HeretowatchCamwinachip
Rookie
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2020
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 39
When the Panthers unceremoniously released Cam Newton I knew that I would need to reevaluate my consumption of the NFL. I had been a fan of the Carolina Panthers since 2001, sat through 2 heart crushing Super Bowl Loses, (the second of which made it difficult for me to enjoy football in general for several years) and the organization was again making an obvious mistake giving up on the only real reason anybody outside of the Carolina's cared about their franchise. The Panthers not only failed to protect Cam Newton in Carolina, they neglected to ever pair him with another dynamic play maker on offense until drafting CMC. It was already becoming difficult to watch Panther games as I became to question the point of wasting 3 hours of my Sundays on a broken product, and becoming emotionally invested in something that I did not in any way benefit from.
So Carolina releases Cam via Twitter. Among all of the chaos in the world, an NFL team releasing an NFL player shouldn't change anyone worldview, but it just logically didn't make any sense for me to continue being a "fan" of any sports organization. Their wins and their loses are their wins and their loses. I can observe from the outside and enjoy the amazing talent on the field, but getting emotionally invested is a waste of my time I thought.
And so I tuned in yesterday for the first time in my adult life as a causal speculator of the NFL. No rooting interests. I was excited to see Cam obviously, but I was equally as excited to see Brees V Brady, Lamar, Rogers, hell even Josh Allen. It was nice to just enjoy the greatest sport on Earth without any bias. It was akin to being at the movie theater as opposed to playing a game of chess, but you're not controlling any of the pieces. I'm sure the NFL prefers it that way. I consume more of their product, more advertisers are in front of my face, its a win win. And then Cam Newton scored his first Touchdown.
The thing about Cam Newton is that he not only loves football, he loves life, and he doesn't care about the undue criticism that he has endured throughout his NFL career. He has somehow found a way to embrace who he is and play at a high level. It is inspiring,always has been. It is also infectious to be around. Thats how the bum ass Carolina Panthers managed to briefly go over .500 as a franchise. (Currently sitting at 195-205-1 ) Its infectious on the field but it is also infectious to watch. I was hooked. When he handed the ball to Andrews for the spike and you can see how happy he is for Andrews, I need that energy directly in my veins the rest of 2020. Win Lose or draw, being positive, taking care of each others and trying our best is the best any of us could ask of ourselves at this point in time. That is who Cam Newton is.
This is obviously a world class organization and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why. That game was never in question yesterday and that was clearly a watered down version of what this team will look like in 8 weeks. The coaching staff is perhaps the best in any organized sport. This is a potent combination and makes for perhaps the most interesting NFL season for me personally, ever. As a born New Englander, but also a lifelong Patriot hater (moved down south at 6) I am officially off of the fence. I hope this team wins the damn Super Bowl and I will be rooting all of the way. And it feels damn good.
So Carolina releases Cam via Twitter. Among all of the chaos in the world, an NFL team releasing an NFL player shouldn't change anyone worldview, but it just logically didn't make any sense for me to continue being a "fan" of any sports organization. Their wins and their loses are their wins and their loses. I can observe from the outside and enjoy the amazing talent on the field, but getting emotionally invested is a waste of my time I thought.
And so I tuned in yesterday for the first time in my adult life as a causal speculator of the NFL. No rooting interests. I was excited to see Cam obviously, but I was equally as excited to see Brees V Brady, Lamar, Rogers, hell even Josh Allen. It was nice to just enjoy the greatest sport on Earth without any bias. It was akin to being at the movie theater as opposed to playing a game of chess, but you're not controlling any of the pieces. I'm sure the NFL prefers it that way. I consume more of their product, more advertisers are in front of my face, its a win win. And then Cam Newton scored his first Touchdown.
The thing about Cam Newton is that he not only loves football, he loves life, and he doesn't care about the undue criticism that he has endured throughout his NFL career. He has somehow found a way to embrace who he is and play at a high level. It is inspiring,always has been. It is also infectious to be around. Thats how the bum ass Carolina Panthers managed to briefly go over .500 as a franchise. (Currently sitting at 195-205-1 ) Its infectious on the field but it is also infectious to watch. I was hooked. When he handed the ball to Andrews for the spike and you can see how happy he is for Andrews, I need that energy directly in my veins the rest of 2020. Win Lose or draw, being positive, taking care of each others and trying our best is the best any of us could ask of ourselves at this point in time. That is who Cam Newton is.
This is obviously a world class organization and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why. That game was never in question yesterday and that was clearly a watered down version of what this team will look like in 8 weeks. The coaching staff is perhaps the best in any organized sport. This is a potent combination and makes for perhaps the most interesting NFL season for me personally, ever. As a born New Englander, but also a lifelong Patriot hater (moved down south at 6) I am officially off of the fence. I hope this team wins the damn Super Bowl and I will be rooting all of the way. And it feels damn good.
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