Marshawn Lynch: The Seattle Seahawk Who Is Crazy Like A Fox

What exactly is Marshawn Lynch trying to say?

I have come to discover that, with all of the amazing power of the spoken or written word, silence is golden. I don't exclude myself from the noise pollution that inundates our world, but I too appreciate it when certain people shut the hell up.  Awkward silences can be weird, but the sweet peace of quietness is often preferable to the more awkward questions that typically destroy the most awkward silence.

When we are talking- we fail to properly pontificate on the power of words. As we begin to properly measure the impact of the words we choose, our word choices bear more impact.
So how does this all relate to Marshawn Lynch? If we laud the power of the poet, how then shall we esteem the mime?

Typically as a fancy clown, but there is power in the unspoken message.  Lynch might appear to be the jester that his silence portraits, but in reality he is a quiet genius.  Marshawn Lynch is more than willing to play the game of football, but he refrains from playing the game of free story lines before or after the show.

If you watched the game then let the game write the story.

Journalist' already know the angle that they plan to take when compiling an article for public consumption, so the interview question is designed to either confirm or deny an angle that won't change the potential article one way or the other. Whether they got the quote directly from you, or heard in from others is the dividing line between everything we read about celebrities.  In the end, quotes from any celebrity immediately becomes journalistic fodder for those who desperately need it (ie.,lazy writers who depend on a few juicy bits), or bulletin board fodder for opponents who thrive on such things as well.  Either way, there is very little to gain from playing in the game and then playing the game of Q&A.

http://fam1stfamilyfoundation.org/

So Lynch say's no.

Better than no, he say's yes to the NFL request of his attendance but no to the mass media demand that he do their job for them.  Lynch say's yes to children via his Fam 1st Family Foundation  but he say's no to interviews and demands of his time that don't benefit him or his foundation.

As I write, MSNBC just  showed a report of Lynch doing an interview with Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child) for ET (Ent' Tonight).  Disregarding the fact that Marshawn's body language says he love him some Destiny's Child, Lynch conducted a normal interview despite his typical gag order towards the media. During the interview, Williams coaxes Lynch into a song and rewards him for it with a gift that Lynch proceeded to donate to his foundation.  Isn't it telling that the only recent words we've heard from the league's best running back were spoken about his foundation and to benefit his foundation?

When you are a big time celebrity, as is Marhshawn Lynch, almost every word you speak works to make money for somebody else other than you.  Many of those words could very well cost you money as with athletes who inadvertently motivate the opposing player who retaliates and injures them, or the angered post-game rant that costs you a sponsor or two.  If Lynch had it his way, he would simply not attend the media sessions at all.  Since he does not, it is his right and duty to protect his self interest and his brand.

What's the value of advertising during the Superbowl? Priceless.

His self interest is the foundation and his brand is Beast Mode  that he might be paying $100,000 for violating the rule against displaying such things during media day.  Without one word spoken by Lynch, the national media ran with the story of his infraction, providing Lynch with the equivalent of a million dollar advertising deal- for free.

Does anybody think he's concerned about the $100,000 fine that he might pay?  With proceeds from the extra clothing he will sell while advertising for free during the Superbowl media day, he can easily pay that fine plus an additional $100,000 to his foundation for kids. Does that mean he is exploiting the NFL?  Sure, but keep in mind that he would rather not be there or say anything if he had a choice.  Everyday there seems to be another leaked threat that Roger Goodell will fine Lynch for his tight lipped approach to the media.  Thanks to these Beast Mode gear ads (so to speak), Lynch is making a loud statement and he's making it with a marketing smile.  From my perspective, Lynch is the only player making this media mess worth his while.

So if Michelle Williams is the new Deion Sanders (the only media member he used to talk to), then she can endure some more flirting from Lynch just to allow him to announce his NFL fine and subsequent matching donation to Fam 1st Family Foundation.  After agonizing over Lynch's media madness,  we've now come to discover that there's a lot of cache (see; cash considerations) involved with being able to secure a real Marshawn Lynch interview.

Words have a price and silence is truly golden. Thanks for the lesson Marshawn.