To Be Relevant is to be the Villain (Or Conversely, the Opposite of Love is Not Hate, but Indifference)

[Seltzer]

And honestly, the biggest emotion the Panthers have elicited in our 21+ history in sheer indifference.  Smaller market, expansion team, non-glamour division.  Just simple facts.  Before this year, as someone who travels a lot, nobody really cared about the Carolina Panthers one way or another.  People might same something one way or another about Cam (although it's funny that no one really said anything negatively about him face-to-face, but behind the anonymity of the internet it all comes out, coded racism and all), or ask about Steve Smith being let go, or about us winning a crappy division last year, but that was the extent that anyone nationally even really thought about the Panthers. 

Rivera is 100% right in that we crashed the party this year.  We dabbed and danced and took pictures and forced our way into the national conversation.  First in the greater football world, and then into society as a whole.  And a LOT of people have been waiting to put us back in our place- evidently, really, really, really bad.  First against the Seahawks.  Then, assuredly against the Cardinals.  And finally, those people have their chance now that we lost to Denver. The Broncos won and deserved to win that game, and in our society, the winners get to drive the narrative.  And the Panthers have to be willing to take it because I want them to continue dishing it out.  I have no issue with what the Broncos have to say (except Talib- I don't know how he is allowed to continue to openly try to injure guys).  

But the part that goes beyond normal discourse is the level the media wants to drive the narrative about Cam Newton being arrogant, bad role model, baby, etc.  Not only in the sports world, but in society in general.  And just how personal it is with Cam Newton.  Sports serve as a conduit for larger societal issues, and I really think Cam Newton serves as a the ultimate litmus test for racism in our society.  People can backlash against Cam Newton because of their internal racism over The Black Lives Matter Movement, Ferguson, Trayvon Martin, etc. while under the guise of sports criticism.  The level of hatred towards Cam Newton cannot be explained away just by "sports hate."  Take a step back and look at it objectively and tell me how you reach a different conclusion.

 Now don't get me wrong.  There are people in general who just have "sports hate" for Cam.  And I totally get that.  I have sports hate for Matt Ryan, Drew Brees. Jameis Winston, Julio Jones, Tony Romo, Russell Wilson etc.  But the comments Cam elicits are way beyond hating someone for what he does or doesn't do on the field or in front of the media.  Cam has brought joy to more kids and more people this year alone than most people will in a lifetime.  Cam introduced the entire world to the Dab.  But a lot of people still hate him- not just as a football player, but as a human being.  And I don't use that word lightly.

But to pull it back in, the truth is, as a franchise, we need someone as polarizing as Cam to be relevant on the national stage.  I think Cam is finally coming to terms with the media (and greater society) trying to force him into a villain role.  He is going to be himself, whatever that means.

I hope Cam, the Panthers, and us as fans embrace this role.  However we got here (and I wish I could say it's only for what we've done on the field), we should embrace being the NFL's villain.  I am proud of Cam Newton as the leader of this team, and I am proud the Carolina Panthers.

The truth is, we are going to continue to win games, and the players are going to dab, and dance, and have fun.  And be relevant.  I guarantee you going forward, people nationally are going to have an opinion on the Panthers (though probably not a good one).

But that's ok, I'd rather be hated than ignored any day out of the year.  Let's go to the Dark Side... KEEP POUNDING!!

 

[Semaj]

1 hour ago, Seltzer said:

But to pull it back in, the truth is, as a franchise, we need someone as polarizing as Cam to be relevant on the national stage.  I think Cam is finally coming to terms with the media (and greater society) trying to force him into a villain role.  He is going to be himself, whatever that means.

Very well said and the truth.  10/10.  I agree.  I have been saying the same think to my boys.  Cam is going to be hated no matter what he does.  He goes to hospitals and sees sick children, hes just doing it because he has to, he just showing his 'fake smile'.  He can't win with many.  Most that hate him now, will hate him for the rest of his career even if he suddenly becomes Russel Wilson or Phillip Rivers personality wise.  He needs to just come to term with this.  He needs to just keep being himself and make them all miserable by winning multiple Super Bowls.  That will be the ultimate revenge and reward.  Keep pounding Cam