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There is nothing wrong for criticizing Cam Newton’s performance in the Carolina Panthers’ 24-10 loss to Denver, in Super Bowl 50.
Newton was off. He missed passes, and didn’t protect the football. He didn’t get help. His offensive line was dominated from start to finish, his running backs gave up two fumbles, and the receivers didn’t make plays.
And when you play with the swagger Newton does, you are going to take hits when you lose.
Cam talks a big game, so it is no problem when opponents talk stuff back, and ‘dab’ back, in the case of some of the Denver Broncos.
No problem with that.
However, I would be remiss not to note the sheer giddiness some have taken in Newton’s defeat. I have not seen this many people happy to see an athlete lose since Muhammad Ali lost his first fight.
You see, Newton had to be put in his place. He was just too arrogant, too cocky, too self-absorbed. He is just a spoiled brat, and a sore loser. “Didn’t you see how he acted after he lost the game?”
Cam puts himself out there, so he has to be able to take the heat when he falls short. However, I would be remissed to not point out some of hypocrisy in that.
Because a lot of these same people who think Newton is arrogant, cocky, self-absorbed, spoiled and a sore loser, are supporting Donald Trump for president. Trump is every bit as arrogant, cocky, self-absorbed, spoiled, and a sore-loser, as many claim Newton to be.
It is nearly impossible to think Cam Newton is arrogant, and say Donald Trump is not.
In fact, as far as I am concerned Newton is a perfect gentleman, compared to Trump.
Trump has insulted women because of their physiology, attacked the Muslim religion, vilified Hispanics, and used vulgarity at public speeches with children in attendance.
Newton hasn’t done anything close to that.
Newton is taking criticism for walking out of the press conference, and his short, brief answers. Trump whined about Ted Cruz cheating after he lost in Iowa, and even threatened to sue.
So, why do you hate one, and love the other guy? If anything, they are similar in personality. They are both sore losers, and very good at what they do, playing football in the case of Newton, and making money and promoting himself, in the case of Trump.
However, millions see Trump’s antics as strength and confidence, and Newton’s actions as arrogance and cockiness.
Now, is some part of this based on the fact that Trump is white (well, actually, kinda orange), and Newton is black?
There is absolutely, positively, no doubt in my mind that it is.
However, some of it is based on philosophy. There are plenty of black folk that think Newton’s style of celebration is over-the-top. Also, there some black folk that think Trump is the man who will ‘Make America great again’, especially some of our friends in the black clergy.
I will tell you, give me Barry Sanders’ flipping the ball back to the ref after he scores. I am old school.
However, I recognize this is a new generation of athlete, and I also understand that while pro football is big business, the actual act of playing the game, is still a game. And to enjoy success especially in a sport as dangerous as football, it is really difficult to criticize.
Newton has millions of fans, black, white and brown. And, just like you and me, he has lots of things that he can work on getting better as a person.
As mentioned earlier, when you operate with the brashness of a Donald Trump, or a Cam Newton, you better be ready to take the criticism when you fail.
But you need to have a damn good explanation if you want to tell me that Trump is a hero, and Cam is a villain.
