It's Just a Cam Jam Thing

Dear America,

“I’m an African-American quarterback 

that may scare a lot of people 

because they haven’t seen nothing

 that they can compare me to,” 

said the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Newton...

as in Cam Newton x

yes. this is somewhat old news, as in from last week, or something; but it's been on my list of days to do, and guess what?  we're heeeeeerrrrrrreeeeee

we're shaking off the campaign trail for just a moment.  

This is a story about how attitude is everything...no matter if you are running a football or running for president.  Ergo, it could be said that a Trump kind of candidate is like a Cam, if this, was perhaps, the first round of the presidential draft.  But I digress.

If you are a long time follower of G, you would know that this girl loves her football!    And yet, the game has been such an area of frustration -- a frustration growing annually with each new season and with each new micro-management of the game and with each new politically correct turn -- it has become an arena in my life that has become easy to let go and let live without me for the most part.  (so sad)

But having said that,

Cam opened a door and this girl is walking in with gusto.

Why bring in the race factor, Cam?  Really, why?

Now call me silly girl with a painted game face on... 

(and it is ORANGE, btw, with #18 on one side and a horseshoe on the other, just to be perfectly clear -- but if you must know, this choice has nothing to do with you, Cam.   I HAVE LOVED PEYTON MANNING for a long, long, time xoxox), 

...but haven't you ruffled a few shoulder pads for quite some time...as in nearly every day since the day you joined the ranks of the NFL?  

Here's an old story, from your first Pro Bowl,  for one example.  At the end of the article, after the end of the game, of course, here are the final thoughts from Yahoo's Shutdown Corner, Doug Farrar (Dec 2012):

Having talked with Newton a couple of times, and wanting to give him the benefit of the doubt because I believe that African-American quarterbacks still have to climb more mountains when it comes to perception, I've come away thinking that he's very structured in what he says and does. I also got the impression that he expects people to establish negative preconceptions before they even meet him. That probably gives him an aloofness that doesn't work well in the NFL community, and it's certainly clear that if he wants to form any bonds in his pro career, he will need to re-assess the ways in which he relates to people. 

Then again, some quarterbacks just set people off. You get to a Super Bowl or two, or throw for 50,000 yards in your career, and you can have a few personality quirks.

which reminds me of an old Chinese saying ....

Just because you were born 

a kitten 

in a china cabinet 

doesn't make you a teacup.

It might be said, that Cam has grown up with chip on HIS shoulder from HIS own Perceptions, or perceptions passed on through the generations, even before other people's perceptions have joined him in the parlor, let alone on the field.  Surely it is the unbearable lightness of being, being true to himself and without the weight of a world of race inequality swirling around him and generated by his own limitations and assumptions.  And yet, this is the spirit of Cam this girl wants to see.

To steal a phrase from Bridget Jones, "I like you, [Cam], just the way you are."

That is, when you just play the game with that big, strong, all-American body of yours that is too beautiful for words.  Greek God good, you are so worthy to be called for the ages; while, if Michelangelo were alive today, surely he'd pick you, over David, without having to magnify, or rather inflate,  a bloomin' thing...All you would need to do is keep your big mouth shut, of course.

Just what is this business of the big black guy scaring people anyway?  I'll give you a thump on the head for relying on such an archaic belief system for starters, and for back up -- have you looked around you?  The entire game is predominantly BIG BLACK GUYS hitting each other left and right all the live long day.    And everybody seems to be embracing everybody; that is, except you.  You stick out with an attitude bigger than life; why is that?   What a way to waste that 6 foot 5, 245 frame of lusciousness and talent...

shhhshhhh don't talk.

And it's not like you are even the first black quarterback to make it to the big game....geeze.  Go here... for what is called the Big Black Book of Black Quarterbacks , which happens to be so BIG, it comes in two volumes.  And if you are keeping track of the stats, this comes in about two years after the Pro Bowl dust up.   Thank you, Greg Howard!  Wow.  Incredible research and knowledge and commentary! 

