A few thoughts everyone should remember about Sunday

[SOJA]

4. In the event of the loss, please send your condolences to zod as inevitably every huddle hamster will die from exhaustion

[Mr ocho nueve]

I hope the coaches continue to let Cam throw the ball 50 times a game. If it isn't broke don't fix it. The only thing that needs to change is our defense.

[Marguide]

BUT it will be said that we played a rookie QB, with no real threats other than MJD... And the real test as to whether we're pretenders or contenders will be the following week against Breezy and the Saints. We'll always be the under dog against premier teams and rightfully so.

Just for the record, the next game will be against the Bears, not the Saints (unless somebody changed the schedule unexpectedly).

[TruCatzFan]

Marguide... You're right, I didn't even need to look it up. Total brainfart on my part. Just giddy about us making up for last year I guess.

[Herbert The Love Bug]

Thank you Captain Obvious.

Just another Captain Obvious thread starter.

They think they are so smart, but they just post the stuff that people have enough common sense not to post, because well it is common sense.

[Herbert The Love Bug]

I hope the coaches continue to let Cam throw the ball 50 times a game. If it isn't broke don't fix it. The only thing that needs to change is our defense.

have to try to have a more blanced playbook. even if the run isn't working. I definately don't want cam hurting his arm.

[footballisasport]

You should have told him this before he just discounted every Elite QB in the NFL in a very slick way: "This is no HOF league" ;)

Cam's going to be cool and poised, but I get the sense he's not the type to be afraid to tell Brady...."You're my hero, and I respect you, but I'm going to kick your ass, not kiss it"

Cam doesn't crave the spotlight, but he doesn't shy away from it either. I know it's weird for us to have a leader like this...but yeah, he's going to end up a little on the cocky side. I can already see that in him. Wait until he strings 3 wins back to back.

You think he has haters now? Just wait.

Let's not confuse cocky for confidence. Cocky people can't distinguish between knowing and not knowing they can do something. Confident people usualy know they can and work hard on what they can't. The thing is, Cam isn't afraid to be confident and he shows it. That is what those who are threatened by him hate and try to use against him because it's obvious.

[PantherFanForLife]

Let's not confuse cocky for confidence. Cocky people can't distinguish between knowing and not knowing they can do something. Confident people usualy know they can and work hard on what they can't. The thing is, Cam isn't afraid to be confident and he shows it. That is what those who are threatened by him hate and try to use against him because it's obvious.

I personally get a different vibe. I'm actually serious when I say, I believe he will be cocky, and yes I realize this is typically frowned upon. But personally I'm comfortable getting behind someone like this. Cam's going to be cocky and what you're saying isn't completely true. Arrogant people are more like that. Cocky are those that know exactly what they can do, and they show it to you but they even like to brag about it sometimes :). And sometimes they don't know for sure they can do something but believe they can, talk like they can, and actually do somehow, make it happen. In his case YOU just don't think he can do that, because it usually has not been done before, but his goal is to prove you wrong(and you have to admit, this has kind of been the trend). Forgive me, I'm going to go off on a not so little rant/speech here.....

In fact, one of my biggest fears with Cam as far as long term durability, and for some reason it's what brought on the biggest concern when I first saw him....is that he remind me of O.J. Simpson in a lot of ways. And other stars, such as Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali(think more along this line of cockiness) but more so O.J. and maybe because they also look a bit similar and played the same sport. People only remember OJ nowadays for his infamous acts, than the ones that made him famous in the first place and no one ever talks about anymore, which is also my reason of concern for athletes like this. And I'm going to tell you why Cam reminds me of these guys.

What the coaches, like Rivera was talking about when comparing him to Gabbert and why they went with him for example....the "it", the "extra something" he really couldn't explain. The reason so many people are instantly drawn to him.

