Homecoming day for a favorite son
Deal for Lynch is completed and could give Davis cover
It’s a heartwarming story, Marshawn Lynch returning to Oakland to play for the Raiders.
Lynch even wrote the story of his homecoming in Twitter poetry. Here is his Wednesday tweet, with my footnotes in parenthesis:
“Yes Lawd (Lord) 12th man (what Seahawks’ fans call themselves) I’m thankful but s— just got REAL I had hella fun in Seattle... But I’m really from Oakland doe (a word of emphasis) like really really really from Oakland doe... town bizzness (daily life of the city) breath on me.”
Lynch, famously, does not enjoy speaking to the media, especially not when ordered to do so. That’s fine. Who needs his talking when we’ve got Beast Mode’s tweeting? Beats the hell out of the standard, “I just want to contribute to the team.”
At a fun time like this, when the Raiders and their (remaining) fans are celebrating the homecoming of the Ramblin’ Wreck from Oakland Tech, allow me to take a short detour into cynicism.
Raiders owner Mark Davis
has hired a hell of a bodyguard. If there’s one thing Davis needed after his groin kick to Oaklanders, it’s someone to shield him from the angry fans.
Davis is moving his team to Las Vegas, but circumstances could force the Raiders to play one to three more seasons in Oakland, as a lame duck. Or roasted duck. The emotions of the fans run the gamut from livid to irate.
Many Oakland fans have renounced their allegiance to the Raiders. The ones who still will go to the Coliseum are not overflowing with love for Mark Davis.
Signing Lynch doesn’t fix all that, but it takes the edge off the anger and resentment. It’s a great diversionary tactic. General manager Reggie McKenzie doesn’t build his roster based on diplomacy, but Lynch is legit, and Davis might have told his buddy Reggie, “Do this one for me.”
Beast Mode reportedly will host a block party Thursday in Oakland. If it’s near the Coliseum, the partiers might be invited to roast their weenies in the Al Davis Eternal Flame, thus signifying the new alliance of Oakland homeboys Mark Davis and Lynch.
A cynic might also note that Lynch owns a clothing store in Oakland, Beast Mode, and playing a season or two for the old Silver and Black won’t be bad for business.
Another big bonus for the Raiders: With Lynch healed and recharged after a year in retirement, the Raiders probably won’t be tempted to draft Joe Mixon, the Oklahoma running back.
The Raiders have been showing keen interest in Mixon, who punched a woman in 2014, a tableau caught on video. The Raiders have been actively scouting and backgrounding Mixon, who is also a Bay Area native, from Oakley.
Some other time we can debate the concept of second chances in life, but the Raiders will have enough trouble luring fans to their games in Oakland without asking those fans to cross picket lines of domestic-violence protesters.
Lynch is no Cub Scout, but his imperfections are more in line with the Raider mystique. Like his disinclination to chat with the media at mandatory interview sessions, which to Lynch smack of: “Do as you are told.”
Lynch isn’t big on traditional etiquette. When he left Cal after his junior year, he conducted his exit interview with the media on his cell phone while in line at a burger-stand drive-thru.
The buzz from Seattle is that head coach Pete Carroll has tired of Lynch’s loose attention to detail, such as not always listening to coaches when they’re coaching, and enjoying the occasional party.
Perfect fit for Raiders: wild guy, but not slug-a-lady wild. And on the field, Lynch’s style is more Raider-like than that of any running back they’ve had in a long time.
Lynch is 31 years old, which is 62 in running-back years, but he appears to have some tread left on the tires. The Raiders and their fans will appreciate his running Lynch’s style, which is to run into the brick wall until it crumbles.
If the Raiders can get 15 crunching carries per game from Lynch, that beastly 65 yards will fit nicely into the Raiders’ offensive plans.
On a young team, Lynch’s leadership should be a plus, although head coach Jack Del Rio might be a little nervous about where Lynch is leading ’em. He will be a good role model for the team’s younger running backs, because when you’re sharing reps with Beast Mode, you’d best not tap-dance or half-step.
Good for Raiders, good for their fans. Although if you’re an Oakland sports fan, you know the rule: If someone in charge of a local sports team is patting you on the back, protect your wallet.