What Cam Newton Said Was Wrong
Start writing a post
Sports

What Cam Newton Said Was Wrong

Women can report sports, too.

100
What Cam Newton Said Was Wrong
Keith Allison

In a press conference after an upset win over the New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton answered questions like a normal day. However, once Jourdan Rodrigue, a Panthers beat reporter from "The Charlotte Observer" asked about routes, things changed from the norm.

“It’s funny to hear a woman talk about routes. It’s funny.”

Newton laughed with a smug face about the fact that a woman was asking him a question about routes, something that must come up many times on a weekly basis.

This caused controversy once word spread around. Newton was dropped by some sponsors, including Dannon.

From what I’ve heard and seen on social media, it seems many people were upset about these comments. I am one of these people, and Newton’s words affect me directly.

Since the day I was born, I have grown up in a sports world. With sports constantly on in my house, I fell in love with hockey and football. I watched all the games with my dad, and could even name every player and their number for the Lightning when I was seven years old.

I realized in middle school that I wanted to become a sports journalist when I grew up. I have looked up to Erin Andrews, and hope to reach my dreams after I graduate college. So when I hear Cam Newton, arguably one of the “superstars” of the NFL, undermine women, and women in the sports world, I question why Cam would say something like that for the world to hear.

I will say that Cam is not the first person to have sexist comments when it comes to sports. Last year, I wrote for the sports section of my school’s newspaper. With this, came an amazing opportunity to cover March Madness in Greenville. I began to follow NCAA basketball religiously and was beyond excited to go to the tournament in March.

Come March, I walked into Bon Secours Wellness Arena, picked up my fancy press badge, and my heart began to race as we walked downstairs and saw the mass of journalists around us. However, almost immediately, all eyes were us. Maybe it was because we looked very young, but maybe it was because there were two women in our group. People wouldn’t give us more than a glance and went on with their work.

Despite some of the confused looks as we walked by, I was able to sit and listen to legends like Coach K and Coach Roy Williams talk about their teams in press conferences. This atmosphere was similar to any other press conference, including Cam Newton’s. I asked questions to these coaches and some players, and no one looked as if I had done something wrong. No one thought it was strange if I was asking a more complex question, that maybe most girls wouldn’t understand. So why does Cam Newton, who I’m sure has had plenty of questions from women reporters in his career, think it’s funny a woman is asking him a question? Are women not supposed to know anything about sports?

At times I have been undermined when it comes to sports. Any fact I give, any opinion I have, is just wrong in some men’s minds. I understand that this is the price I have to pay as I go on in my career, and I’m ready to prove them all wrong. I watch every Bucs game, every Lightning game when I have a chance, and I have three fantasy teams, two in a league solely made up of men. But the single fact that I’m a woman, or that any sports reporter is a woman, shouldn’t determine how well we can cover sports.

Cam Newton gave an apology after all of the backlash he received due to his sexist comments.

"After careful thought, I understand that my word choice was extremely degrading and disrespectful to women," Newton said. "And to be honest, that was not my intention. If you are a person who took offense to what I said, I sincerely apologize to you.”

Newton posted the video on Twitter, with the same smug face he had in the press conference. While his words were apologetic, his body language and facial expressions did not seem to match the tone that was needed for such a serious statement.

Jourdan Rodrigue and any woman at a press conference for that matter knows what she is doing. She has a job in sports, she worked her way up, she knows what a route is. There is no need to immediately discredit a woman, no matter what the situation is.

Is it funny now Cam?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

57337
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

36963
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

958707
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

190685
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments