With the uncertainty of 2011 NFL season still looming, any comments from the players will certainly be scrutinized. The latest controversial comments surround Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. In a nut shell, Lewis said that we can expect the country's crime rate to go up if the football season doesn't go on. (I've attached a news link at the bottom of the page) Of course, Ray is taking a lot of heat for his comments. But not so fast.......
In the interview that I saw, Lewis also said that it is greed that's driving the pending work stoppage in 2011. He also said that countless people will unnecessarily be put out of work because of this greed. So far, I think the guy is making sense.
Factoring in the controversial "crime" comment, is it really that outrageous of a thing to say? Let me play the devil's advocate for a moment. There are a lot of people who rely on the income that the NFL generates. Whether it's working for a TV or radio station or working for minimum wage selling overpriced hot dogs at the stadium, some people are going to be impacted by a cancelled football season. Some more seriously than others. And with the economy being what it is already, I'd be willing to bet that at least a few of them might consider a less than honest way of getting some quick cash.
Does it make it right to go out and commit crimes? Of course, not. But to say Lewis' comments are totally off base would be disingenuous.
On a side note, I find it funny that the Baltimore City Council has found Lewis' comments so offensive. Personally, I find it offensive that someone is killed almost everyday in The City That Bleeds. Hey, I'll expand on Ray's comment and say that I guarantee there will crime issues in Baltimore with or without football.
I see Lewis' comment being twisted as if it were some kind of threat. Come on. He's not threatening anyone. He's just trying to illustrate the negative impact of the NFL lockout. Sure, they say baseball is America's pastime. But when's the last time you gathered a group of people together to watch a baseball game. Football is the new American pastime!
No matter what opinion you have of Ray Lewis, you can't deny that the guy knows how to get the most out of the people around him. And if it takes a controversial comment from him to light a fire under someone's ass to get the 2011 season back on track, I say good for him!
http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2011/05/23/ray-lewis-makes-controversial-comments-about-nfl-lockout/
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Right on Ken!! I believe Ray is absolutely correct. When you put that many people out of work for a year, lives, families, economies and countries can get turned upside down.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet more than a few will lose homes, marriages will fail, suicides will rise and many more unmentionable crimes and unnecessary acts will result because of this lockout.
And I also agree that Football is the new pastime... Especially when you live in Baltimore and haven't see a decent baseball season in nearly a decade!