NFL royalty were in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to honor one of their own Saturday at Steve McNair’s funeral. The service was a culmination of a painful week since McNair was found slain on July fourth.
Brett Favre, Jeff Fisher, Vince Young, Jay Cutler, and Ray Lewis were among the thousands of mourners.
At least 4,500 turned out to watch the service held at the Reed Green Coliseum on the campus University of Southern Mississippi.
McNair’s number nine Ravens jersey and a posterboard of McNair in a suit holding a football were among the images adorning the stage.
Lewis has reportedly had a difficult time with McNair’s passing, and has not been heard from publicly before speaking at the service Saturday. At one juncture, he encouraged McNair’s sons to be proud of their father.
“He left a legacy. The same way when Jesus left, because he had to sacrifice for all of us. Y’all father put out one heck of a sacrifice, young men. Everytime y’all walk out the door, hold your head up high. Because he left something that a lot of men can’t father.”
“He left a legacy. The same way when Jesus left, because he had to sacrifice for all of us. ”
WHAT?
Look, I enjoyed watching McNair play for years and I think it’s terrible what happened… but what the F is Ray Ray talking about?
I am Not a religious individual at all… so I ask, what does Jesus being crucified and Steve McNair being executed by his mistress have to do with one another?
WOW! Ray Lewis is a complete moron. I hope he breaks his neck this year and gets paralyzed.
Ray Lewis’ MO is to make any/every thing out to be so much bigger than it is or it needs to be. But to compare McNair to Jesus is new height of ridiculous, even for him.
McNair didn’t die for his sons, he died because he had an extra-marital affair with a lunatic. Jesus died to save humanity from sin, not because he engaged in it. Someone should take a bat to Ray Lewis’ head so he can get a dose of reality.
Or maybe stab him with it. Just to get it in terms he’ll understand…
Something being a little lost in this, and maybe now is not the
right time to bring it up, but how about the way Kerry Collins
is comporting himself in this whole mess. I just watched the
ESPN segment where Collins says that the Titans should assume
responsibility for supporting Mrs. McNair and her 4 sons. Collins
went on to say that, although the boys lost their father, they have
53 men ready to step up and try to help fill the void he left.
Just thinking back to all the issues Collins had when he first came
into the league, one has to be impressed with him stepping up in
this situation.
RIP, #9
“He left a legacy. The same way when Jesus left, because he had to sacrifice for all of us.
THAT IS MESSED UP! It bothered me to read that quote.
I absolutely love Ray Lewis, but this time, he should just keep quite.
urbusted, it bothered me, too … i hate that kind of stuff. Here we got a guy who was involved with some sort of adulterous behavior, he has had DUIs in the past, and he’s had issues with alcohol in general. I don’t think I’d be comparing him with Jesus, in any way shape or form. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t look at the positives of McNair; in general he seemed like a great guy. We all have issues and therefor none of us should be compared to Jesus.
Damn….They must have really put an emphasis on critical thinking at the “U”…..When someone deciphers this diatribe, replete with comparisons, please inform me of it’s meaning…….
ray ray is fuill of crap.
mcnair is dead because he thought too much and too long with the little had.
virtue, sacrifice, and self-sacrifice had nothing to do with it.
mcnair was not being virtuous or smart.
Ask Kerry Collins to take care of some of the family of the girl that McNair abused – and I mean girl and abused.
This is all messed up – good football player – did some nice things off the field – but had the inner demon that he could not control.
As for legacy – his legacy is that his four sons will forever have to deal with the fact that their dad was part of a sad, sordid, adulterous affair – THAT’S what he will be remembered for – and it’s his OWN DAMN FAULT!
“He left a legacy. The same way when Jesus left, because he had to sacrifice for all of us.”
If this doesn’t prove to you that professional athletes live in a completely different reality than the rest of us, nothing ever will. Ray, you’re an excellent football player, but you’re also a clueless idiot. Maybe kind of like Steve McNair?
Ray Lewis is a moron. I wonder how long it took him to come up with that for his speech?
Ray Lewis speaking at the funeral of a murder victim makes about as much sense as Donte Stallworth teaching a defensive driving course.