Cam's confidence isn't an accident. It's also not a result of controlled modesty. There's something else I see in Cam, and I saw in him from the first moment I saw a picture of him. The confidence in his eyes, the smile, the smirk, the stance. It something that's going to come out later, and it WILL probably draw a lot of haters. It's usually seen as a negative...but to me, it's the one thing that all the greatest leaders and athletes of the world have always had: narcissism. Cam, is a full blown narcissist trying to be good at the moment. Just like O.J. Just like Michael Jordan. Just like Muhammad Ali. I have no doubt in this.

The moment this kid gets 3-4 wins, you're going to see even more of that. I could be wrong, but if I am right, I expect Cam Newton to be something a little greater than even a great QB.

He's already dazzling much the same way those other guys did when they arrived on the big stage, doing things that just had not been seen up to that point. The problem with a guy like this, and what we saw with O.J., is that it really matters what supporting cast he has around him, and how solid their personal lives are. Because they do amazing things, but if some event goes wrong, or they lose their focus, it can spell chaos and a downfall that's just as dazzling and usually ends in some kind of tragedy. With guys like Ali, it unfortunately ended up in a disease from not knowing when to quit.

I get a feeling from Cam that he's one of those once in a generation type of athlete. They just keep rising, and rising and rising. He may not have a 15 year career at QB. His growth curve will likely look different than that of a guy like Manning. Where's as many grow to a certain point and then stays there....someone like Cam just keeps rising up to a peak above and beyond what anyone's ever done and then he either gets out or crashes hard. His personality will also not likely be that of a humble servant like Manning, but rather a show off like Muhammad Ali(that smirk is this waiting to explode, he just knows he needs the wins to do it). Ideally, the constant rise, spans over a long period of time. He may only have a 5-10 year career at most. But he's the type of guy with the potential to change the game in that time span. The type of guy that just dominates the game he plays at and when he leaves it just kind of leaves a big whole where he was at.

What happens after he reaches his peak and how long it takes to get there(the longer the better)....that's where you have to have concern. He could either be a Michael or an O.J./Ali. Michael was smart and got out while he was on top. That's usually key. They do not take it well if they ever lose the spotlight, the support of the fans, or the cast. But what you get out of him in the mean time is crazy ability and growth that will do whatever is necessary to make sure he's always at the top of the game and prove his critics(which he will purposely create at times) wrong. He always wants to make you, me and the rest of his fans go WOW and his critics bite their fist(that's who the smirk is for). And he will do whatever the heck it takes to make sure he never loses that support. Because he feeds off of it.

That's what drives him. He really does want to be better than Brady. And if it was up to him, it would be NOW! Not next year. Now. That's the kind of guy he is. In the first game against Arizona, when he dived over the pile....the frontal flip was NOT an accident. Neither were the jukes in the second game. That was Cam showing off. You know how Michael used to show off and made showing off during dunking become a new sport on its own? I expect to see similar things from Cam and it's something we haven't really seen from QBs(mostly receivers).

And yes, Brady is right...you can't teach that. You're usually born and then bred into that role and then you just run with it.

That's the kind of athlete I believe I'm seeing in Cam Newton. That's just the vibe I get from him. Maybe it's what I want to see. But I had that vibe back when I didn't even like him or thought he should be on this team. I could always see the narcissist in Newton. I see him as the type of guy that will say "I am the best" and somehow he will get most people to nod their head in agreement much like Ali did because he will usually back it up. He's also going to have a lot of haters, which is what he wants because he also needs a constant cast of doubters to prove wrong. Now I could be completely wrong myself, and he may just end up being a great, solid, steady franchise QB. But something tells me, that's not Cam Newton's path in the NFL. Whatever it will look like, I think it will be a fun and exciting ride.

Phew...I just had to get all that out.

[Guild]

You sure waste a lot of server space writing about your gut feelings with no real support. In fact I've never seen someone who could write so much and say so little. The really impressive part is that you are just a fair-weather fan and yet you still want to write all this... stuff... about nothing.

Quit posting such long posts if you aren't going to say anything.

