Carolina Panthers signal-caller Cam Newton has become a leader both on and off the field.
Professional athletes are known for their contributions on the field. Amazing plays, game-winning drives and other spectacles become highlight reels that are shown for years. There’s another way in which these players consistently impact the world and that is through charity.
One of the reasons Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is becoming a major fan favorite goes beyond his performances on the field, because he supports the community in which he plays.
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One of the major issues with much of the controversy that surrounded Newton throughout the 2015 season is the way many naysayers overlooked Newton’s contributions through charity. So much was made over his celebratory dancing and refusing to answer questions that it helped him become one of the most despised players across sports.
In May, the Sportster put together a list of athletes that were considered the most hated amongst sports fans. Newton ranked fifth on that list, behind the likes of LeBron James, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant and Floyd Mayweather.
But why? The reasons behind the question were due to his “excessive celebrating” and the fact that he refused to answer questions following the Panthers loss to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. Interesting thoughts when juxtaposed against the other big name players that do the same thing without much of a response.
We can debate how valid these issues are to Newton’s legacy, but the reality is that his contributions to community are far more important than any of these minor issues.
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When talking about Newton and charity, there are a variety of examples that show just how far he’s willing to go to support the Charlotte community. For example, Newton hosted a charity kickball game in June that featured such stars as Tim Tebow, John Wall, Allen Iverson and others.
Then there is the Cam Newton Foundation, which provides a number of different services to the children in need within the Charlotte area. Newton has not only cemented himself as a leader on the field, but he’s also become a prime example of how athletes should continue to give back to the communities that cheer them on.
Unbridled fan hatred is an occurrence that all professional players will deal with at some point in their career. Simply wearing an opposing jersey creates a level of animosity that follow most around long after they’ve walked away from the game. Yet, there are times when that dislike is wrapped due to some other issues that are stark reflections of the society in which we live. The blowback that Newton frequently faces for a majority of his moves speaks to those reflections.
Fans can dislike him for his ability to out-perform their favorite team, but when they learn about the ways he incessantly gives back to the Charlotte area, the truth comes out that it is very hard to dislike him as a person.
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While many other athletes lead a life that paint headlines of negative actions; Newton is not one of those players and deserves to be recognize for his contributions off the field.