61 replies to this topic

[CarolinaPride5]

This thread will be 1/8th size of the King Of Diamonds thread.

QFT.

[Avacashay]

Great article.

Panthers QB Cam Newton puts on a show worthy of kids’ respect
By Tom Sorensen
tsorensen@charlotteo bserver.com
Posted: Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012
COLUMNISTS »
Tom Sorensen



The lights go low, smoke pours, drums play and out of the giant Carolina Panther head runs quarterback Cam Newton.

A disclaimer: If you want to read about turnovers, towels, sacks, scrambles or a perceived absence of leadership, this is not the column for you.

Newton on Tuesday is different than I’ve seen him, and I’ve seen him in games, in locker rooms, behind lecterns, at practice, in a golf cart, at training camp, at Auburn and, when his clothing line was introduced, at Belk’s.

The reason for Tuesday’s festivities is a $150,000 gift from the Cam Newton Foundation to three Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. Bradley Middle School in Huntersville, Thomasboro Academy and Randolph Middle School in Charlotte each received $50,000.

The money is theirs to apply. Newton says he wants to develop a relationship with the schools and see how the kids are doing.

The principals know the money is coming. Almost nobody else in the gym does.

About 450 middle-school students from the three schools cram into the bleachers in the Randolph Middle School gym. When students see Newton they yell and scream. A few no longer can sit and they run to Newton, who is only a few yards away. Then a few more do. Then he’s engulfed.

As PR representatives wince, Newton moves not away from the kids but into the crowd.

“It’s not something I was forced to do,” Newton, 23, tells me later. “I wanted to do that.”

The Panthers prepared a script. Newton will talk for five to 10 minutes, some of it answering questions from radio play-by-play man Mick Mixon.

Newton has his own script, although he consults it only when he calls out an award-winning student by name. He talks about 30 minutes, the microphone in his right hand an extension of his arm.

Casual Cam in jeans, a sweat-suit jacket and sneakers, Newton works the room like a comedian. He shakes his head, looks up and looks down, strides and circles.

He talks to the football teams at Bradley and Randolph, inviting the quarterback of each to join him on the floor.

He also praises the National Junior Honor Society. And when he deems the response insufficient, he demands more applause. In a just world, honor societies would receive more applause.

He’s not morose, he’s not forlorn and he says “each and every” only once. This is not the guy we see in the locker room.

“It’s just life, man,” Newton says later as he sits atop a student’s desk in the school’s health education science lab, the walls of which feature slogans such as Be a Team Player, Be Able to Ignore Unkind Words and Get the Facts about Media Influence.

“You come to grips with what’s important … I want to continually let my impact grow on this community,” Newton says.

Newton paces the gym floor, the six baskets and backboards folded up on the ceiling, superintendent of schools Heath Morrison in a chair at courtside. Newton calls academic, science and Special Olympic award winners down from the bleachers, asks questions, tells jokes, and when he finishes tells them to “sit on down, sit, sit, sit.”

He asks what they want to be when they grow up.

A vet, one student says. A doctor, says another. A football coach, says a third.

Wonderful, says Newton. But you can’t be any of these things if you don’t stay in school. He says that when he was in middle school (outside Atlanta) his favorite subject was math.

Newton invokes Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, Rhianna, Steve Smith, Justin Bieber (a few boos), President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. What do they have in common? They worked to attain what they have.

Ignore education and your opportunities are limited, Newton says. Get an education and they’re limitless.

Still moving, still pacing and still covering ground, Newton seemingly makes eye contact with every student in the bleachers.

“I know there’s a lot of talent going unnoticed,” Newton says later from the science lab. “Whether it’s singing or playing a particular sport or kids that might be geniuses, kids might be scared to come out of their shell.

“I want to make it cool to be smart. Make it cool to show yourself and show people who you really are.”

Read more here: Panthers QB Cam Newton puts on a show worthy of kids’ respect | CharlotteObserver.com

[SCP]

Great article.

Awesome article

[Zod]

great read.

[carolinarolls]

Hey cam-first fans


STFU

[King Taharqa]

Hey "i want to see everybody on our team get glory except the star qb" fans and "I only like scrubs and no name underdog" fans

STFU

[SCP]

All Jake Delhomme did was film Bojangles ads and dump money back into his horse breeding business. In fairness to Jake, I know "schoolin" is not that popular in Louisiana but Cam has already given more financially to the area. Haters gonna hate.

[carolinarolls]

Hey "i want to see everybody on our team get glory except the star qb" fans and "I only like scrubs and no name underdog" fans

STFU

what player gets glory on our team for what they do on the field?

What no name deserves and gets more glory than the next guy?

Why do cam first fans have to post about his charitable contributions in order to stand him up in an argument about how good or bad his on the field contributions are?

And finally, maybe he needs to focus more on football. I'd be willing to try anything at this point if I were him.

[pstall]

being the macroeconomist that i am, i want to see the ROI next year or so. i commend cam but when it comes to education etc, getting money to be effectively spent is tough.

not being a debbie downer. im just wired that way when it comes to dollar and cents and junk.

[Peppers90 NC]

Why do cam first fans have to post about his charitable contributions in order to stand him up in an argument about how good or bad his on the field contributions are?

I guess when people criticize his on field deficiencies they think people are calling him a bad person. Just a guess, but I don't think like those guys.

[TheRed]

what player gets glory on our team for what they do on the field?

What no name deserves and gets more glory than the next guy?

Why do cam first fans have to post about his charitable contributions in order to stand him up in an argument about how good or bad his on the field contributions are?

And finally, maybe he needs to focus more on football. I'd be willing to try anything at this point if I were him.

When did it become taboo to commend an athlete for donating to a good cause within his community.

Focus more on football...lol.

Of any example to chastise Cam on outside of football, this one should not even enter your mind.

[Jrock88]

not really threadworthy in my opinion , and i don't like the whole jamming Cam down peoples throats vibe that im getting from it

athletes donate money all the time , this is known

just sayin

[SCP]

not really threadworthy in my opinion , and i don't like the whole jamming Cam down peoples throats vibe that im getting from it

athletes donate money all the time , this is known

just sayin

As long as people follow the same rules if its a negative off the field Cam story. But most don't, there is a double standard. If Cam charges for an autograph at the mall, all fuging hell breaks loose. So when Cam does something positive, it should get equal treatment.

[Jrock88]

oh I know , its annoying how cam can't take a poo without taking flak for it in the media.... just don't think stuff like this is news

if justin medlock donates to this charity... no one cares either way

guess im just sick of the cam debates

[44johnson]

Good job Cam!