Ray Lewis Speaks Out

    Just watched a TV interview with Ray Lewis, the
All-Pro linebacker of the Baltimore Ravens.. and he

is right on the money. The game of football has descended
to crap in the National Football League. Lewis said 
the NFL is based on a long history of players that 
fought through pain to play the game. He even went
so far as to mention Ray Nitschke of Green Bay and
Dick Butkus of Chicago as players honored for their
physical defensive play. Lewis told the interviewer
he does not play a position where he throws the ball,..
nor catches the ball,..nor runs with the ball. His position
is primarily one that hits the player with the ball and
tries to separate him from the ball. The interviewer was
also told that all players have pads around their mid-sections,
shoulder pads, helmets, and face masks. Is that not enough
protection to play the game? Lewis relayed the story where
a pass came over the middle to a wide receiver and he hit
the receiver just after he caught the ball. The player and ball
were separated and another member of the Ravens recovered
the ball. When Lewis got to the sidelines, teammates and
coaches pounded him with celebration for such a great hit.
Three days later he received a letter from NFL Commission
Roger Goodell informing him of an impending fine for the
hit. Come'on Man!!  I can see the need for the helmet to helmet
rule because of the number of concussions, but the physical
play of the game is starting to suffer. Quoting the great
philosophical Dale Earnhardt,.."If you got lace on your panties,
you're playing the wrong sport."