Prime Pacman hits different!
Meet Camryn Bynum, a Filipino-American football player who currently serves as a safety for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL.
Picked 125th overall out of the University of California in 2021, the 25-year-old defensive specialist has been steadily making a name for himself in the league.
His Filipino roots come from his mother, whose grandparents hail from Leyte. He was born and grew up in Corona, California.
In Week 7 of the season, Bynum was named National Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week. This came after he tallied nine tackles and two interceptions in the Vikings’ 22-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Before every huge outing, best believe Bynum goes through his pregame routine, which involves Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. In an interview with GQ Sports, the NFL star revealed that he watches the eight-division world champion’s greatest hits to hype him up.
"While I eat my breakfast, while I watch my film, it's essential for me to have some Manny Pacquiao (videos) on, my favorite fighter of all-time. He really gets me ready for game day, watching his highlights, watching greatness, to get my mind right," said Bynum.
He also reposted the interview on his Instagram Story on Tuesday.
“@mannypacquiao highlights get my mind right before gameday, 🐐🥊🇵🇭,” he wrote.
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It’s easy to understand how Bynum might get an adrenaline rush after reliving Pacman’s scintillating performance against Miguel Cotto or his brutal left hook that put Ricky Hatton to sleep.
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Manny did those things under the bright lights, in the most pressure-packed situations. Of course, Bynum would want to deliver in spectacular fashion as well, as he continues his blossoming career in the NFL.
At the moment, the Vikings have a 7-8 card. For sure, they would welcome a couple more standout performances from Bynum in the coming games.
(PM)