He’s calling a man who cheated on his wife, and died for no reason because he should have been home with his family like JESUS! I don’t think so.
Ray Lewis is an idiot
I understand that Lewis is taking this difficult, but that tops the list of dumbest things I’ve ever heard anyone say. Brownwood26 said it right, McNair didn’t sacrifice anything, he had an affair w/the wrong person and while it’s not fair or right, this was the “punishment” for that. I lost all my respect for you Ray…
RIP McNair
WTF Ray? For a man who professes to be a christian you simply opened your mouth and removed all doubt! “Y’all father put out one heck of a sacrifice . . .” Sacrificed what? Grow a set and say what their father really did. ‘Y’all father put out on yo momma with a 20 year old whack job behind y’all momma back. He left y’all and yo momma ashamed and embarassed for the whole world to see.’ Some legacy!!! Y’all kids would probably be less criticized if you tell people you spent the night at Michael Jackson’s house instead of admitting your Steve McNair was your father!!
In his interview on the Michael Irvin Show with Kevin Kiley on ESPN 103.3 in Forth Worht, TX, Ray Lewis says he thinks all men are under the authority of God and aren’t equal to Jesus. He went to great lengths to talk about how every man falls and how you must find the meaning in every death and learn to appreciate this life more in anticipation of the next. He seemed to be holding back tears the whole time, it was a really powerful interview. I wish they had a podcast of this interview because it was even better than the Greg Ellis clip.
What he said was stupid. I agree. But, do you really think his intent was to make a fool out of himself and confuse the kids?
Lose a friend and stand before his children and try to make sense of his death and let’s see how articulate you will be.
Fryingpan: What a HORRIBLE thing to say………
Um. No.
Jesus led a life without sin and died for the sake of others.
McNair led a life flawed by sin (as we ALL do) and died in pursuit of his own selfish needs.
Not similar.
Did McNair do a lot of good things? Yes. But let’s keep it in perspective here, Mr. Lewis.
Um. No.
Jesus led a life without sin and died for the sake of others.
McNair led a life flawed by sin (as we ALL do) and died in pursuit of his own selfish needs.
Not similar.
Did McNair do a lot of good things? Yes. But let’s keep it in perspective here, Mr. Lewis.
Just the example the McNair kids need to be proud shown, your dead father shot by his mistress, Yes, they can be proud fo their dad’s football acomplishments, but football isn’t a whole life, being a role model for how men are supposed to behave is life, McNair failed miserably and he got what he deserved.
“Because he left something that a lot of men can’t father.”
I was under the impression Ray Lewis was a felon and former murderer?
Ray Lewis has officially become the Ralph Wiggum of the NFL.
GO BANANA!!!
Wow you guys are making way to big of a deal over this. This is just a man who is distraught over losing one of his best friends. And to the one person who wishes Ray breaks his neck: real classy. I would LOVE to see you say that to his face.
“Ray Lewis speaking at the funeral of a murder victim makes about as much sense as Donte Stallworth teaching a defensive driving course. ”
This is one of the best quotes of all time. Thank you for that!
Ray Lewis is a complete moron to compare McNair to Jesus or any other good person. What he did to his family was terrible. How could his boys be proud of him spending all his free time away from them and with his mistresses?
i could hardly believe the words of Rev. Ray Lewis. you can tell that he grew up in the church and actually has a grasp of the scriptures.
it was a bit wacked to compare steve mcnair with jesus, but i really think that Rev. Ray meant well.
BTW, he was not convicted of murder.
“He left a legacy. The same way when Jesus left, because he had to sacrifice for all of us. ”
I some how doubt that Jesus would of been cheating on his family with some Persian tramp…
I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, just doubt if Jesus would be rolling out like that….
Ray, be happy you can play Football. I wish no harm to Ray and I understand he is grieving for a friend, but the Jesus/McNair comparison is way off base. Again Ray, be happy you can play Football.
Peace
Um . . . Ray? Are you high? Or just an idiot? I’m going to guess both.
xgbx nailed it.
