However
this year is different. This year I cared about NFL football. I wanted the
Panthers to get to the playoffs undefeated, which they nearly did. I wanted everyone who was talking
trash about Cameron Newton to shut up. I wanted people to take notice and man
did they ever. However not all of it was great commentary on a man who frankly
is just damn fun to watch. May we all have a job we love as much as Cam Newton
loves playing football.
Now
for full disclosure I’m typing this up as Carolina trails Denver 7-16 so it’s
not like Cam is being remarkable on the field, then again neither is Payton. Denver finally figured out that the
way to beat the Panthers (at least so far) is to shut down Cam and his offense.
Granted the Panther offense isn’t giving Cam much time to do anything in the pocket,
something they have been great at all year long. My point is this post isn’t
about a Quarterback setting the field on fire with his awesomeness. No this
post is about telling people about the Cam Newton that makes me smile. The Cam
Newton whom I think little kids should look up to, the Cameron Newton who
deserves more respect.
1. Granted the man led my team (War Eagle!) to an SEC
Championship, a National Championship, and did it with class. When I say he LED
the team I mean exactly that. I’ve seen him walk up and down that sideline
pumping up a teammate who may have had a bad play, cheering for the defense like a little kid for a good stop and I've watched him lead the team (all of them even the "bench warmers") down
towards the student section before 4th quarter in an effort to bring the crowd into the game for one final push to victory. He knew then how
much the crowd brings to the game, which is why it’s fun now to watch him give
a ball to a kid after a touchdown (notice it's ALWAYS a kid). He didn’t just start caring about the crowd
that’s been part of his DNA for years. That people is why people who love him LOVE him.
2. Speaking of kids the man
loves kids. He wants them to succeed he wants them to believe in themselves and
his love for kids is infectious. He volunteered at an elementary school while he was a
student athlete long before anyone took notice of it. When he left his JR year for
the NFL he came back to see those kids whenever he was in town, he kept in touch with the school and keeps those connections alive to this day! He cared about these kids and because of that they cared about him.
Did you see the instagram post where a kid on the sidelines at practice was telling him how to "throw the ball" and how focused Cam is on what the kid is saying? His caption for the picture was "Always be coachable!" A great lesson for kids to hear in a world where kids think coaches are a waste of time. The man is not just a role model but he should be the bench mark role models are held too.
3. He finished school. This should be higher on the list cause i'm just so darn proud of this fellow alumni! Sure it
was a promise he made to his mom, but let’s face it Cam could have gone anywhere
he wanted for school. He came back to Auburn every summer (during his off season), went to classes,
attended sporting events, and got that piece of paper when frankly he didn’t
need it. It was important to her, so it was important to him. He returned to a
school that he had already given so much and he showed kids everywhere that yes
an education was important. Again if that's not a role model then I don't know what one is.
4. His smile. No joke no one has
a smile wider, bigger, or more genuine than Cam Newton and the man looks great
when he smiles.
5. His love for his family is admirable.
He went back to school for his mom, he says a prayer at the beginning of each
game for his mom. His mom is his inspiration, his biggest cheerleader, and I would
argue his best friend. Did you see his Instagram page where he posted the text
she sent him prior to tonight’s game? That’s love.
6. His ambition in life is to
open a day care center, or some other type of school for kids. There is no
doubt in my mind that when his NFL career is over he will do something with
kids and those kids will be the luckiest kids in the world for being a part of that environment. Nothing appears to make him happier than being around kids.
7. I do think that as soon as he’s
no longer having fun he will end his career. He’ not going to be a player that
plays for the paycheck. He's not going to hang around long after the "glory" has faded and he's just there in the background. Granted he’s not going to play for free but the
paycheck does not drive him, it's just what allows him to have fun and play a game he's been destined to play for years.
So
these are just a few of the reasons that I like Cam, notice not many of these
have anything to do with his on the field capabilities, I let those speak for themselves. Everyone knows he can throw a ball, even if sometimes I think he might throw it a little hard. I love watching Cam
play football, I love how supportive he is of the guys around him, the love he
shows to the fans, and the smile on his face. Even in games like this one where
not much to write home about has happened he wears his heart on his sleeve. He
lives and dies with that team and what is happening on that field. He's not a QB who isn't really paying attention when the defense is on the field until 4rd down. Cam shifts into spectator mode and is as into it as the rest of us are. No one will walk out of that locker room tonight more
upset that Cam. You can see it on his face he blames himself for the
way tonight has gone, he's defeated but he's not down. They will regroup, they will come back and this is not
Cam’s only shot at a ring with the Panthers or anyone else. There is no doubt in my mind he'll get that hardware one day and Chosen will be
jumping up and down in the players box challenging his grandma for dad’s
biggest supporter when he does!
Everyone
needs to sit back, leave him alone and enjoy the ride cause it’s a fun ride to
be a part of !
War
Cam Eagle, forever and always.
Marcy
No comments:
Post a Comment