Here's a toss:

Young Cam is obviously quite pleased with himself in that first SC clip. It's from the 2012 Pro Bowl, when the first Pete Prisco story came up about other Pro Bowlers freezing out Newton after he'd offended them in some way. But Cam Newton has often been pleased with himself, and that hasn't stopped him or his teams from being successful. It may have helped! There is, in fact, a pretty strong body of evidence that suggests that being kind of an ass is actually positively correlated with being successful. Hell, they wrote entire books in tribute to the power of Michael Jordan's and Steve Jobs's dickishness. Maturity, at least as limned by the sports media, is meaningless, just a nebula of bullshit and old axioms with which to surround whatever kind of story happens to be on hand. It's easy to lose sight of that, though, when Skip Bayless is clubbing you over your head with Russell Wilson day after day...

and here's the last look from the fifty yard line --

This is a very old game, and the fact that players with supposedly bad attitudes have succeeded and players with supposedly good attitudes have failed doesn't seem to prevent people from playing it still. Newton should've demonstrated the folly of this particular line of analysis once and for all. And yet here we are: Cam Newton, who won a freaking national championship in college, is a winner now because he learned some manners, according to ESPN.

You know, Cam to think of it -- plastering yourself with the number one  across your jersey from the point of coin toss might just be something to re-evaluate.  And yet, as Greg Howard duly noted, being the number one ass of the game may just be who you are, to be true to yourself.  And just maybe -- that will work for you in the long run...if you go the full 100 yards without another major foul of the mouth.

The thing is -- and I know I'm just a girl...pretty darn clear on that one -- but this girl surely can't be alone with this conclusion: character counts.  On the field and off, our own personal stats speak volumes; we all walk with our character under a floodlight, in banner acts of kindness, in humble recognition of our own faults and inadequacies, in hopes of creating an entire nation built with our good character showing every single day.   And maybe even in the yogurt aisle...watch.

Oikos Triple Zero Yogurt didn't pick Russell Wilson, they picked you for this little spot... for a reason.   Hmmm wonder what that was....perhaps because you're number one attitude [mixing the good and the bad into a creamy perfection) screams number one with no apologies?  

Now that the Gods are smiling on you, after the stars have seemingly aligned and the entire universe has came together over sixteen games and a couple of play-off births with a bang--  only a season of stellar ball precedes you, unless you want to count that jarring self-inflicted concussion caused by your own thoughts that began going something like this:

 I’m an African-American quarterback 

that may scare a lot of people 

because they haven’t seen nothing

 that they can compare me to,” 

get over your big bad self and just play to the best of your abilities.   and if you get the win -- whether we are talking about this Sunday or any Sunday -- be grateful, thank your fellow team mates, thank God for making you so big and powerful and strong, and thank your lucky stars.

Your "African-American" roots don't scare me; that stat is irrelevant.  It's all about the African-American bad-ass quarterback that rears it's ugly head from time to time; as a role model -- that scares me.  We will see if that bad-ass can be tamed long enough to translate into a full career that lasts longer than five years and a Super Bowl.  We'll see if that bad-ass Offensive matures over time, and grows into a spirit of humility, and a little more graciousness.  It is a team sport, you know. And you are, in fact, all of what...twenty-six?

Perhaps, Cam, if you could -- take a moment to read what Russell Wilson had to say, back in 2014, after actually beating Peyton Manning in a Super Bowl....it just might be your ticket to a new attitude, if that is something that interests you...

...matter of fact, everyone with eyes on the prize needs to stop right now and read what Russell Wilson had to say.  GO HERE.

Now that guy is a true American gem.  I love you, too, Russell Wilson.

And I want to love you, Cam.  I want to.  There is something really really wonderful about what you bring to the game of football.  You are magnificent to watch; this girl only flinches a bit when you get sacked by stumbling over your own race-consciousness and throw it back in my face.

When Russell went to visit President Obama at the White House, Obama said this:

"Russell became only the second African-American quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl. And the best part about it is nobody commented on it, which tells you the progress that we’ve made, although we’ve got more progress to make.’’

indeed. 

And I don't agree with President Obama on many things, so let's just enjoy this moment for what it is and run with it without sporting an unnecessary interruption of all the good vibes, shall we?

Now before we end the day, let me just add this girl has her pick for Sunday. And in my humble opinion it is black and white -- or, in other words, clear as a bell.

It has nothing to do with the color of skin.

