...talks about how UConn hasn't been in contact and how they're out. (HT: UMHoops)
OT: Should Ray Lewis be inducted into the Hall of Fame
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:44 PM
#1
OT: Should Ray Lewis be inducted into the Hall of Fame
Does Ray Lewis deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? Certainly his on field performance would warrant it but do his off field problems keep him from it? I just can't get over his past but it seems like the majority of the media has, or at least they have ignored it because his retirement coupled with the Ravens playoff run provides for a great story.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:46 PM | 
Yes, he's obviously in the
Yes, he's obviously in the
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:49 PM |
To be fair
To be fair
There was some question as to whether Lawrence Taylor would get in given all his character issues. And that's not even getting into the baseball stuff. It's not a totally ridiculous question.
There is no time, sir, at which ties do not matter.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:59 PM |
I think it is a ridiculous
I think it is a ridiculous
I think it is a ridiculous question. I mean seriously are we even asking if one of the best MLB of all time is a hall of famer? There are a few who are concerned with his obstruction of justice record but they are way too few to make a dent. First ballot, second ballot whatever, he's going into the hall.
January 23rd, 2013 at 3:49 PM |
If anything
If anything
If anything, I feel like the only argument here is if he is ONE of the best MLBs of all time or THE best. And yeah-- first ballot.
I love Greg Mattison
January 23rd, 2013 at 4:51 PM |
It is ridiculous because
It is ridiculous because
It is ridiculous because unlike baseball, NFL HOF has no qualification related to character. It is purely based on on-field performance. There is no question Ray Lewis is destined for HOF.
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:15 PM |
Character
Character
In baseball, a lot of the HoF voting isn't necessarily character, but whether or not the player cheated the integrity of the game. Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, Sosa, etc. all have been accused or admitted to taking PED's, where as that wasn't the case with LT or Ray Lewis. They both have character flaws, but they didn't cheat the game like the baseball players did (unless you consider smoking crack a PED in LT's case). If Ty Cobb can get it the HoF, most players with character flaws will be able to get in. As long as they don't violate the moral high ground from the purists, most people look the other way.
Like a blind man at an orgy, I was going to have to feel my way through
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:27 PM |
Exactly. With no character
Exactly. With no character
Exactly. With no character clause, character shouldn't matter. Fair or not, that's the rules. And as mentioned, even the character clause in baseball is only about baseball-related character issues not about general douchebaggery of the Ty Cobb type.
"I just hope Tressel doesn't fire me"
-Gordon Gee
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:36 PM |
It IS a ridiculous question
It IS a ridiculous question
...anyone that says otherwise don't know what Lewis was charged for.
This is really starting to piss me off, I don't even care for Lewis like that - but he gets called a "murderer" when he was never charged as one. It was NEVER the crime.
He was charged with lying to the police - point blank, period.
Some people got killed, he knew details, he didn't "snitch" or give any information about it when he knew stuff about it. That's what he did or didn't do...plain and simple.
Is that wrong? YES. Is that murder? ABSOLUTELY NO.
This shouldn't even be a question and anyone that questions Lewis and the HOF is completely ignorant to what happened back in 2000 or 2001.
Newsflash, there are guys in the HOF with worst records than Lewis. Guys with DUIs, cocaine and drug violations, etc. Lewis may not be the saint the media portrays him today...but he's definitely not the thug so many of you want him to be.
Move on to someone who's actually doing shit to be questioned.
“True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise — the other, loyalty.”
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:54 PM |
Well...
Well...
It's a matter of the court of public opinion, where signs point to Ray Lewis having - at the very minimum - a fairly significant role in the deaths of two people. Throw in the fact that he disposed of his suit from that night, took a plea deal based on him turning in two of his friends with him... Yeah, just a matter of connecting the dots.
January 23rd, 2013 at 6:43 PM |
always thought
always thought
it was weird that his plea was based off the testimony against his two friends...yet both were later aquitted.
"Begin with the end in mind." -Lloyd Carr
January 23rd, 2013 at 7:27 PM |
He was indicted on murder and
He was indicted on murder and
He was indicted on murder and aggravated assault charges...
/°>
January 23rd, 2013 at 7:42 PM |
and not convicted on either?
and not convicted on either?
and not convicted on either? I mean its great that you, who was not in any way involved with the case and most likely never read the police reports or examined the crime scene or talked to witnesses has decided he is guilty but it means absolutely nothing.
January 23rd, 2013 at 7:53 PM |
When did I claim the man was
When did I claim the man was
When did I claim the man was guilty? Regardless of my feelings, am I not entitled to an opinion? Do you know what I have or have not read regarding the case?