[panthers55]

Cam is the opposite of a narcisist which in most connotations is a negative personality trait typically characterised by an over inflated sense of self, vanity, egotism, and selfishness. Cam's drive to succeed is not based on wanting to be great to feed his ego but to be the best he can be to not disappoint those around him, his family and the team. Sure every great athlete has to be confident and have a healthy ego to absorb all the blows and setbacks that invariable happen particularly at the QB spot, but he is focused on making those around him great and doing everything he can to make the team great. That is not the definition of a narcisist at all. The reason he is upset and angry after the first two games despite record breaking performances is that he put the team's success in front of his own which is clearly not what a narcisist does. As for the rest, since it was all predicated on this initial premise, it seems less than the seminal piece the poster desired.

[PantherFanForLife]

Cam is the opposite of a narcisist which in most connotations is a negative personality trait typically characterised by an over inflated sense of self, vanity, egotism, and selfishness. Cam's drive to succeed is not based on wanting to be great to feed his ego but to be the best he can be to not disappoint those around him, his family and the team. Sure every great athlete has to be confident and have a healthy ego to absorb all the blows and setbacks that invariable happen particularly at the QB spot, but he is focused on making those around him great and doing everything he can to make the team great. That is not the definition of a narcisist at all. The reason he is upset and angry after the first two games despite record breaking performances is that he put the team's success in front of his own which is clearly not what a narcisist does. As for the rest, since it was all predicated on this initial premise, it seems less than the seminal piece the poster desired.

You really should read more about narcissism. The first part you wrote applies to personal relationships and emotional connections, which is typically true, and it's also the reason guys like Tiger Woods have 32 mistresses. My bet is if you were Cam's girlfriend it's possible you might get to see a full blown dose of everything you wrote. This is where it gets its negative connotations. They tend to have a hard time displaying any empathy.

Everybody has narcissistic traits, including you, and when it comes to careers, sports, or positions of power, this is where a narcissist thrives. The second part you wrote is also just your personal assumption, but it isn't something that's outside of a narcissist's realm. In fact, once again, the greatest leaders, and yes even team players, were the biggest of narcissists, such as Michael Jordan. Jordan was known as the ultimate team player, what most were surprised by was the statement he made and his attitude when he was inducted to the HOF. I wasn't. They never lose that. So it depends on the situation. Cam believes in himself, to an amazing level, which is what it actually takes for others to believe in him. If the narcissist's job is to be a leader or a team player, he's going to want to be the greatest there ever was at being a team player or at being a leader, because that's his goal, and that's what he believes, and that's what he wants to be known for.

Let me share a bit more with you and maybe it would make it clear because it seems you also have a biased view of narcissism, which I'm guessing it's because you learned about it through the media, and not through actual study. Napoleon was a narcissist. Julius Caesar was a narcissist. Hitler was a narcissist. What I'm betting you will probably be surprised to find out is that Mahatma Ghandi, was, in fact, also a narcissist. And yes they all did in fact end up thinking of themselves as closer to Gods, than humans, which is what actually lies at the very core of a narcissist's machine and also ends up being one of their their biggest weakness. It's a drive for perfection, power and greatness, which is what is necessary to actually ever become one of those guys, but it also tends to have serious side effects on the opposite side of the spectrum.

The issue with a narcissist is that they typically need someone to anchor themselves to that they can trust who can keep them in check so they don't really end up thinking they have become Gods. This can be a spouse, friend, co-worker, etc. Floyd Mayweather, for example, has this with his uncle. In the case of O.J. Simpson, his anchor likely eventually ended up being his spouse....bad idea. With Cam, his anchor appears to be his father. Co-worker is usually ideal and it surprises me very little him and Smith get along so well.

Narcissism's dark side is typically strictly emotional. And that's what the anchor is for. Problem is when that emotional connection goes sour, it can have devastating effects in his other areas. In societies, narcissism and narcissistic leaders are, not only useful, but sometimes necessary! Their ability to inspire is second to none, which is what makes them great leaders, and yes, team players. They are incredible sales people, which is where they get their leadership abilities as well as their charm. But don't fool yourself, it is not a selfless act. It's all very much about themselves.