It might have something to do with character, but I haven't seen Cam in action long enough to know any better or worse. And attitude might be everything or nothing -- is there a stat on that?

It does, however, have everything to do with my long time love and admiration and Peyton Manning being true to who he is.

Not to mention how this up-coming occasion is Peyton Manning's last game (on one hand, just making a logical conclusion, while on the other hand, simply making a perfectly groundless ass-sumption ....take your pick).  His hard-earned, spectacular career deserves a Super Bowl ending. It's his time to be the belle of the Super Ball and ring in his entire career with a fairy tale ending.  But now listen to me, carrying on like so...little old g thing sounds like a girl and throws like one, too.

How about this,

may the best TEAM win.

(just look at me now... sounding so open-minded...

....ahhh if you could only hear what is hollering in my heart x)

Make it a Good Day, G

Dear America,

Not everybody gets a trophy.

At least, that's the way it used to be here in America.

We were taught at a very young age that in order to get anywhere in this world, it would take work.  Hard work.  And perhaps a little sacrifice.

And even when we didn't win, get the job, defeat the other team, get the girl, bring home the contract, or have a good day -- we still kept our chin up.  We persevered; we went the extra mile -- we went over the mountain -- we made it to the other side and then made some lemonade.

Now, my favorite football star of all time has been catching alot of flack from the blogosphere and sports fanatics with regards to his behaviour on Sunday.  In case you missed it, our dear Peyton walked off the field in a huff, head down and not making nice with anyone. He made absolutely no effort whatsoever to prance on over to the other side as if nothing ever happened; not hiding a thing for all the world to see.

Oh, later in the day he took in the press conference and made very public, finally, a few conciliatory remarks to the Saints; he personally congratulated Drew Brees with a phone call; and Drew had nothing but good things to say about the Manning as well.  Everyone came to grips with their own reality in time and in their own way; when some people win, some people gotta lose, and that's all there is to it.

Oh, but the way people carried on about Peyton  -- the "lack of sportsmanship,"  the "lack of respect," the "show of an arrogant quarterback gone bad"...may this be a lesson to kids everywhere and often, they said.

What has happened here in America? 

If you bear with G just a bit, somehow I believe not showing our true feelings when we lose is all a part of this underlying progressive direction our country is heading. This new fab philosophy, that happens to be a century old, cutting into the natural ingenuity and drive that has made this nation the greatest collection of people that has ever lived is beginning to permeate into the American mindset -- that we must conform, follow along, not stand out, stifle our winning spirit, be told what is appropriate behavior, how much is too much, and what is ours, yours or the governments to use at will. 

Peyton wanted to win -- and he didn't. He may be one of the greatest quarterbacks of our day, but he still has feelings, he is still only human.  Peyton wanted to win and made no excuses about that as he hung his head down low and walked off the field.  He is a competitor -- and probably harder on himself than all of his teammates put together.  He is the fearless leader of the entire team -- and while expecting only the best of himself, he was unable to meet those demands with a winning performance along with it's hard earned triumphant outcome.  AND he didn't feel like hiding it either.

Obama doesn't "begrudge" a few Wall Street bankers getting obscene bonuses for creating wealth for their companies by amassing crazy profits -- referring to the Goldman Sachs CEO, Lloyd Blankfein, and the CEO of JP Morgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, the two combined raking in 23 million dollars in stock bonuses -- with certain restrictions, of course.  This coming from the Oval Office and according to an interview with Bloomberg Business Week,  the President said:

“an extraordinary amount of money...there are some baseball players who are making more than that and don’t get to the World Series either, so I’m shocked by that as well...”


“I know both those guys; they are very savvy businessmen... I, like most of the American people, don’t begrudge people success or wealth. That is part of the free- market system.”

Peyton was quarterbacking big bonuses for his team, too -- and he didn't make it happen.  It was a loss he felt not only for himself, but for the whole franchise.  He wasn't ready in that moment to pretend that it didn't matter, when for all intents and purposes it was everything he ever wanted -- for his teammates, for the owners, for the city of Indy and all it's fans.  He let himself down and he let it show.  Big deal; for he was just keeping it real.

Isn't that what we want from our home team anyway? 

Isn't this thirst for bringing home the win every time exactly what we expect from our players, as fans?  