“Lose a friend and stand before his children and try to make sense of his death and let’s see how articulate you will be.”
better yet…
“Lose a friend who got himself shot to death after philandering for years but living off the fumes of a football career and stand before his children and try to make sense of his death and let’s see how articulate you will be.”
better yet…
STFU.
“I just watched the ESPN segment where Collins says that the Titans should assume responsibility for supporting Mrs. McNair and her 4 sons”
Another ridiculous statement by a player. Why should the Titans suppot his family ? They paid him millions and millions of dollars and his family should be well cared for if they never work a day in their lives.
Despite some of the strange lines, I was very impressed with Ray Lewis’ speech. And Vince Young’s speech was very emotional. I think he impressed me more than Ray Ray.
P.S.- why the hell would anyone wish paralysis upon another person? What an asshole
“McNair failed miserably and he got what he deserved.”
Hope the rest of us don’t get what we deserve.
fryingpan, go to hell. you pathetic piece of crap.
and some of you need to stop pretending like you’re perfect while anonymous on a internet message board. because you’re not and no one is.
frying pan- hiding behind the veil that is the internet much? You’re kind is despicable, and if only you would “talk the talk” in person you’d be history on this earth.
With that said, Ray definitely went a bit overboard with his comparison to Jesus.
Joe Flacco says:
July 11, 2009 2:57 PM
Wow you guys are making way to big of a deal over this. This is just a man who is distraught over losing one of his best friends. And to the one person who wishes Ray breaks his neck: real classy. I would LOVE to see you say that to his face.
—————————————-
I’ll say it to his face. It is not like he’ll stab me or anthing!!!
I think what we’ve really learned is that murders can have feelings, too.
Let’s face it. Ray Lewis’ forte is football. He’s not going to split an atom anytime soon.
I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and hope he was distraught, speaking off the cuff and just said something stupid. If he actually prepared to speak and said this…….then wow.
How about a little compassion for this girl too. There is a good chance she and Steve McNair would still be alive if he would not have made her believe that he was going to marry her and take care of her. She was only 20yo!! Lets not make Steve McNair a hero and role model!! He could have been with his sons on July 4th.
I’ve been thinking about writing a New-New Testament. Now I know where to start: The Gospel of Steve.
That guy is a bumbling moron! Best quote of all time…but what language is he speaking? What he said doesn’t make sense and has nothing to do with any reason why McNair is no longer a living human being.
Quotes like this make me really appreciate professional athletes that can speak proper english.
I know the Rev. Ray-Ray meant well, but it’s time to whip out the well known adage that it’s better to remain quiet and be thought an idiot than to speak and remove all doubt.
Rev Ray will be back to his clubing days in Atlanta in 3 years when his career is over. The next time he kills someone, noone will cover for him! I have never been a Ray Lewis fan and this just makes hating him even easier! He has about as much integrity and common sense as Nobama!
Ray Lewis knows something about murder. The last time he saw one, he kept his mouth shut.
I just wish he did the same at McNair’s funeral.
There is a reason Lewis has not made a public statement. Because his credibility and relationship to murder is not one that he would like brought up.
If a journalist had the guts to take a stand against Lewis, the Ravens, and the NFL, they would find out that Lewis knows who was responsible for the murder that winter night in Atlanta. He may not have slashed or stabbed but it likely was his bloody limousine that transported the murderers from the scene.
He also was seen taking his necklace off prior to the fight where people died. How would you feel if your son/brother/cousin was killed and there is a famous, rich, athlete running around making claims that a former teammate should be thought of like Jesus Christ? Insane.
I think RayRay has logic dyslexia. I think he was thinking Jesus died for the sins of the world, while Stevie died for his sins.
Ray Lewis’ delusional statement could have been a product of nerves or just not knowing what to say (and as people have already indicated, he’s a football player who won’t be confused any time soon for any of history’s great orators or intellectuals). Or it could have been a product of the vastly-inflated egos a lot of these athletes have (it doesn’t get any more arrogant than comparing a former colleague’s death to Jesus’ martyrdom). It also doesn’t help matters that these egotistical guys are immersed a professional culture that mythologizes its heroes to an extreme. Let’s face it – the NFL can be quite self-important, and employs p.r. tactics that smooth over many a players’ flaws and turn these guys into football gods of gargantuan proportion. In some ways, Ray Lewis was simply using the NFL’s hyperbolic style. He went way too far with it – but the NFL and its propaganda arm – NFL Films – have been known to employ these general techniques to mythologize a “hero”.
