THE CAT’S MEOW
Newton a marvel on the field and in the spotlight
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Cam Newton was born for a Super stage like this one, primetime Opening Night, g reeting America with a Magic Johnson smile that could make grown men dab. It is his time, his show. Showtime for Cam Newton. Lights, Cam, Action. The new face of the league wore a Super Bowl towel on his forehead as a bandana and charmed the Versace pants off the national media.
“Dreams do come true,” Newton said. “And whatever you do, don’t be labeled by no one, and whatever you do, have fun doing it. If you can look in the mirror and you can see yourself ... a lot of people can’t do that.”
When told he is being called the LeBron of quarterbacks, he smiled and said: “Why can’t LeBron be called the Cam Newton of power forwards?”
No moment is too big for this cat.
“My father always taught me the proper P’s of success — proper preparation prevents poor performances,” Newton said, “and the words that I live by especially in big moments.”
Question from the back of the media scrum: “When you make love to your lady, who dabs first, who dabs last?”
Newton paused, smiled and said: “Next question.” The man persisted, and Newton, still smiling, joked, “Turn his mic off.”
Of course he dreamed of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy as a boy.
“I remember when the Super Bowl was in Atlanta, and [Titans quarterback] Steve McNair was there, one of my idols growing up, one of many idols,” Newton said. “But it just goes to show you that this is a game of inches, when he threw the slant at the end and [Kevin Dyson] reached out and didn’t get it, one of my all-time favorite Super Bowl moments, but yet, that just makes you prepare even more.”
He talked about what a great chef he is.
“I make, from scratch, right out of the box — Lucky Charms,” Newton said, and smiled.
He talked about how Peyton Manning is one of his idols. “Omaha!” he joked. “There was never one before hi m, p ro ba bly wi l l n eve r be another one after him,” Newton said. “A person that made this game a better game, and brought the best out of so many people, coaches on down to players.”
Asked if he hopes they say the same about him one day, Newton said: “Hopefully. Fingers crossed.” They’re starting to say it now. I asked CBS’ Phil Simms how Bill Parcells would have handled Newton’s on-field celebrations.
“Let’s say I was as talented as Cam Newton,” Simms said, “and I was running and throwing touchdowns and doing everything that he does — Bill’d go, ‘ Attaway, son. Keep it going!’ ”
If Simms had played in this era, would he have behaved ently?
“I’d have fun, too, if I w best player out there!” said. “But for everybody struggle. Guys like Cam ton, Michael Jordan ... of they enjoy what they do b they’re the best.”
Simms’ CBS colleague er Esiason enjoys Lights Action.
“It’s a different way of things, right?” Esiason sa the old traditional way, u terbacks f irst of all could what he does. We don’t ru our head down and run ov men and run over lineback safeties. So I would imag were one of those players r one of those guys over, I get up and be doing all th too! Because what peopl understand is the intensi goes along with the gam here we have a young kid living the dream ... who is mantel of the great perso the great-looking kid, th athlete, and he’s having fu I have no problem with an None of it. Because I get it if I could do it, I would do couldn’t do it.”
Newton does it his way, a no plans to change. John was another idol. Newton Elway’s Super Bowl Heli spin.
“We both have talent th scends the game in a sense ton said.
Does he have dance planned?
“Stay tuned,” Newton sa smiled.
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steve.serby@nyp