[Blogs] ‘A Real Special Day’

[BR News]

As his mother ran a hot bath for him, pouring in Epsom salt to ease his sore muscles, a young Ray Rice stared out the window at the New Rochelle, NY projects he lived in.

“Ma, I’m going to the league,” said Rice, then in 11th grade. “I’ve got to make it to the league. I’ll be glad when I can tell you, ‘You don’t have to work no more.’”

Janet Rice, a single mother, worked two jobs trying to make ends meet raising Rice and his two brothers and one sister. But her primary job was spoiling her children.

Now that he’s one of the NFL’s burgeoning stars, Ray is doing his best to return the spoils. Thus, Mother’s Day takes on a whole new meaning in the Rice household.

“It’s a real special day,” Ray said. “I know she gets it all year, but I try to surprise her with different stuff. I can’t spoil her too much. Gotta keep her guessing.”

Two years ago around Mother’s Day, Rice tricked his mother into thinking she was needed to sign papers for Ray to purchase a new Acura. Only after signing did she find out the car was actually for her. Last year, Ray upgraded her to a new red Lexus. After all, she always wanted a red car.

Rice has moved his mother out of the projects, where she had spent her entire life. The next phase, he says, is making good on his childhood promise of allowing her to retire early if she wants.

But don’t feel too bad for Ray either; the luxurious treatment goes both ways. When Ray comes home to New York, Janet wakes up at 5:30 a.m. and has his special-diet breakfast waiting for him by 6.

Since Ray is busy with a morning minicamp practice Sunday, Janet drove down from her home to Owings Mills, Md., to celebrate Mother’s Day a week early last weekend.

“I always tell him, ‘Ray, I just want you to be with me,’” Janet said. “‘That means more to me than anything. Material things mean nothing compared to having you here with me.’”

But just because they’ve already hung out for Mother’s Day doesn’t mean Rice doesn’t have a trick up his sleeve. (I know what it is, but who am I to spoil the surprise?)

[url=http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/?p=5447]View the full article[/url]

[Mahatma_Sloth]

“I always tell him, ‘Ray, I just want you to be with me,’” Janet said. “‘That means more to me than anything. Material things mean nothing compared to having you here with me.’”

all i can say is.... what a beautiful person

[Betweenthetackles]

millions of mothers don't get a red lexus and the "league treatment".
Let's all take a moment today to thank our mothers...without them, we'd be nothing.

[Ethioraven]

we all knew that ray was a high character guy but to have a mom like that is just wow. now we know where he gets it from. Thank you ms rice you did one hell of a job

[Dudeman]

The word, "high character" gets thrown around a lot these days. But to say Ray Rice is a "high character" guy is an understatement. I've never heard a slip of his tongue, or a single person have anything bad to say about this kid. All I have to say is that his mom must be a special person to have raised him the way she did WITH all the challenges that come along with being a single mother.

[Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab]

God Bless you Mrs. Rice for a being a tremendous roll model for young mothers everywhere and for teaching Ray how to live his life correctly. This is priceless Happy Mothers Day!