As a bonus, here are a few select, amazing quotes from the inimitable Marshawn Lynch for his upcoming ESPN The Body Issue feature:
-- It was a blast growing up in Oakland. We used to walk to house parties, play doorbell ditch, have rock fights, do front flips and backflips off concrete walls off and into the bushes. Take the boxing gloves out and box in the middle of the streets.
-- Michael Phelps wouldn't have been on the Wheaties box if I stuck with swimming. I've been swimming since I was a little kid. I still swim. I'm the best. I am Olympic caliber right now, hell yeah.
-- I did some training with an MMA coach before last season. The biggest difference was the boxing. You learn not only how to maneuver your weight but use it to your advantage when defenders approach you to try to tackle you -- use their leverage against them and it helps. My stiff-arm has been more effective because of it.