When Marshawn Lynch Talks, People Listen

(Seattle Times image)

When their running backs were injured at the end of the season, the Seattle Seahawks asked 33-year-old Marshawn Lynch to come out of retirement and join them during the playoffs. The Seahawks were eliminated by the Packers on Sunday, and the normally taciturn Lynch became unusually voluble in the postgame interviews.

The topic: advice to young players from a star who had a taste of life outside of football. [bold added]

"Look, I'll say like this though, right?" Lynch said. "This is a vulnerable time for a lot of these young dudes, you feel me? They don't be taking care of their chicken right, you feel me? So if it was me, or if I had a opportunity to let these little young sahobs know something, I'd say take care of y'all money, African, because that ... don't last forever. Now I done been on the other side of retirement and it's good when you get over there and you can do what ... you want to. So I tell y'all right now while y'all in it: Take care of y'all bread, so when y'all done go ahead and take care of yourself.

"So while y'all at it right now, take care of y'all bodies, you know what I mean; take care of y'all chicken, you feel me; take care of y'all mentals because, look, we ain't lasting that long. I had a couple players that I played with that they're no longer here no more — they're no longer — so, I mean, you feel me? So you start taking care of y'all mentals, y'all bodies, y'all chicken, so when y'all ready to walk away, walk away and you'll be able to do what you want to do."

To sum up, Mr. Lynch is advising young players not to spend the immense sums ("chicken") that they are earning now, to guard against their minds being blown by concussions or drugs, and to keep healthy physically. When they leave football, hopefully with money and minds and bodies intact, they'll "be able to do what you want to do."

So take care of y'all mentals, y'all bodies, y'all chicken. When Marshawn Lynch talks, people listen...and remember.

Old-Fashioned Dining in Seattle

This time the calendar wasn't our friend. Our one day in Seattle coincided with the Cowboys-Seahawks game, and hundreds of Dallas fans augmented the usual weekend lines. We had to wait over an hour for a table.

Dining at Ivar's Acres of Clams (est.1938) is like going to Alioto's on Fisherman's Wharf, where you will encounter hardly any locals.

2-lb. "bucket" of clams

Infrequent visitors should go at least once to see the old-fashioned paneling and bar, as well as the history on the walls.

Naturally, I had to order the signature "Acres of Clams." A two-pound bucket for $29, it was not grotesquely overpriced.

Most seafood places cook the clams a short while so that they turn out plump and juicy. Ivar's leaves the local Manila clams in the steamer longer; the mollusks are smaller, but the flavor is more intense.

By the time we were done the crowds had dissipated. Traffic was light back to Tacoma. It was time to head home.

1 Th 5:18

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson is well known for his Christian faith and regularly gives thanks to God after every game. Because the Seahawks are among the elite football teams, he has been mocked for having a fair-weather theology. Even people of the cloth, who should know better, have joined in the criticism.

I spoke with a Seahawks-hater who reveled in their last-minute loss to the Patriots in an exciting 28-24 Super Bowl. "Let's see Russell Wilson give thanks now."

Okay, here---from Russell Wilson's Twitter page:

What's sad about this exchange is how little non- or casual Christians understand about the faith of serious believers, who have long wrestled with why Bad Things Happen to Good People, things much worse than losing a Super Bowl.

I will always root for the 49ers when they play the Seahawks, but I won't root against Russell Wilson.

Why I Have TiVo

The TiVo DVR began recording before the kickoff. Leaving the house to run errands, I planned to return for what everyone said was going to be an exciting second half.

At halftime the score was Seattle 22, Denver 0. Early in the 3rd quarter Seattle's lead rose to 29-0. There was no point in rushing home. The final score of 43-8 was the third largest margin of victory in Super Bowl history.

It became a pleasant, productive Sunday afternoon, as the stores, restaurants, and roads were uncrowded. Despite its one-sidedness, over 100 million Americans watched the contest. (Hey, the Roman Colosseum had good turnouts, too, though the Lions were pretty unbeatable.)

Well, this is why I got TiVo: to fast-forward through the program to watch the commercials.