Football season is just one week away as the Dallas Cowboys will face the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants next Wednesday. A new season brings hope to all 32 teams (even my Jaguars) and also the opportunity to get the one thing we can't seem to live without. Ray Lewis motivational speeches.
What's interesting though is that evidently Ray-Ray doesn't reserve his speeches for the football field. Nope, he's kinda willy-nilly about giving speeches to anybody and everybody. In the Wall Street Journal, Lewis has given "multiple" Fortune 500 companies speeches to their workforces for pay, but more than anything else, he just likes "firing people up." Even a swim a team full of teenagers.
"Track teams, wrestling teams, whatever it is, whatever the request is, if it fits, no matter what it is I go," Lewis said. Asked how many extemporaneous speeches he's given in the recent past, he said: "I couldn't even tell you, the list is so long."
Take, for instance, a scene in Boca Raton, Fla., earlier this year. "I was in the gym," Lewis said. "And this guy was like, 'We're about to have this swimming competition, would you please stop by?' I said 'yeah' and the guy says 'give us a speech!'" On cue, Lewis delivered a rousing talk—to a group of 16-year-olds. "That's how they just randomly come up," he said.
I wonder what it would take to get Ray Lewis to give a motivational speech to the crew? I feel like this needs to happen, asap-tually. In the article, Lewis is also referenced in dropping in on Elon University's football team as a torrential downpour allowed Lewis to come on in and talk last year. Eight minutes later ...
Stay motivated today everybody, or Ray Lewis might give you a free motivational speech. Hmmm, maybe I'll stay depressed. Enjoy your pertinent reading material for Wednesday.
PG: Grantland - The Billion-Dollar Coach
Former Fortune 500 CEO Joe Moglia has never led a major football program — so why is Coastal Carolina finally giving him a chance?
SG: SLAM Online - Rajon Rondo Wants to Become Greatest Point Guard in Celtics History
Rondo: “I hope I can end my career as the greatest point guard in the history of the Boston Celtics.” Too early for this discussion, or is he ready for the throne?
SF: PastaPadre - Madden NFL 13 Early Coverage Recap
Madden NFL '13 finally hit stores on Tuesday, and from the "Connected Careers" mode and those who are still unsure whether Madden is worth a purchase this year, this is a good read to catch up on.
PF: Edge of Sports - Why are the NFL Refs Locked Out? It's All in the Game
Although anathema to NFL fans across the country, we should recognize that sometimes a punter shall lead us. It was Minnesota Viking’s punter Chris Kluwe who took to twitter and said what has been so painfully obvious through three weeks of the National Football League's pre-season: “The NFL really needs to kiss and make up with the refs. These replacements are horrible. Frankly, it’s kind of embarrassing.” It’s embarrassing that members of the NFL Players Association, who are part of the AFL-CIO, will, once on the field, be under the authority of scabs.
C: Deadspin - Why Your Team Sucks 2012: New York Jets
Whenever I think of the Jets' quarterback situation, I remember the old quote from Dennis Miller (back when Dennis Miller was funny): "Hey folks, two of shit is SHIT. If they really wanna fuck you, they'll give you three of these things." If you woke up a coma patient who had been asleep for the past four years, plunked him down in front of the TV, and had him watch footage of Mark Sanchez, this would be the ensuing conversation:
COMA GUY: Hey, he looks OK for a rookie.
YOU: No, no. This is his fourth year in the league.
COMA GUY: Fuck off, really? OW MY BED SORES
Eddie Maisonet is the founder and editor emeritus of The Sports Fan Journal. Currently, he serves as an associate editor for ESPN.com. He is an unabashed Russell Westbrook and Barry Switzer apologist, owns over 100 fitteds and snapbacks, and lives by Reggie Jackson’s famous quote, “I am the straw that stirs the drink.”
