Looks like a group of Princeton snobs don’t feel Marshawn Lynch is articulate enough or cut from the same distinguished educational cloth as the choices who preceded him as a “Class Day ” speaker.
When it was discovered that the Super Bowl Champion and Skittles rep would be sharing a message with the student body, a group of Princeton students wrote an op-ed in the school newspaper expressing their displeasure with the selection of Lynch as their “Class Day” speaker.
But why?
According to CBS, the event is scheduled to take place before graduation and highlight the accomplishments of honorary class members. The main concern from the students was a lack of transparency in the process of choosing Lynch and the fact that it was hard for them to discern a criteria set for speaker from him being selected.
“As seniors, we had been looking forward to the speaker announcement for months,” the letter begins. “Many of us were disappointed when we saw that this year’s speaker was to be Marshawn Lynch, mainly because we did not feel included in the process by which this speaker was nominated and finally selected.”
The letter also compliments Lynch for his NFL accomplishments and extensive community work and social activism. However, the letter then points out that the last two speakers (Actress Ellie Kemper and Senator Cory Booker) either had connections to Princeton or were “exceptional communicators.”
Lynch was notorious during his career for rarely speaking to the media unless mandated. The letter against Lynch’s selection to speak to the seniors cites his famous “I’m just here so I won’t get fined” presser before Super Bowl XLIX, and other past fines he received for not talking to the media.
Perhaps the students believe that since Lynch refused to speak to reporters that he is verbally-challenged when it comes to articulating points, aspiring young snobs or enlightening them about the value of hard work, teamwork, becoming a millionaire and being one of the best in the history of the world in your chosen field.
I’d assume that Lynch’s life journey, in some way, would be the goal of every Princeton graduate. He may not speak The King’s English but for Princeton grads to assume that they wouldn’t be motivated, enlightened or entertained by Beast Mode is a short-sided view.
I don’t know why the rich and privileged kids of Princeton don’t think Lynch has something to offer. It’s obvious the school wanted to go outside the box and provide the Princeton seniors with another example of success and excellence. Criticizing the selection of Lynch and hiding it behind supposed displeasure with the selection process is a pretty limited view by young scholars who are supposed to lead us to an increasingly diverse future.
The fact that a bunch of 20-somethings feels that such an accomplished man and a person of the people has nothing to offer when they themselves haven’t really done a thing to contribute to this world yet is a bad look.
Who can forget when Beast Mode shared a very special message for younger players in the NFL during his final post-game press conference.
“Look,” he said, “I’ll say like this though: 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 [players] know something, I’d say take care of y’all money, African, because that [expletive] don’t last forever now,” Lynch explained as he only can.
“I’ve been on the other side of retirement and it’s good when you get over there and you can do what the [expletive] 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 you can go ahead and take care of yourself.”
“So while y’all in it right now, take care of y’all’s bodies, take care of y’all’s chicken, take care of y’all’s mental. 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 you feel me? Take care of y’all mentals, y’all bodies, y’all chicken, so when y’all ready to walk away, y’all walk away and you’ll be able to do what y’all want to do.”
Profound words indeed. Maybe with Lynch speaking, half of the student body won’t feel like falling asleep midway through the speech this year. They need to look on the bright side and stop being snooty.
