Golden Nuggets: A look at the personal life that molded Marshawn Lynch

Nature and nurture played a role in Marshawn Lynch becoming Beast Mode.

By Leland Wong Jan 28, 2014, 3:30pm PST

This Sunday, Marshawn Lynch is looking to Beast Mode his way to a Super Bowl ring. Taking a step back, the New York Daily News is studying Lynch's family life and childhood and how that molded him into the Beast Mode.

Marshawn's mother, Delisa Lynch, reflected on one notable exchange she had with Marshawn after a Pop Warner practice.

"He said, ‘Mama, when I grow up, I'm going to the NFL, and I'm going to buy you a house,' " she says. "And I said, ‘Baby, you just hold onto that dream, because dreams do come true.' "

Sixteen years later, Delisa has her house, and Marshawn Lynch is all grown up.

Marshawn, a self-proclaimed Mama's boy, grew close to his mother in part due to his father not being present during his life—despite Marshawn having a few father figures in his life. This relationship with his mother played a role in his decision to choose Cal over Oregon ("He told me he'd go to Cal if I moved (somewhere safer).") and his struggles as a Buffalo Bill.

For the first time in his life, Marshawn was a world away from Delisa, and he'd traded the inner cities of Oakland for the quiet of Buffalo. He bought her the house he promised, a beautiful three-bedroom place in posh Redbridge-Tracy, with the backyard swimming pool she'd always wanted, and he threw in a Chrysler 300, too.

But, a world away, he struggled to fit into his new environment. He missed his mother. Marshawn would try to call home, but a three-hour time difference didn't help.

As a Seahawk, Marshawn was closer to home and his mother and able to act like himself. Rejuvinated, Lynch returned to the high-level play we've all expected from him. The same kind of play that brought him and his team to the Super Bowl. Good luck to Marshawn and Brandon Mebane!

And if you've ever wondered what it tastes like to mix fine meat and candy—and really, who hasn't?—then worry no more thanks to the delicious concoction of sausage made with Skittles.

Lastly, if you need a little boost from some power pellets, Skittles has entered a partnership with Lynch (video autoplays) that involves selling Seahawks-colored Skittles for a limited time and donating $10,000 for ever Super Bowl touchdown that Lynch scores on Sunday

Women's Basketball

Dat bling

The Bears capped an exciting night by receiving their 2012-13 @pac12 championship rings post-game. pic.twitter.com/ECMt0uLMz5
— Cal Basketball (@CalWBBall) January 27, 2014

Mikayla Lyles is working with our mortal enemy, the Cardinal WBB team, for pride and acceptance of LGBT student athletes
No. 19/16 Cal (14–5, 6–2 Pac-12) tasted sweet victory over UCLA (coverage by CalBears.com, SFGate, and Inside Bay Area)

No. 19 @CalWBBall grabs a 69-53 victory over @UCLAWBB. Play of the Game: http://t.co/HhuO4Jydw9
— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) January 27, 2014

Men's Basketball

At last, an end to a terrible set of games against the LA schools with Cal (16–4, 5–2 Pac-12) lost to UCLA (coverage by CalBears.com, SFGate, and Inside Bay Area)
#GOLDOUTHAAS