What Does Ray Lewis and a Swiss Tunnel Have in Common?

Ray Lewis does not need an introduction and if you don’t know who he is, you don’t deserve to be reading this. The ‘Brickwall’ is the unquestioned heart and soul of Baltimore. Who can ever forget his heroics in Super Bowl XXXV. So what does Ray Lewis and a Swiss rail tunnel have in common?

17 years.

When Lewis was drafted 26th overall in the 1996 NFL draft he become the Raven’s second ever draft pick for their inaugural season following their relocation from Cleveland. He spent his entire 17-year career in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens with his final game being in Super Bowl XXXV.

In 2016 more than 4100-miles away from M&T Bank Stadium, the Gotthard base tunnel in Switzerland opened after construction began in 1999. The 35-mile (57km) tunnel is the world’s longest rail tunnel which cuts travel by an hour between Zurich and Milan. 

The Gotthard track is flat with trains reaching speeds of up to 155mp/h (250km/h), saving time by avoiding winding tracks through the Swiss Alps. These are speeds likened to Ray Lewis on the blitz … Purple Pain!

The tunnel’s build was typically Swiss – on time and on budget ($12b). Travelers had to be patient to save an hour on their trips, taking 17 years to build. The same sort of patience Ray Lewis demonstrated in a career he accumulated 2061 tackles, 41.5 QB sacks, 67 pass deflections, 31 interceptions, 17 forced fumbles and 3 defensive touchdowns on his way to two Super Bowls.

The Gotthard base tunnel continues in operation underneath the Swiss alps, despite Ray Lewis’ final walk through the tunnel following Super Bowl XLVII. Despite this, the ‘Brickwall’ and the tunnel will always share something in common.

Shout out to all of those at #sportstalk. Originally posted on my Wolf Gang Sports blog, I hustle jerseys and produce content about players and their journeys with a bit of smack talk along the way. 

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