, and have things improved in recent practices?
Everybody keeps saying I’m dissatisfied about defense—no. In my heart, I’ve always been a champion. I’ve always been dissatisfied with losing. Because I believe in my heart that there’s no team that’s won the Super Bowl in the last four or five years since we’ve won it that, in a head-to-head battle, can beat us. Every year your objective is to get better. I’m ready to get better—to go back to touch glory again. Because I owe my city that.
What are your thoughts on family? Do you ever plan to get married?
Oh, of course.
Are you waiting until after football?
Of course. I know my commitment to this game, and there’s something about a man coming home to his wife. Just like I’ve been married to this game for so many years, and as dedicated as I am, that’s how I’m going to be toward my wife. My wife will not be competed with—not with this game. Because this game is—whatever you put into it is what you’re going to get out of it. And it’s the same thing with your marriage.
The Ray’s Summer Days event reminds me of something that Magic Johnson does yearly in Los Angeles called Midsummer Night’s Dream. You now own a restaurant, and you have been a leader not just for your team, but in the community as well. Do you see yourself becoming a mega-entrepreneur like Johnson?
Of course. And what God has blessed me with right now, when it all comes together, what I’m going to be able to do for people is going to be incredible. I’m not talking about what I’ve got in my pocket, [but] when I leave this earth, I will leave a stamp on love. And I can’t expose it right now, but I can’t wait until Baltimore finds out what I’m doing just downtown.
You went to Africa recently, to Ethiopia and Angola, to help rehabilitate disabled kids through sports. Can you tell me a little bit about that experience?
When I was first shown a video through the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation Sports for Life program, when they introduced me to it, I was just listening at first. I did want to go to Africa—it has always been in my plans for my life to go back to the Motherland. But when she showed me the video my eyes watered up so quickly, because I was [watching it] asking myself, You mean to tell me that these kids are missing limbs, and are on crutches still trying to kick a soccer ball after not having the proper treatment?
When I went over there, I said, “I needed this in my life.” Because it gave me a different perspective on what people try to get you to worry about. People want to get you to worry about who’s talking about you, what they’re saying . . . [but] do you know that there are people who are starving? Do you know that there are people who don’t have a roof over their head? When I saw that, I fell on my knees and put my face on the ground, and I thanked God for letting me see that. Because they woke up every day happy without [having] anything. It’s amazing that a large majority of people over here wake up with everything, [but they’re] sad.
What is it about sports specifically that helps to rehabilitate disabled kids? Is it the love of the game that transcends all else?
The game is excitement. The game is defeating somebody else and strategically trying to get around them or maneuvering or whatever it may be. The game takes you away from the pain.
Later this month you’ll go to Congress to lobby for more money for these kids.
They had this race over there where the kids are running like three miles, and 70 percent of them didn’t have shoes. And I’m talking about walking around barefoot every day on 100-degree asphalt. No shirts, same clothes every day. It’s not as if they have wardrobes. And food? Jesus . . . when I saw this, I said, “If I’ve got resources, y’all got resources. And when I come back, I’m coming back with a blast to help—clothes, food, and footballs.”
Few sports figures have lobbied Congress with such a request. Do you ever see yourself running for political office?
Yeah, president. (laughing) I haven’t gotten totally into it like that to answer that question honestly. I would definitely not be opposed to running.
If you had not decided to play football, what career would you have chosen?
A minister, definitely. I already preach now. My home Church is the Greater Faith Missionary Baptist church in Florida, but I’ve spoken at Pastor Jamal Bryant’s church, and later this month I’m supposed to be opening for Bishop T.D. Jakes.
If you ever had to, how would you live without football?
Oh, easily. [I have] my family. I have my three boys in Florida in track and football. Every time I see them come around the track, running with heart . . . see I don’t worry about winning or losing. They know Daddy’s over there. When I see my daughter in gymnastics and she runs over me to tell me, “Daddy, look, I passed to a higher grade!,” I shed a tear every time.
This is an old article, but new to me.
