"Everyone, as much as I want to, I really can't accompany you to the end with my most beloved football. The end of the 2012 playoffs is when I retire."
Lewis, who was plagued by injuries, finally chose to retire. People did not wait for the player's comeback announcement, but waited for a sad and touching farewell. At that moment, the entire North America was shocked, especially the top professional players. They empathized more than anyone else, and they stood up immediately to express their regrets and regrets, and this continued from the NFL to other major professional leagues.
Among them, the NBA arena is undoubtedly the most lively.
LeBron James specifically tweeted to express his support and memory for him; when Kevin Durant went to China to attend an event, Dwyane Wade During the new shoe launch conference, they all specifically mentioned Lewis and expressed their regrets that their idol was about to retire.
Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers also compared Kevin Garnett to Ray Lewis, his words full of regret.
Not to mention the heartbroken Kobe Bryant.
This is only a small part of NBA superstars. In addition, countless superstars from MLB and NHL have also expressed their sighs and regrets on social media.
Lewis, who was once all-powerful in the arena, is about to face his last battle. Is there anything more memorable and worthy of attention than this?
In fact, in the American League Finals last week, when the Baltimore Ravens played against the New England Patriots, Lewis officially returned. At that time, all eyes were focused on it. The league arranged this game as a night game, which was not without the meaning of paying tribute to Lewis - if Is this Lewis’s retirement battle?
But God favors Lewis so much, or perhaps Lewis is so attached to this arena. In the American League finals, Lewis played a wonderful game. He did not reach his peak, but he was strong enough to dominate the outcome of the game. Even Tom Brady and Patriots fans were resigned to watching the history-making player. One of the greatest linebackers ever to head into the Super Bowl with his head held high.
After the game, reporters revisited old stories and asked Lewis about his intention to retire; Lewis firmly stated that he would not change his mind and that regardless of the outcome of the Super Bowl, this would be his last professional football game. Contest.
A sigh.
But...how can fans and reporters be demanding of Lewis? He has dedicated seventeen years of his time and youth on this court, bringing countless glory and glory, but also leaving countless scars and pain. Now... it is time, it is time for him to have a good rest. .
What's more, what could be a more fitting final stage than the Super Bowl? If - just if - it could be like a Hollywood fairy tale, ending with a Super Bowl and drawing the final end to Lewis' career, it would be even more perfect. Just imagining it makes me cry.
On the Super Bowl stage, standing opposite Lewis was Lu Ke, one of the most suitable opponents in the entire league.
One is a Hall of Fame-level top linebacker who has been in the league for 17 years. His ability to rush the pass and apply pressure is like finding something in a bag, sacking, impacting, intercepting and blocking. He is like a meat grinder, crossing the short passing area. in the center, challenging the fragile nerves of the offensive line, and his dominance on the court is frightening.
One is a rookie quarterback who has only been in the industry for two years. His tactical layout and passing ability are top-notch. In particular, his excellent control of the balance between passing and running is astonishing. His strong upward curve has made him the well-deserved number one star in the league. For The defense's read comprehension and control are daunting.
One was playing in his last career Super Bowl.
One is playing in his first career Super Bowl.
One is a comeback. After experiencing injuries, he burst out with unparalleled energy at the end of his career and once again showed his peak ability.
One is at the peak of his form. After two seasons of adjustments and polishing, he gradually formed his own playing style and showed unstoppable strength.
So, "Lu Ke VS Thor", who will win?
The so-called Huashan swordsmanship is "John Hubble VS Jim Hubble", it is also "San Francisco 49ers VS Baltimore Ravens", and it is even more "Ray Lewis VS Lu Ke"!
The Super Bowl has not even started yet, and all the discussion topics have already spread all over the Internet, not only among fans and viewers, not just professional analysts and commentators, but also professional players and sports enthusiasts from other major leagues. All the observers also cast their sights over.
As of Pro Bowl weekend, the Baltimore Ravens are quietly gaining the upper hand in discussions about the odds of winning the championship on the Internet, winning the favor of countless fans.
What exactly is going on? Are the San Francisco 49ers still unable to conquer the cunning and mean tastes of the majority of fans after a complete winning season? The facts are complex, but also simple.