I am truly sorry great ak47 I only hope you can forgive me.
/°>
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:45 PM |
i didn't say you weren't
i didn't say you weren't
i didn't say you weren't entitled to opinion, I said it doesn't matter and shouldn't impact whether he makes the nfl, and the comment was more directed to the op, hit reply to the wrong post but it's whatever.
January 23rd, 2013 at 10:44 PM |
To be fair...
To be fair...
...everyone kills people, murders people, steals from you, steals from me, whatever...
As a matter of fact I like beer.
January 23rd, 2013 at 10:37 PM |
You are wrong. It is about as
You are wrong. It is about as
You are wrong. It is about as ridiculous as a question could get.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:47 PM |
-
-
Yes. The HOF is for on field performance. (Pete Rose not withstanding)
"I tried to but a pencil in the light socket but it was too wide and didn't fit so I used a paperclip."-Terrelle Pryor, Future Rhodes Scholar
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:48 PM |
In Pete Rose's case, one can
In Pete Rose's case, one can
In Pete Rose's case, one can make an arguement that his off field performance affected his on field performance
"Oh no, no, I'm not in the group yet. No, I'm afraid I just blue myself."
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:50 PM |
Ray Lewis will get into the
Ray Lewis will get into the
Ray Lewis will get into the HOF for one reason...
3-3-5 til the day I die y'all
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:08 PM |
Is he going to do that
Is he going to do that
At the induction ceremony?
"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:09 PM |
I feel like if the Lions
I feel like if the Lions
I feel like if the Lions played Baltimore regularly, I'd hate Ray Lewis. Since they don't, that is pretty awesome.
“When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing” - Bo Schembechler
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:38 PM |
I agree
I agree
If not for his dancing skills illustrated here, then certainly for his Oscar-worthy performances of "praising God", and his uncanny ability to fake-cry on cue.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:51 PM |
I think so
I think so
It has to be on field unless it is something that affects the game or its integrity. Otherwise, if we are just looking at a players potential criminal friends and lack of morals, there would only be n sucres into the NBA and NFL hall of fame every 10 years or so.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:52 PM |
Damn phone
Damn phone
There would only be "inductees"
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:03 PM |
I like what your phone did
I like what your phone did
I like what your phone did there.
sucres plural of su·cre
|
Noun
|
5 4 3 2 1 Touchdown!
Touchdown Billy Taylor!
Touchdown Billy Taylor!
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:52 PM |
Nice
Nice
My phone must have learned that from my recent trips to South America from this board (aka Bolivia).
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:51 PM |
Yes. No question.
Yes. No question.
Remember, murder charges against him were dismissed.
"They're stuck with that quarterback (sophomore Braxton Miller) for the next two or three years, that's fine with me. He throws worse than (Tim) Tebow. - Steve Everitt
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:56 PM |
They were dismissed because
They were dismissed because
They were dismissed because he accepted a plea deal and testified against his friends. It's not like he was found not guilty.
/°>
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:58 PM |
And it's not like he was
And it's not like he was
And it's not like he was found guilty, either.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:03 PM |
I think we can leave it at...
I think we can leave it at...
...probably a murderer, but not convicted of murder. I'm just glad he didn't inject EPO subcutaenously, because that would make him a really bad guy.
As a matter of fact I like beer.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:00 PM |
No,
No,
he was found even less guilty than being "not guilty." He was offered a plea because the case against him was so weak that it could not even be taken to trial, let alone prove it.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:16 PM |
Two things
Two things
1) Weak case doesn't equal did not do it. I'm not saying he did though. We have the toughest burden of proof, evidentiary rules and constitutional protections of any country, rightfully so, and there are plenty of guilty people who are not charged because of these rules.
2) He must have at least obstructed justice (or done something illegal) because there is no defense attorney (especially not high priced ones) who would advise a client to take a plea to obstruction if they did absolutely nothing wrong and if the prosecution had absolutely no evidence of any crime. I can't imagine a defense attorney saying, "Ray, the prosecution has absolutely nothing on you, and we all know you didn't kill anyone, but let's go ahead and take an offer to obstruction of justice."
The problem still remains that someone was killed, and Ray Lewis obstructed a murder investigation, or at least pleaded guilty to obstruction instead of some other criminal act that he committed and that the prosecution had ample evidence of.
"[The University of Michigan] was, in short, the testing ground for all my prejudices, my beliefs and my ignorance, and it helped to lay out the boundaries of my life."--Arthur Miller
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:01 PM |
you, sir, are no defense lawyer
you, sir, are no defense lawyer
Lawyer here. You need to stop playing lawyer, because clearly you aren't one.
