The Heisman Trophy - Cam's To Win or Lose?

The prevailing thought among sports fans and pundits until November 4th was that the Heisman Trophy was Cam Newton’s to lose. Ironically, on that date, it was discovered that rumor and innuendo might be all that is needed to lose it for him. The point of my article is not whether the Newton’s did anything wrong. However, just to set the record straight, I don’t believe that they did. The point is that they have been accused, tried, and convicted by a press (and I use that term very loosely) that no longer cares to wait for facts before carelessly tossing out vaguely supported theories and personal opinions. “Where there is smoke, there is fire,” one radio talking head said. “Just say no to Cam Newton when you vote for Heisman,” another Fox Sports blogger wrote in the headline article, “there are other candidates more worthy.” Cam Newton and his family can be totally vindicated tomorrow, but you can never take back all the negative words that have been spoken or printed about him in the past twenty-four hours. The perception of wrongdoing will remain in the minds of many. 

To prove this point, you need look no further than the famous “laptop” incident at the University of Florida. Did Cam Newton do a stupid thing by buying something that any reasonable person would know was too good to be legitimate, and then make the situation worse by trying to hide the evidence by  throwing the laptop out the window? Without a doubt, he did. Kids do stupid things. Did he actually steal the laptop? No, he did not.  However, if you ask any large group of people, a significant percentage will say that he stole a laptop computer while at the University of Florida. These same people will also say that he was kicked out of Florida, which is also untrue.  Yet, the perceptions remain.

What has happened to Cam Newton is just another example of what happens to public figures day in and day out in this country. Media outlets rarely let the facts get in the way of blog hits and readership and viewership numbers.  As Don Henley said in his song, Dirty Laundry, “I make my living off the evening news. Just give me something, something I can use.  People love it when you lose, they love dirty laundry.”  Is that really what America has come to? We love it when people lose? Even when they lose through no fault of their own?  Funny, but I thought America was founded on second chances, on the principle that people who work hard to accomplish something can receive redemption from past mistakes, and earn future rewards.

I’ve watched Cam Newton play football in person four times this year. His energy and enthusiasm are as infectious as his athletic skills are amazing. I know that he mentors problem children at an Auburn elementary school every week.  I’ve heard him say that the worst mistake of his life was the laptop incident while he was a student at Florida. He is a team player who promotes every other player before the media except himself. These are facts—things I’ve seen with my own eyes or heard with my own ears. Based on these facts, my vote (if I had one) for Heisman would still be for Cam Newton. I hope people who do have a Heisman vote will also look at facts, and let Cam Newton, not rumor nor innuendo, win it or lose it.