One case-in-point is Walter Payton. There is certain evidence that he isn’t quite the saintly hero that he is made out to be. Let’s just say that I’ve heard rumblings of a Steve McNair lifestyle, and the circumstances of Payton’s death are rather “nebulous”. But that hasn’t stopped the incessant “deification” of the guy. People like Ray Lewis have seen flawed humans like Payton get the “hero” treatment – and perhaps he was just trying to perpetuate the tradition (in a rather ill-advised way). I guess he lost track of the fact that one of the crucial differences between Walter Payton and Steve McNair is that Steve got CAUGHT with his pants down for the world to see – while Payton’s indiscretions have been kept “under the radar”.
Btw, I like Walter Payton and admire the guy in some ways – but I recognize that there is a difference between the myth and the actual man.
I also enjoy NFL Films’ work – but I also like to live in reality (sometimes), and try to recognize when they are getting carried away with the myth-spinning. The NFL often uses military-like analogies to describe itself- well, I’ve regarded NFL Films as its “propaganda machine”. (Was Leni Riefenstahl one of its early advisors? J/K – sorta.)
I registered just to leave this one comment, because it is improbable for me to be returning to this site. It is extremely idiotic and pathetic for the majority of people on this site to be speaking of Ray Lewis in the manner he has been spoken of. The man was speaking of the sacrifice McNair made for players around the league, and, if he used Jesus’ name, that isn’t the biggest fallacy a person could make.
Ray has been hurt tremendously by this loss, no matter the circumstances, and for comments being made for him to be paralyzed and other bad things to come upon him is bewildering to anyone with the least bit of common sense. Remember, karma can come to one at any point and time.
It was my opinion that blogs would offer people the opportunity to engage in intelligent and thoughtful conversation, but, to my and many others’ dismay, this medium has bought out the most idiotic and vile comments people can make. PFT is a forum for the least advanced amongst us, and a place for those to come and read comments to prove that evolution is valid over creationism, because there are still evolving apes/humans that post on this site.
I wonder if the crew of “Cheaters” out in the parking lot were offended by Ray, the outstanding citizen’s remarks…..
Fred60 said: “How about a little compassion for this girl too. There is a good chance she and Steve McNair would still be alive if he would not have made her believe that he was going to marry her and take care of her. She was only 20yo!! Lets not make Steve McNair a hero and role model!! He could have been with his sons on July 4th.”
—————–
I agree with much of what you said, but I’m not convinced that Steve actually said or did much to mislead Kazemi into believing that he would leave his wife and marry her. Sure, Kazemi’s family has said that this is what Kazemi told them – but who’s to say that this isn’t something that Kazemi was fabricating to make what she was doing (sleeping with someone else’s husband) appear a little “better”? Who’s to say that she wasn’t perpetuating a lie to stoke the anger of her ex-boyfriend? Who’s to say that she wasn’t just a tad delusional (and there is evidence that she was), and was so desperate for some sense of “prestige” that she lied to people (and to herself)?
Steve was a sinning, self-indulgent prick to his family – and it appears that he was exploiting the 20-year-old waitress for his own pleasure…I’m just not convinced that he was actively exploiting Kazemi’s emotions to that degree.
Wow. Ray’s.. Wow.
People should hear the whole message before passing judgment.
As far as Steve McNair not having Christlike qualities, there are dire warnings in the Bible for any Christian that doesn’t show signs of being a brother or sister of Christ. Ray doesn’t deny that Steve sinned and that Jesus was perfect, you really just need to hear his yesterday’s interview on the Michael Irvin Show with Kevin Kiley. Ray also said that he thinks we need to pray to God that evil it won’t overtake our generation, when referring to girlfriend.
rize – STFU. Ray was in the wrong place at the wrong time and with the wrong people. You’re trying to make the men who were killed out to be victims. They came to the place looking for a fight and got it. They died. Too bad. They were not credits to society. You really don’t know the story. None of us do.
