For months, McCrary suspected that something was wrong, but he had no proof. He remained friendly with Giannasca, who he said added a fleet of new cars and a motor home during that time. McCrary was invited to a renewing of vows between the developer and his wife.
At the event, McCrary said, he struck up a conversation with a stranger. McCrary said the man, an insurance adjuster, seemed surprised that McCrary did not know who he was and quipped, "I'm the one that found the pot of gold for you," referring to the insurance settlement.
McCrary said he demanded a meeting with Fisher and Giannasca, at which they admitted having received a "couple of million" from the insurance company but claimed that the money was being reinvested in another project.
Rather than getting angry, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound McCrary immediately left the meeting and contacted his lawyer.
"It was my first dealings in real estate, in terms of a major project. I learned a lot. I relied on a personal relationship and trusting the person, rather than on good business sense," McCrary said.
McCrary is a member of the Ravens Ring of Honor and was a fan favorite the six seasons he played here. An undersized defensive end, McCrary was respected throughout the league for his tenacity in rushing opposing quarterbacks.
McCrary says he comes from a family of fighters, and the court system substantiates his claim.
His parents, Sandy and Curtis McCrary, filed a lawsuit against a nursery school in Arlington, Va., alleging discrimination when 2-year-old Michael was not admitted to the school. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, and in 1976, the justices ruled in favor of the McCrarys in a decision that was a milestone in civil rights. The ruling prohibits discrimination in contracts, meaning that vendors or service providers cannot discriminate on the basis of race.
"We've always refused to be taken advantage of as a family and fight to the very end for what we feel is right," McCrary said.
brent.jones@baltsun.com
