Fast forward to January of 2001. Ray Lewis, who had been heavily fined by the NFL for his actions but supported in full by his team - the Baltimore Ravens, has played the best season of his career. He is named the defensive player of the year, is arguably the most dominant individual in the league. His team, despite demonstrating little offensive firepower throughout the season, continues to win game after game with a record breaking defensive squad that is led by Lewis. Tampa Bay hosts the Super Bowl this time around and the NFC champion New York Giants are matched up against none other than the Baltimore Ravens. In order for this seemingly scripted tale to turn a full 360 degrees, Baltimore would have to win the game and Ray Lewis would be named MVP, running off to Disneyland, slowing down only long enough to pose for a picture that would be placed on Wheaties boxes.
As we now know, that's exactly what happened. Well, maybe not exactly. The Ravens were indeed victorious and Ray Lewis was the game's MVP. But when he ran proudly off the field, drenched both in perspiration and vindication, neither Disneyland nor Wheaties were waiting for him. Quarterback Trent Dilfer was to get the Disney spot, and the Wheaties box would feature several Ravens players, none of whom were named Ray Lewis. These other men may not have had comebacks quite so dramatic as Lewis', but then again, neither were any of them connected to the most heinous crime there is. They were, if not as spectacular as Ray Lewis, certainly less offensive to middle America, not to mention top, bottom and side America. When the game switched from football to marketing, going with Lewis was an iffy proposition at best.