As far as Ray. Having lived in Baltimore during Ray’s illustrious career as the best MLB in the history of the game, I am well qualified to let all you PFT’ers know that this is classic Ray. His specialty is hyperbole. Ray the football player is much better than Ray the man. He has multiple children by multiple women. He is vain and often times haughty. But on the good side, he has a large charitable foundation that does many good deeds. Many, many NFL players look up to him as the godfather of the NFL, right or wrong. In short Ray Lewis is astonishingly human. He has flaws and peccadilloes like we all do.
You haters who constantly go after Ray remind me of the left wing wackos that constantly slander our former President and Sarah Palin.
Thomas Jefferson said,
“It has been a source of great pain to me to have met with so many among [my] opponents who had not the liberality to distinguish between political and social opposition; who transferred at once to the person, the hatred they bore to his political opinions.”
Same with Ray. For G-d’s sake, get over it already.
Peace
Whilst I will admit Mr. lewis has a habit of over dramatizing to insult/wish him injury is pretty petty.My take of Mr. Lewis speech is Mr. McNair was more than a great football player ,as witnessed by his many off field contributions,including a messege to youth on sucide taped prior to his murder.Then again,I am sure Mr. Lewis is used to dealing with petty comments from unthinking people in his professional life.GO RAVENS
Yo, Rize! Keep to the facts and not whatever ignorance rolls around in your marbles. Ray Lewis didn’t transport any murders. Those men were found in a court to be “Not Guilty”. Those were men who at worst defended themselves within the bounds of the law; the prosecution nor you have ever shown otherwise. So why don’t you quit libeling Lewis and his friends and get the facts straight.
That being said Ray Lewis’ statement on McNair is patently ridiculous whether he was upset or not. McNair will sadly be remembered as a liar, adulterer and a man not able to keep his promises to God or to his family. It’s sad that a man who had all the financial resources to do so couldn’t find the will and desire to provide a good home life for his children.
Would it have been any worse if he had just openly kept a group of concubines at his house? Might then there have been less bloodshed and continuous double talk about what a great guy he was?
Has anyone been found guilty of those murders in Atlanta?
So they were all in a limo covered in blood. The court found them “not-guilty” and you are telling me that these guys just died by self inflicted wounds? I think we all know that Ray knows who did what and he saved his ass with high powered lawyers and a lot of money.
Ray is a big talker who loves making him out to be the ultimate “Gladiator”. If you have ever been to a game, he sits around stretching and then the camera approaches, and all of a sudden, spontaneously a huddle comes together and he starts spitting saliva as he shouts non-sense. He is an ass, and an accomplice to murder (in the least)…
Awesome insane gibberish from 52.
Ray Ray needs to check his dictionary – sacrifice is what our troops are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan, not playing football and then putting your 20 year old girlfriend in ahead of your children.
McNair was a pretty good quarterback who played through a lot of injuries and appears to be a crappy parent who left four kids without a dad. Not much of a eulogy, but more accurate than Ray’s lunatic rant.
taxi says:
July 12, 2009 1:23 AM
Whilst I will admit Mr. lewis has a habit of over dramatizing to insult/wish him injury is pretty petty.My take of Mr. Lewis speech is Mr. McNair was more than a great football player ,as witnessed by his many off field contributions,including a messege to youth on sucide taped prior to his murder.Then again,I am sure Mr. Lewis is used to dealing with petty comments from unthinking people in his professional life.GO RAVENS
———————————-
Unthinking? Comparing anyone to Christ is funny. Comparing a guy who we’re finding out was cheating on his wife with multiple women? You deserve whatever backlash you get when you try that. Unthinking people? Look at #52 doing his freakshow dance for that.
Yeah let’s wish a horrific injury on a guy cause he’s not a great public speaker at his good friends wake. Mature.
