A few weeks ago I got a chance to sit down with Marshawn Lynch of the Buffalo Bills and Josh Johnson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at their 4thannual Fam First football camp at Oakland Tech high school. The former Bulldogs have moved on to the NFL but return to their roots each year to help mentor and invest in the next generation of local athletes coming out of the Bay Area.
In part 1 of our interview they share thoughts on giving back to the community and the state of their careers going into this coming season. Their words are wise as they reflect on the importance of community uplift– something that Oakland is known for, but that our athletes rarely engage in.
Granted, some pro athletes who end up with our local teams do little team-sponsored clinics or clean-ups, but it’s clear that Josh and Marshawn are invested in a much more personal and passionate way. This year, they brought out a variety of pro and college athletes to coach the 600 youth that assembled at their alma mater to learn and have fun. Shout out to Josh and Marshawn for giving back to The Town.
In the second part of the interview they speak about how Oakland has prepared them for the NFL, their response to the Oscar Grant murder, and there favorite rappers from the bay. Shout out to both of them for sitting down with us and 38thNotes hopes their seasons only get better. Enjoi
