Michael phelps credits this book with saving his life. After reading the book for a couple days, phelps called lewis. Michael phelps credits ray lewis for inspiring his. As a guy who just published a book of his own, the most frustrating thing about this story is that phelps didnt even buy the book himself. Phelps explained the book helped by turning him into believing. Man, this book is crazy, lewis says phelps told him, i cannot thank. Ray lewis shared words of wisdom with michael phelps before the final race of his career. Michael phelps talks rehabilitation in sports illustrated cover story. Michael phelps story is a reminder that no matter how big a mess your. In 2015, lewis partnered with rob wallace to found power52, a community solar solution. Its turned me into believing there is a power greater than myself and there is a purpose for me on this planet, phelps told espn. Why michael phelps is a role model and its not just the 26 olympics medals. When phelps arrived at the arizona center where he received treatment for alcohol abuse, he began each day with a chapter from a book lewis. In an interview with espn, phelps said the book turned me into believing there is a power greater.
Michael phelps was about to end his life, but god had a different plan. Michael phelps visits ray lewis after super bowl win gamefap. Olympic swimmer michael phelps was on the verge of suicide. How an nfl legend coached michael phelps to gold from an. The most decorated olympian in history, michael phelps, talks about being a huge baltimore ravens fan and ray lewis role in phelps decision to return to the pool for the 2012 olympics. Michael phelps saved from suicide by rick warren book. So he cracked the book ray lewis gave him, called the purpose driven life. Ray lewis and michael phelps have become close friends in recent years. Ray lewiss cubicle, near a back doorway in the visitors locker room at gillette stadium, was a hub of activity sunday night. Lewis convinced phelps to enter rehab and gave him a book to read while he was there. Michael phelps gave ray lewis a shoutout after his final gold medal.
Ray lewis explains the relationship he has with michael phelps after the olympians goldmedal walkoff in rio. Olympic swimmer phelps credits purpose driven life for. This is the best place ive ever been in my whole life. A key turning point in michael s life was when his friend ray lewis gave him a copy of the purpose driven life by rick warren zondervan, 20. Lewis had given phelps a copy of the purpose driven life by rick warren, and phelps explained the book helped by turning him into believing there is a power greater than myself and a purpose for me on this planet. The words struck a chord with olympic swimmer michael phelps. When the devil tried to detour phelps olympic dreams with substance abuse and family problems, god sent him a miracle in the form of a christian book. Phelps, whose struggles with alcohol threatened to derail his career, credited lewis with inspiring him to return to swimming after the 2008 olympics in beijing. Ray lewis helped me win olympic medals chris strauss, usa today sports football isnt an olympic sport, but ray lewis was. The book contained the message phelps needed to hear. Thats when friend and former nfl player ray lewis stepped in to help. Ray lewis has put up with the ignorance and narrow minds of those who would drag this garbage up again. Plus football galore, including dak prescott, antonio brown, teddy bridgewater and.
Sign up for the for the win newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Michael phelps gold medal performance in the 200m individual medley was shown on the ravensvision boards during the preseason game against the carolina panthers. Nfl legend ray lewis gave the book to 23 time olympic gold medalist michael phelps when he went to rehab. After checking into a rehab center, phelps started reading the book and it changed his life. Michael phelps on how reading purpose driven life saved him from suicide. In addition to encouraging phelps that he could make it through his dark time, and advising him to seek the help of a rehab center, lewis, who is public about his christian faith, gave phelps a book. When phelps was dealing with some personal issues, lewis suggested michael read rick warrens purpose driven life, a book that has been translated.
After reading the book for a couple days at the meadows, phelps called lewis. One was retired baltimore ravens linebacker ray lewis, who had long been a friend and confidante. Within a few days, phelps called lewis and told him man this book is crazy. Lewis also launched the tackling life podcast in 2016 with dr. Ravens great ray lewis on the leaders looked up to in his career. Michael phelps tells how he did not want to be alive any more after dui arrest as he opens up about his stint in rehab and his friendship with football great ray lewis. What you can learn from the purpose driven life and. Olympic star michael phelps life was spiraling out of. Michael phelps says baby number two may be coming soon and explains why his wedding was a secret in bizarre video filmed as he golfs with nfl star ray lewis in just a bathing suit. Joe klein, new york times michael lewis s brilliant narrative of the trump administrations botched presidential transition takes us into the engine rooms of a government under attack by its leaders through willful ignorance and greed. Sure he tells football stories from his career and talks about guys he played with, but it is very much about how these events and people relate to rays story. An unusual friendship between baltimores brightest stars. This book of christian wisdom turned it all around for michael, as it allowed him to refocus on his life and family in a positive way. When phelps was dealing with some personal issues, lewis suggested michael read rick warrens purpose driven life, a book that has.