Printed in locker rooms everywhere is there 'hey, if we win we win, if we don't, we don't?'

Where's the fight? Where's the will?  Where's the come hell or high water, yes we can and we won't take no for an answer in that  -- and after all that -- when faced with a shining blow, how is it possible to go, oh hey, good game? 

I'm so glad our President Obama went there with his analogy on Wall Street, as this country's love of baseball, football, all sports, most certainly exemplifies the American spirit inside us.  We win some and lose some every day.

But today, our kids are finding out that even with a loss comes a trophy.  We can't even have gold medal ceremonies for excellent readers, because the kids that don't do the required reading will stand out, get there feelings hurt.  We can't let one team grab the gold without the other team waiting to see what they get -- just for showing up. 

In a manner of speaking all the way around, we take the losing team out for ice cream while the winning team gets to buy -- that's where we're at these days.

Where is the will to climb out of the rough in that, make first down on 4th and inches, and spring the on-side kick at the start of second half as if you got nothing to lose? 

Where is the determination to work harder, play smarter, build stronger, and maybe next time bring home the victory?  The whole notion of the underdog breaking all odds comes from exactly this -- in order to be considered the underdog in the first place, it must come from a place of loss -- and a lot of them, continuously, unabashedly in your face defeats time after time after time...let me hear you say LOSER!
holding the customary fingers up in the air in the sorry ass-ed "L" position. 

The Saints, in all their years as a franchise, had never gone to the big show. Never.   

How much did that trophy finally mean to the team and to the heart of Louisiana, New Orleans?  How huge was the victory -- how sweet the success -- how deserving -- and how down in the bayou good did it feel to witness such a thing right before our very eyes?
 
How can you begrudge one teams outright success over another?  How can you put a value to the accomplishment or to it's affects on a city, a franchise, a company in the business of selling the home team and all that it encompasses...including, the outreach, the monies, the community support from each and every player that comes along free of charge.  Thanks to the million dollar salaries, fame and fortune trickles down and helps people back up from the brink. (see also the NFL and the United Way)
 
Can a president put a dollar sign in front of some body's worth to a company -- whether it is Wall Street, Main Street or Bourbon Street?   I think not; a president doesn't belong anywhere on that field of play.
 
And this is precisely why America is going through such hard times;  the administrations of the last forty years have tried to micro-manage the American franchise -- trying to do too much for people who don't deserve it -- trying to shelter us from losses that would ultimately only teach us to buck up, buttercup all on our own -- trying to take profits from one team's win and redistribute to the rest of the losers (jeopardizing future seasons for everyone) -- and ultimately disenfranchising future generations by gridlocking them into huge debt along with not enough of the market share to keep up, with teams wrecked by lack of motivation or reason to try harder, as what's the use -- even if I make it big, I don't get to keep it.
 
You are so right, Mr. President, we shouldn't begrudge success and wealth; does thou shalt not covet other people's things ring any bells?
 
As the American standard proves time and time again, when unpunished and left free to do as we please, we give back -- and then some.  When the "free-market" is truly left free, when the very idea of creating "success and wealth" is applauded --  growth naturally and exponentially and magically multiplies.
 
It takes people with a level of high expectation to get that; it takes people who hate to lose -- people who make no apologies for showing 106 million viewers that they feel pretty darn bad when they do.
 
Peyton didn't take home the trophy and, make no mistake, he feels pretty darn bad about it.  That is why he is a franchise player for the Indianapolis Colts -- and amongst the highest paid athletes of our day.  The Colts own him.  They made him a franchise player for his work ethic, his drive, his composure, his expertise, his skills, his maturity, his allegiance, his ability to create success and wealth for an entire team -- and you better believe, every bit of his team spirit and sportsmanship.  How do I know?  We watched it walk off the field in defeat on Sunday.
 
No matter what the equation, no matter who's dat or who's not, our free market works best when people are actually free to do as we so please.  And no matter how much we try to massage the numbers, tweak the stats, or spend our way out in record breaking dollars in order to hold onto something that is not meant to be and meant to be free -- all we will ever take home will be a loss.
 
God Bless Football
and God Bless the United States of America.
 
Make it a Good Day, G