Of course people cop to pleas even if they didn't do it. Its the same reason companies settle lawsuits even when they think they aren't liable.
It's called -- RISK AVERSION.
It was better for Ray to cop a plea and serve minimal or no time in jail, than to risk going in front of a jury on murder charges. It's just not worth the risk, even if he felt he was innocent. The plea was extremely favorable -- I don't think he served time, did he? -- so take it and avoid a murder trial. When your life is on the line, you barter that small confession in exchange for getting a good night's sleep for months and months.
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:26 PM |
Partly right
Partly right
I'm a prosecutor, so I'm not playing lawyer.
For a lawyer, your reading comprehension sucks. Wow, I can use bold italics too to make myself sound smarter than someone.
In my scenario, the defense attorney says the prosecution has nothing on Ray at all. I personally do not know a single defense attorney worth his money who would plead his client out to anything if the prosecution had nothing. Also, despite the news of corrupt prosecutors (e.g. Duke lacrosse case), most of us live by our ethical duties not to charge people who we do not have probable cause to believe committed a crime (or to ask someone to plead guilty to a crime we do not believe they committed). I cannot imagine saying, "Your guy was at the scene of a crime, but we've got nothing on him. How about pleading to disorderly conduct or obstruction." First, that's unethical. Second, I would be laughed at by any defense attorney worth a damn.
My point is that clearly they had something on him, and he at least committed some crime. Of course, I understand what risk aversion is. Sometimes, we prosecutors use it to because we believe someone committed a felony but have victims and witnesses who are drug additcts or idiots, so rather than let that person walk, we offer a misdemeanor.
But feel free to challenge my credentials.
"[The University of Michigan] was, in short, the testing ground for all my prejudices, my beliefs and my ignorance, and it helped to lay out the boundaries of my life."--Arthur Miller
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:32 PM |
You
You
don't offer a murderer a misdemeanor just to "make something stick." You may offer 2nd degree or play some games with the sentence to get them to talk, but with murder you either have the goods or you don't. It is quite clear that they did not have the goods on Lewis.
Of course they had "something," but what they had came no where close to beyond a reasonable doubt of murder or they never would have given him a lifeboat.
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:50 PM |
Don't know if this was meant for me
Don't know if this was meant for me
But I agree with you. Nowhere did I say that you offer a murderer a misdemeanor to make it stick. I used the word felony...and there are a ton of felonies that are not as serious as a murder. I was just using the felony to misdemeanor plea bargain as an example of when a prosecutor makes a decision to avoid letting someone walk completely.
Also, I never said they had enough evidence of a murder on Ray Lewis, but they probably had enough evidence of some crime which is why he pleaded guilty to obstruction.
"[The University of Michigan] was, in short, the testing ground for all my prejudices, my beliefs and my ignorance, and it helped to lay out the boundaries of my life."--Arthur Miller
January 23rd, 2013 at 3:51 PM |
Pretty much
Pretty much
As I recall, the prosecutor came out and said there was no evidence Ray was involved in the murder and dropped the murder charges based on that.
BUT, he did lie to police investigating a murder, which is obstruction of justice, and they certainly had the evidence to make that stick. Lewis then agreed to the plea -- he admitted he lied to the police and told the court what he knew about that night. I think his lawyer made a big mistake downplaying the significance of what Lewis did. If I recall properly, he said it was something akin to a speeding ticket, or something similarly minor.
That was dumb. Obstructing justice, espeically in a murder case, is a pretty serious crime. Having said that, I think Lewis should be in the Hall of Fame. The prosecutors and the judge were fine with the plea and you can't deny his greatness on the field.
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:20 PM |
In my world, if you plead
In my world, if you plead
In my world, if you plead guilty to something then you don't get to argue later that you never did it. But it doesn't matter because Lewis specifically acknowledged that he lied to the police.
Before opening statements were made Judge Bonner ruled that a statement given to police by Ray Lewis after the incident, and now acknowledged to be false, could be introduced in evidence against him.
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Ray_Lewis.aspx
Give it to Wheatley!
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:43 PM |
Also
Also
With your post, it's no wonder people hate lawyers.
First, don't treat someone like shit just because you think they do not have a law degree. Hope you feel like a big man every time you do that. Assuming I wasn't a lawyer, does telling me not to play lawyer really make you feel smarter or better about yourself? If so, congrats, I guess. There was a classy way to post what you did without being an ass about it.
Second, don't assume something about someone based on what they posted on a sports blog.