On the contrary, the strength and glory of the undefeated season made the San Francisco 49ers a public enemy.
People have always sympathized with the underdog. This season, the Baltimore Ravens have been plagued by injuries and have had good and bad performances. They stumbled all the way to the Super Bowl and eliminated the top-seeded Denver Broncos and the American League in two overtimes in the divisional round. In the second half of the final, the second-seeded New England Patriots made a desperate comeback and fought back all the way. After entering the Super Bowl, they are still a weak side.
In the decisive battle of Huashan, the Baltimore Ravens are about to challenge the final boss of the season - the San Francisco 49ers, the most powerful team in the entire league. There are many people who are looking forward to the dark horse's victory.
What's more, with the media's praising strategy, all neutral fans are now united and share the same hatred. They are looking forward to the San Francisco 49ers losing and can't wait to pull the "insolent" Jim Harper and Lu Ke. Get off your horse and deliver a brutal battle of strength to kill them with majesty.
That's one; the other is because of Lewis.
The Super Bowl is Lewis's final game. Deep down in people's hearts, they are always looking forward to a "happy ending", using a Super Bowl championship ring to bring Lewis' career to a perfect end, even for those enemies. We couldn't help but give Lewis applause and cheers.
The Baltimore Ravens, who seemed to be weak, had the right time and place, while the San Francisco 49ers, who seemed strong, became the unpopular ones condemned by the whole people.
As a result, the momentum of public opinion changed quietly.
If you open social networks at this time, you can notice that it seems that all of North America has become a fan of the Baltimore Ravens. Except for the Bay Area, fans in all other regions are lighting up the Ravens one after another. The purple and black flag clearly stands on the side of the "weak" on the Super Bowl stage.
At the beginning, they only had a slight upper hand. The winning and losing support rate might be "5.5:4.5". The audience supporting the Baltimore Ravens was only slightly higher, but gradually the balance began to tilt. When the official press day of the Super Bowl arrived, , the victory and defeat support rate has evolved into "7:3", and more than 70% of the audience are expecting the Ravens to win.
Not normal, this is really abnormal.
What's more, what the San Francisco 49ers are facing now is not only the overwhelming support from the audience, but also the curse that has plagued the league for many years. Just like God's will, every aspect is suggesting that this year does not belong to the San Francisco 49ers. Championship year.
The NFL has a winning curse.
Needless to say, there is only one team in history that has won all 16 games in the regular season, the New England Patriots in the 2007 season. However, the New England Patriots inexplicably lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl that year. He was able to have a perfect season, and the New York Giants somehow became a pain in their ass.
Fans and players all agree that there are two natural enemies of Brady in the entire league: one is Eli Manning and the other is Ray Lewis.
However, if there is only one team as a reference sample, it is far from being called a curse, it can only be said to be a coincidence.
The actual situation is that teams that have won more than fifteen consecutive games in the regular season have been unable to win the championship for 27 consecutive years. The last time they accomplished such a feat was the Chicago Bears in the 1985 season.
For twenty-seven years, this can be called a curse. To be precise, since the league was restructured in 1978 and the number of regular season games increased from fourteen to sixteen, only two teams have been able to win the Super Bowl after fifteen wins in the regular season. This is not a curse but a rule. .
Sixteen regular season games plus three playoff games - the fifteen-win team will definitely be the league's top seed and enjoy a bye in the first round of wild card games. It needs to complete nineteen ultra-high-intensity games in just five months. This game is a severe test for any team. After winning fifteen games in the regular season, it is absolutely difficult to maintain intensity and status on the Super Bowl stage.
The premise is that the NFL always uses various restrictions to maintain the balance of strength between teams, thereby shortening the strength gap between teams to ensure the excitement of the game. It is also unimaginable to lose the intensity of nineteen games. It is not inferior to the intensity of more than 80 NBA games.
It is precisely because of this that no team has been able to replicate such a feat again in the past 27 years. Even the New England Patriots, whose system and tactics were fully mature in the 2007 season, have not been able to do it, let alone the current young and energetic team. What about the San Francisco 49ers?
This is the magic!
But it is worth pondering that only two teams in history have achieved such a feat, except for the Chicago Bears in the 1985 season, and the San Francisco 49ers in the 1984 season.