Holy Crap! I scanned through most of this crap but wow! Did you see the outfit that Mrs. McNair was wearing! Holy Crap! I’d put my straw places it shouldn’t be.
jimicos:
You are the type of person that sits anonymously on these blogs and spews ignorant sayings like someone deserving to die. It would be extremely nice to be able to meet you in person and give you what you deserve. You despicable piece of shit. All you need to do is let me know where you’re located, because I would like to get a piece of your ass.
Rize, there were no murders involving the Ray Lewis ATL case. The two men that died were killed by Ray Lewis’ friends when they were defending themselves from them. The two dead men weren’t some type of innocent victims. They had rap sheets filled with crime. They attempted to rob the wrong men on a dark Atlanta side street. The men they tried to rob this time fought back with lethal force to protect themselves.
Juries almost never convict people for protecting themselves from thieves. The verdict was reached very quickly in this case. Ray Lewis’ friends/companions were completely exonerated on all charges.
Just because someone is killed doesn’t make it a murder.
I just reread old press clippings and it seems this was a case of “don’t snitch”. Several witnesses, including the limo driver initially told law enforcement a story involving “innocent” Ray and when it came time for trial, they either told a different story or would not come forward unless granted immunity.
This folks, is where money can buy you freedom. I think you are naive if you believe that these associates of Mr. Lewis and Mr. Lewis himself are void of responsibility.
Sure someone who is killed is not always murdered. However, someone who is killed and when multiple witnesses change their story, it makes it difficult to prove murder. Oh, and money may have helped some of the witnesses have amnesia.
If I may, I believe Ray Lewis pleaded “no contest” in the Atlanta case. Therefore no jury ever decided his case.
As far as the McNair funeral, why or how did Lewis become the main speaker? I’m sure there were other choices who could have presented a better eulogy. Although I don’t know how you can eulogize a person who goes out like McNair.
Henry Hale says:
July 12, 2009 5:10 PM
jimicos:
You are the type of person that sits anonymously on these blogs and spews ignorant sayings like someone deserving to die. It would be extremely nice to be able to meet you in person and give you what you deserve. You despicable piece of shit. All you need to do is let me know where you’re located, because I would like to get a piece of your ass.
————————————
You sound like a guy looking to get a piece of male ass. When did I ever say anyone deserved to die? I said it’s downright stooopid to compare Steve McNair with Jesus. If you’d like to debate that, go right ahead. If you’d like to continue to throw insults, go right ahead. I’ll match you either way.
Its amazing to hear the comments on hear, I have learned from dealing with people in my job field “That people talk loud and pride when what they fear is not in the ROOM”……. My prayers go out the MCNair family and friends….. and to his wife and sons stay strong….. I see mother’s lose their sons to what they don’t know everyday, only Steve knows and GOD…. Ray Lewis was a friend of Steve and knew him better than anyone on this comment page and being from Atlanta I saw the hell that Atl PD and Dist. Att. put on Ray, so only GOD can call him a “Killer” if that’s a fact…. Read your bible, if alot of you did… the stones would not be coming…. Honor the Man he was, for nobody knows what happened, the people in the room……….
@Henry Hale:
Now I see the confusion. I wasn’t saying McNair deserved to be killed for having affairs. I was saying Ray Lewis deserved the backlash for comparing Steve McNair to Christ. Big difference. But I can see how you could read it that way.
WOW!!! With all the ugliness in the world today, I cannot believe how much everyone is hating on Ray Lewis. We are so quick to judge people. Everyone is talking about his comment about Jesus and giving their opinion about who they think Jesus “was” and want he “was” all about, but don’t forget who Jesus “IS” and what he “IS” all about. Since everyone knows so much, I think everyone forgot that St. Matthew 7:2 says, “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” We must be careful what we say.
In addition, Ray was never convicted of murder and should not be called a murderer, that is complete slander. I think he was a young man that was trying to bring everyone with him when he made it, but by the time he realized that everyone couldn’t go with him and everyone wasn’t really his friend, he was caught up in a web that almost consumed him.
DON’T JUDGE HIM, PRAY FOR HIM. THAT’S WHAT JESUS WOULD DO!
crack kills!