[boo7382]

wow that's a lot of writing

[Floppin]

You really should read more about narcissism. The first part you wrote applies to personal relationships and emotional connections, which is typically true, and it's also the reason guys like Tiger Woods have 32 mistresses. My bet is if you were Cam's girlfriend it's possible you might get to see a full blown dose of everything you wrote. This is where it gets its negative connotations. They tend to have a hard time displaying any empathy.

Everybody has narcissistic traits, including you, and when it comes to careers, sports, or positions of power, this is where a narcissist thrives. The second part you wrote is also just your personal assumption, but it isn't something that's outside of a narcissist's realm. In fact, once again, the greatest leaders, and yes even team players, were the biggest of narcissists, such as Michael Jordan. Jordan was known as the ultimate team player, what most were surprised by was the statement he made and his attitude when he was inducted to the HOF. I wasn't. They never lose that. So it depends on the situation. Cam believes in himself, to an amazing level, which is what it actually takes for others to believe in him. If the narcissist's job is to be a leader or a team player, he's going to want to be the greatest there ever was at being a team player or at being a leader, because that's his goal, and that's what he believes, and that's what he wants to be known for.

Let me share a bit more with you and maybe it would make it clear because it seems you also have a biased view of narcissism, which I'm guessing it's because you learned about it through the media, and not through actual study. Napoleon was a narcissist. Julius Caesar was a narcissist. Hitler was a narcissist. What I'm betting you will probably be surprised to find out is that Mahatma Ghandi, was, in fact, also a narcissist. And yes they all did in fact end up thinking of themselves as closer to Gods, than humans, which is what actually lies at the very core of a narcissist's machine and also ends up being one of their their biggest weakness. It's a drive for perfection, power and greatness, which is what is necessary to actually ever become one of those guys, but it also tends to have serious side effects on the opposite side of the spectrum.

The issue with a narcissist is that they typically need someone to anchor themselves to that they can trust who can keep them in check so they don't really end up thinking they have become Gods. This can be a spouse, friend, co-worker, etc. Floyd Mayweather, for example, has this with his uncle. In the case of O.J. Simpson, his anchor likely eventually ended up being his spouse....bad idea. With Cam, his anchor appears to be his father. Co-worker is usually ideal and it surprises me very little him and Smith get along so well.

Narcissism's dark side is typically strictly emotional. And that's what the anchor is for. Problem is when that emotional connection goes sour, it can have devastating effects in his other areas. In societies, narcissism and narcissistic leaders are, not only useful, but sometimes necessary! Their ability to inspire is second to none, which is what makes them great leaders, and yes, team players. They are incredible sales people, which is where they get their leadership abilities as well as their charm. But don't fool yourself, it is not a selfless act. It's all very much about themselves.

I think you're confusing the technical definition of psychopathy and narcissism. You also seem to have a very narrow view point on altruism and seem to make assumptions that everyone has a "me first" latent personality.

[PantherFanForLife]

I think you're confusing the technical definition of psychopathy and narcissism. You also seem to have a very narrow view point on altruism and seem to make assumptions that everyone has a "me first" latent personality.

LOL. Trust me. I'm not, unless you think Ghandi was a psychopath. Perhaps you are, confused. Most psychopaths are indeed also narcissists. The opposite however is not true. Not all narcissist are psychopaths. What they both have in common though, and maybe this is where you get your confusion, is typically their inability to display empathy on an emotional level. And yes they both do have a hard time with this one. That doesn't mean they can't display the behavior, or learn to do it. They would simply never actually feel or think of this themselves. That's why they need anchors.

But a narcissist does have the capability of becoming the most empathetic person on the planet, if that's what his "job" or purpose is. They just may never actually feel it in themselves but to you, or I, you couldn't tell the difference because they would learn how to be the best at displaying that behavior. Again, it's all in how you channel it.