As Ray Lewis prepares to take his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, teammates, coaches, opponents, family and members of the media reflect on the legacy of the legendary Ravens linebacker with their favorite memories and never-before-heard stories.
Diaymon Lewis
As told to Glenn Clark
Diaymon Lewis is Ray Lewis’ oldest daughter. Ray asked Diaymon to present him when he’s inducted into the Hall of Fame.
It meant a lot when he asked me to present him to the Hall of Fame. I didn’t want to tell him, but I was a little nervous when he asked me, but I already knew I was going to do it. I was going to do it because I felt like there is so much that he’s done, and there’s just no way I could say no. I’m definitely really excited because I have so much to share with everybody. I’m more than grateful for the opportunity to talk about my dad.
The Ray Lewis I know is very similar to the one the city knows, to be honest. He’s a very family-oriented person, but I do not think people understand just how much Baltimore means to him. Being a Baltimore Raven means everything to him. He loved it. Every supporter, every person — they made him who he was. They gave him the ambition and the drive to be able to give them something in return. So, as much as he does it for his family and his kids, he does it for the fans, too. It was amazing, just to sit here and think about it honestly.
Growing up in Baltimore has given me an interesting perspective on what he’s done for people here. People say to me, “Do you know your dad is my idol?” And I sit there and listen because when we were kids, we were hard-headed and we didn’t want to listen to the same stories over and over. We’re like, “Here he goes with this inspirational stuff.” But at the end of the day, not only does that make a difference in our lives; he makes a difference in other people’s lives.
It really took me a while to realize this man is everything. It doesn’t get any better than this.
To read all 52 memories of No. 52, visit PressBoxOnline.com/Ray.