NFL Star Marshawn Lynch Leads SF Shock Onto the OWL Stage
By Wyatt Fossett ·
In their second year, the San Francisco Shock look to make a greater statement helped by bringing some NFL star power to the stage for their Cali Cup match.
With the launch of the Overwatch League over a year ago, Blizzard and Overwatch instilled within the fandom a location-based rivalry that has been part of professional sports for decades.
The Battle of California, invented by fans of two California OWL teams, is an ongoing war that all began with a home-and-home tournament. Either the Shock or the LA Valiant, both from California, play the team that is in possession of the Cali Cup they have a chance to take it. Heading into their head-to-head today, the San Francisco Shock are the current holders.
hey guys come out Friday it’ll be worth your time trust me @SFShock
— Matthew DeLisi (@super_OW) April 3, 2019
LINK TO BUY TICKETS: https://t.co/H0bdRLgyRO pic.twitter.com/8pLKkvXrAZ
SF Gets Beastly
To spur on their fans and celebrate their match against the LA Valiant, the San Francisco Shock brought out some bay-area royalty to show off their Cali Cup.
National Football League star Running Back for the Oakland Raiders, and Super Bowl 48 Champion Marshawn Lynch and his kids (waving a SF Shock flag) led the team out of the tunnel during their introduction.
The group posed for an awesome photo with Lynch aka “BeastMode” hoisting the Cali Cup above his head on the Blizzard Arena mainstage. It was epic.
And Still ... Cali Cup Champs
To add salt into the wounds, the San Francisco Shock made a statement following their Stage 1 Playoffs Finals loss to the Vancouver Titans by demolishing their Southern California brethren.
The boys from #ShockCity never let up on the pressure as astounding Zarya play from Sinatraa, and the ever-improving young star in main-tank Super. It seems evident that the loss in the Stage 1 Finals has done nothing but light a large fire under one of the youngest teams in the league. The Shock are looking very scary after their Stage 2 Week 1 victory.
4-0 ACHIEVED!! YOU KNOW THE DRILL #SHOCKCITY... LET THOSE VICTORY GIFS FLY!!!#beastmode #WONNABLE pic.twitter.com/G5lMZWJ4O7
— San Francisco Shock⚡ (@SFShock) April 6, 2019
The San Francisco Shock is owned by renowned Esports organization NRG, in which Marshawn Lynch is a notable investor. Alongside Lynch, the owner duo of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, former NBA center Shaquille O’Neal, Yankees legend A-Rod, former NY Giant Michael Strahan, musician Tiesto, and Jeniffer Lopez are all investors in NRG aka The San Francisco Shock.
With young kids, it’s obvious that Lynch would not only be interested in competitive gaming, but also an avid fan of it. We’re sure his kids loved the celebrations of "Shock Day" and their team's dominant defense of their prized Cali Cup.