To Catch an “Alleged” Murderer

Welcome back to the Bill Bradley Collective, where this week your hosts examine the 2000 murder trial of future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis. Lewis’ acclaimed career and distinguished on-field place among the game’s greats are briefly detailed before moving to the events of January 31, 2000, where following a post-Super Bowl XXXIV party in Atlanta, a brawl involving Lewis broke out resulting in the stabbing deaths of Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar. Shortly thereafter, Lewis and two associates were arrested on murder charges. Despite some evidence and suspicion pointing strongly in his direction, charges against Lewis are dropped in exchange for testimony against his companions from that night, Reginald Oakley and Joseph Sweeting, testimony that proves useless as both men are acquitted that summer. The discussion turns to Lewis’ life and career following that night. A year removed he is the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV and over the next two decades his celebrity in the game grows exponentially and in retirement he receives major studio exposure on ESPN and elsewhere. Controversial on-air and in-print statements from Lewis have also been a notable part of his post-NFL career, but strangely, much like the murky circumstances surrounding the night of January 30, 2000, seemed to have done little to diminish Lewis’ legacy and place in the game. Why? That’s what the panel attempt to flesh out by conversation’s end. But first, as we are wont to do, a trilogy of rants: Andrew assesses the damage being levied to boxing by Triller’s commitment to bogus contests and spurious grifters; Zak rails against the 12-figure theft in the name of tax evasion perpetrated annually by our top 1%; and finally Ed heaps a fresh round of shame on a certain $40 million dollar punching bag and Collective favorite following the commish’s continued refusal to take even the slightest bit of action regarding Deshaun Watson.