In the summer of 2001, I was lucky enough to be standing with a small group of people who were meeting the Ravens football team. They had just won Super Bowl XXXV a few months before and everyone was excited.
All of our favorites were signing that day and I recall vividly my brother Matt and his cute friend getting super worked up because Ray Lewis was coming.
Matt’s friend: HE’S COMING.
Me: I know! So exciting!
Matt’s friend: WHAT SHOULD I DO?!
Me: Get him to sign your football and say hi?
Matt’s friend: WHAT SHOULD I SAY?
Me: I don’t know. Play it cool. He doesn’t really have time to talk to us, anyway.
Matt’s friend: WE’RE NEXT. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
Me: Oh my god, just chill out, you’re making me nervous.
::Ray Lewis appears before us, I see a light glimmering in Matt’s friend’s eyes::
Me: Hi Ray!
Matt’s friend (SO loudly): I’M WEARING MY RAY LEWIS UNDERPANTS.
Ray Lewis: Hah, that’s cool…I guess.
Me: That just happened.
::Ray Lewis moves on to much cooler people than us::
And that sums up the time I met #52, Ray Lewis. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Go Ravens! And yay Puppy Bowl!