Phelps heeded his friends advice and entered the rehab facility carrying a book lewis gave him, the purpose driven life, by rick warren. Lewis and other friends convinced phelps to seek help at the meadows, a rehabilitation center outside of phoenix. Michael phelps says baby number two may be coming soon. Its no secret that baltimore sports greats michael phelps and ray lewis are close friends. Ray lewis explains the relationship he has with michael phelps after the. Reading recommendations that cover everything from football to life to leadership, from pageturning nerds including andrew luck, pete carroll, ray lewis, michael phelps. Lewis convinced phelps to seek help at the meadows, a behavioural rehab facility outside phoenix. How an nfl legend coached michael phelps to gold from an alabama bbq joint. Michael phelps, kevin plank, steve bisciotti and others say ray lewis hall of fame. The purpose driven life of michael phelps bible gateway blog. Michael phelps visits ray lewis after super bowl win youtube. Michael phelps credits this book with saving his life dave willis. Look at how the life of michael phelps including a complicated relationship with his.
Antonio brown, teddy bridgewater and our book of the week. Michael phelps on how reading purpose driven life saved. And the christian book had a profound impact on michael. Why michael phelps is a role model the odyssey online. Michael phelps offers advice to ravens patrick queen. Just a few days into rehab, lewis says phelps called him to talk about the book. The new york times bestseller, with a new afterword michael lewis s most ambitious and important book. The purpose driven life, by megachurch baptist pastor rick warren. During a stint in rehab, his longtime friend and nfl hall of famer, ray lewis, reached out with. Michael phelps was about to end his life, but god had a.
Thenravens linebacker ray lewis, left, and olympic swimmer michael phelps hug before an nfl football game against the cincinnati bengals in baltimore, monday, sept. Double murder charges still haunt exraven linebacker ray lewis. Man, this book is crazy, lewis says phelps told him, i cannot thank you enough, man. Olympian michael phelps reveals purpose driven life saved him. Michael phelps is back on track these days, back swimming with a passion and not drinking anymore, living life to the fullest with the help of nfl super bowl champion ray lewis.
Michael phelps on rehab and his friendship with ray lewis. Michael phelps offers great advice to ravens patrick queen watch. For michael phelps, he credited the book with saving his life. Michael phelps was arrested in september last year and charged with dui after he was found to. In the interview, phelps says, its turned me into believing that there is a power greater than myself and there is a purpose for me on this planeti think it helped me when i was in a place.
Ray lewis tweets strange thing about michael phelps medal. Michael phelps talks rehabilitation in sports illustrated. And as he headed into treatment, ray gave him a special gift his very own copy of rick warrens the purpose driven life. How ray lewis contributed to michael phelps medal haul in. A couple of years ago, ray lewisformer american football linebacker for the baltimore ravens and friend to phelpsgave a copy of the purpose driven life to phelps during a dark time in his life. Michael phelps testimony illustrates the salvation and peace that can only be found in jesus christ. Barry svrluga barry svrluga became a sports columnist for the washington post in december 2016. Lewis could able to convince phelps to seek help at the meadows rehab. Ray lewis influenced powerful people beyond football, from michael. Michael phelps story is a reminder that no matter how big a mess.
How michael phelps overcame childhood issues to become. Ray lewis tweets strange thing about michael phelps medal count. Michael phelps didnt want to be alive, but ray lewis. Olympian michael phelps reveals purpose driven life. Phelps entered rehab carrying a book lewis gave him, the purpose driven life, by rick warren. Olympic gold medalist michael phelps contemplated suicide amid his alcohol problems, but found a lifeline in christian nfl star and longtime friend ray lewis gift a purpose driven life book. The sports illustrated article reads like a tellall book, with michael phelps detailing his darkest days and his push to. He read it while in rehab, even to other patients, earning him the nickname preacher mike. This isnt a book like the blind side that focuses on one players story but uses it to tell a story about football in general, this is a book about ray lewis. Ray lewis spoke with michael phelps before final race, could not be. Michael phelps says he didnt want to be alive after dui.
But an article in the washington post details a new aspect. He gave phelps rick warrens book the purpose driven life. You may remember that phelps had some not so positive headlines in. Michael phelps gets support from close friend ray lewis. Double murder charges still haunt exraven linebacker ray. Still, much worse was his feeling of not being himself mentally. Michael phelps credits this book with saving his life august.
Warrens the purpose driven life lewis also gave phelps a copy of the purpose driven life by rick warren. The purpose driven life has broken as many records as phelps on its way to being the bestselling nonfiction book published in the last century. But then christian friend and nfl star ray lewis stepped with words of encouragement. Ray lewis spoke with michael phelps before final race. How ray lewis contributed to michael phelps medal haul in rio. Power52 provides affordable renewable energy to inner city communities. Millions of people including me have been encouraged and inspired by its simple message. Lewis gave him the purpose driven life by rick warren and it stirred his thoughts about a life with christ. Michael phelps wont touch alcohol and has rededicated himself to swimming after leaving rehab, the olympian told sports illustrated. Christian headlines editor, veronica neffinger, reports that ray lewis not only encouraged michael phelps to take a look at his life and read the book but also to enter rehab, which phelps.
55 103 837 1006 1321 1225 537 101 1372 836 1523 350 749 370 1465 527 118 50 1340 1439 711 1166 1392 660 510 119 756 79 428 1373 879 906 1035