I thought I was a Seattle Seahawks fan. I truly did. I didn’t care at all that I was called a bandwagoner. Who cares? I was having the time of my life cheering them on.
I learned however, when Shawn Lynch left, or retired from, the Seahawks that I was not a Seahawks fan, at all. I only liked to watch them play. There is a difference.
Actually I learned a bit earlier than that.
I learned I was not a Seahawks fan at all when Lynch was injured, subsequently underwent surgery and out for the remainder of the season. I did not watch a single Seahawks game that Lynch was not in.
When I saw that the Seahawks had given Lynch’s number to another player when they should have retired it in honour of what he contributed to the team I went from disinterest to disgust with the Seahawks.
So what that Lynch came out of retirement and is wearing number 24 for his beloved Raiders.
Some have tried to defend the move citing some little known rule. Whatever. We all know those types of rules mean very little and are overlooked or ignored whenever it suits the front office.
Reassigning the number Lynch made famous with the Seattle Seahawks was a snub, plain and simple.
Mr. Lynch rather predictably didn’t even notice and in typical fashion doesn’t care. At all. He isn’t like the rest of us who say we don’t care then harbour feelings of hurt or betrayal. To normal folks something like this would at least sting a little. Not Lynch. He has a mental toughness few can understand or ever relate to because he has seen what real hurt is.
Plus, Lynch probably has more important things on his mind, like winning a Super Bowl with his beloved hometown team the Oakland Raiders. It is a long shot of course, but John Gruden knows exactly how to use and manage Lynch, and he will squeeze every ounce of magic left in the future Hall of Fame runner, if there is any.
Lynch wouldn’t have it any other way. As he famously says, “It’s about that action Boss.”
The End. Updated 8:45 pm.
Mrs. Farrell 