Cam not creating Newtopia
W
E GET IT. Cam Newton hates to lose. It’s an admirable — albeit required — trait for an athlete in any sport. That, however, doesn’t make it right for him to become a petulant mope after every devastating loss.
Find me a professional athlete who doesn’t hate to lose and I’ll show you someone who has no business being a professional athlete.
Newton’s unprofessional postgame behavior in the wake of the Panthers’ Super Bowl loss to the Broncos in February was universally ripped, and rightfully so.
That session — which featured clipped responses to reporters’ questions while he sat slumped in a chair with his face virtually hidden underneath a dark Panthers hoodie before getting up and storming away — was an unfortunate end to what had been a wonderful season for Newton.
Newton claimed he l earned from that experience, and it never would happen again. Well, it happened again Sunday after the Panthers’ 41-38 loss to the Saints, which dropped Carolina to 1-5.
The only difference between the two mopey postgame sessions was Newton’s attire: The dark hoodie after the Super Bowl was replaced by the snappy bowtie and fedora he was wearing for his 90-second press conference after the Saints game.
Newton muttered a handful of “next question’’ responses along with this cliché: “Just trying to win a football game.’’ And with that, he and his fedora exited stage left.
As frustrated as Newton has been with the Panthers’ shocking start — after going 15-1 last year — he is supposed to be the team’s leader. And team leaders should not be front-runners — with engaging personalities and shiny toothpaste-commercial smiles when things are going well and sullen, depressed and borderline rude when the team loses.
If you were a headline writer, here’s a suggestion: “From Superman to the Incredible Sulk.’’
Fortunately for Newton, the Panthers have a bye week, so neither he nor the viewing public will be subjected to his Incredible Sulk act. Hopefully, when Newton returns next Sunday, he will be Superman again.