"[The University of Michigan] was, in short, the testing ground for all my prejudices, my beliefs and my ignorance, and it helped to lay out the boundaries of my life."--Arthur Miller
January 23rd, 2013 at 3:15 PM |
Good points. The douche bag
Good points. The douche bag
Good points. The douche bag tone is unbearable, though.
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:57 PM |
This little stream of posts
This little stream of posts
This little stream of posts is just fantastic. Every retort begins with some form of "you obviously know jack shit about law." This argument occurred at 1pm on a message board, about 90% of your audience has been to law school.
Go Blue!
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:21 PM |
Devil's advocate: If it was
Devil's advocate: If it was
Devil's advocate: If it was so weak then why would Lewis accept a plea? He had plenty of money to pay the lawyers so its not a worry about legal fees. So, arguably, he must have had some worry that he could be found guilty. So, from there, the reasoning goes that he also must have been a little worried because he knew he did some wrong. Or that's the argument, anyway.
[Edit: Dutch is both a faster typist and smarter than me.]
Disgruntled former moderator. I got a lot of problems with you people!
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:27 PM |
Part of it is the publicity
Part of it is the publicity
Part of it is the publicity of going to trial. It would have been a drawn out process, with every little detail being covered from the court room steps. Not the kind of attention an NFL star wants. Sure he has the money to pay his lawyers, and from my (limited) understanding, he would have been acquitted, but why draw out the process of you can plead to a lesser deal?
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:49 PM |
I would have to 100% disagree
I would have to 100% disagree
I have to disagree with you hypothesis. If he did nothing wrong and had nothing to hide he would have wanted to publicly clear his name of any wrong doing. Think about what your saying here. Yeah, they have nothing on me but if I plead not guilty I will have to endure a trial where the prosecution provides absolutely no evidence and I come out looking like the innocent man I am....Or : Yeah, they have absolutely nothing on me, but I am going to plead guilty so I can get this over with, damn the negative publicity that comes with it and the fact I will always be considered a criminal.
If this had anything to do with publicity and he was innocent, he would have never pleaded guilty of anything just to get the process over with. That just makes no sense at all.
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:07 PM |
You obviously don't understand the
You obviously don't understand the
Russian Roulette nature of jury trials. Trials and pleas are a reflection of how much risk you want to take
"They're stuck with that quarterback (sophomore Braxton Miller) for the next two or three years, that's fine with me. He throws worse than (Tim) Tebow. - Steve Everitt
January 23rd, 2013 at 6:44 PM |
You make a fair point. I
You make a fair point. I
You make a fair point. I would argue, however, that even if he plead not guilty and went to court and was acquitted, the his reputation would be forever tainted. The average person knows very little about the legal system. Combine that with a short memory, and most people would have thought that he still did commit murder, regardless of whether or not he was acquitted.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:29 PM |
Guilty or not, it is a sad story for the bereaved...
Guilty or not, it is a sad story for the bereaved...
Guilty or not, it is a sad story for the bereaved...
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-mike-bianchi-ray-lewis-0106-201...
New Oldsmobiles are in early this year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIdGxR-aU6o
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:13 PM |
You tend
You tend
to worry a little when you are arrested for murder, regardless of whether you did it or not, that pesky electric chair and all.
You plea because 1) you probably obstructed justice, and 2) you want murder charges to go away. The better question is, why would a plea be offered? From a murder investigation (a life felony) to obstruction of justice and probation? If the prosecution has the good for murder, they prosecute, they may plead someone down to murder 2 in exchange for testimony but not some time served bullshit. A plea to nothing-having-to-do-with-murder means nothing to do with the murder, possibly disposal of evidence after the fact.
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:58 PM |
Thanks, profitgoblue
Thanks, profitgoblue
Even though I have a JD, I would not assume I am smarter than anyone, except maybe Terrelle Pryor.
In fact, I probably am not as smart as you since I decided to enter a profession that is completely overcrowded.
"[The University of Michigan] was, in short, the testing ground for all my prejudices, my beliefs and my ignorance, and it helped to lay out the boundaries of my life."--Arthur Miller
January 23rd, 2013 at 3:54 PM |
Because they had him dead to
Because they had him dead to
Because they had him dead to rights on the obstruction charge. He lost nothing by pleading to that charge. The fact that his testimony did far more to hurt the prosecution than help shows that portraying the agreement as a "plea deal in exchange for testimony" was more of an ass-covering statement than one based in reality.
Ray Lewis should never have been charged with murder, and it certainly shouldn't have ever gone to trial.
Yes, he's obviously in the HOF, first ballot no question.
But what about Tom Brady? Should he be there? How about Randy Moss?