Super Bowl week, at least in the American sporting world, is a veritable media circus. Athletes that have never spoken to the press before are suddenly scrutinized as though they are running in a political campaign.
This week, despite the myriad of fanfare surrounding Richard Sherman and Peyton Manning, one athlete has become the most conspicuous of all: Marshawn Lynch.
He’s not stood out because of audacious remarks or odd behavior. He has stood out because he’s not saying much of anything.
Earlier in the season, Lynch was threatened with a $50,000 fine if he continued to avoid the press. To an extent, he has complied with the NFL’s wish. He’s been at press conferences all week, but his arrival at these conferences has been just about his only contribution.
Thus far he’s managed to tell the press that the only reason he’s there is to avoid getting fined. And that’s it.
For most people, not talking to a room full of people with cameras on a daily basis is not a big deal. But Lynch is not a normal person. He makes $4 million a year, and despite the typical sport’s fans belief, that money is not just for playing football.
He’s required to talk to the media.
Whatever excuses he may have, a fear of public speaking, a distrust of the press or even generally awful social skills, they are not sufficient enough to get him out of talking to the people that work week after week to put his face in newspapers and on T.V.
In fact, Lynch’s behavior borders on disrespect. By not taking a few minutes every week to give the media the time of day, he’s showing a blatant disregard for a portion of the people that have helped his success.
If Lynch has a hard time with speaking in public, he can easily hire a speech coach. If he is simply afraid of a difficult social situation, he can easily hire a therapist. He has no excuses.
The worst part of all of this has been Lynch’s behavior this week, during which he has pouted for the duration of press conferences and come across as a child. He has undermined the work of journalists that slave away just to get into a room with him.
