The NFL is running interference again in yet another controversy.
This one involves Cam Newton. You might know him as quarterback for the Carolina Panthers.
Or you might know him as a clothing designer with a men's line at Belk (though the store would appear to be phasing his MADE brand out; only four garments from his Slim Fit Shark Suit Separates are available online, and at deep discounts). After all, this is the Style section, not Sports.
After a news conference last week, some might know him as That Chauvinist.
"Cam, I know you take a lot of pride in seeing your receivers play well. Devin Funchess has seemed to really embrace the physicality of his routes and getting those extra yards. Does that give you a little bit of enjoyment to see him kind of truck-sticking people out there?" asked a Charlotte Observer reporter.
A female reporter.
Before she could finish asking the question, Newton smirked with amusement. He looked down, smiling as he said, "It's funny to hear a female talk about routes."
"It's funny," he said again.
And a lot of people didn't find his "funny" comments funny.
Such as Jourdan Rodrigue, the reporter who asked the question. Her response tweet: "I don't think it's 'funny' to be a female and talk about routes. I think it's my job." She would also say via statement through the Observer that she "was dismayed by his response, which not only belittled me but countless other women before me and beside me who work in similar jobs. I sought Mr. Newton out as he left the locker room a few minutes later. He did not apologize for his comments."
The NFL, which already has plenty of public relations fires to fight, also found this situation no laughing matter. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said via statement that Newton's comments were "just plain wrong and disrespectful to the exceptional female reporters and all journalists who cover our league. They do not reflect the thinking of the league."
Sponsor Gatorade distanced itself from Newton's comments, saying, "they do not reflect the values of our brand." Dannon yogurt dropped Newton from its commercials, issuing a statement that said, "It's simply not OK to belittle anyone based on gender. We have shared our concerns with Cam and will no longer work with him." (Which is just as well. We always thought "it's funny" to hear a football player talk about yogurt.)
And the piling on continued on social media.
I personally am bothered and shocked.
By Newton's chin.
Watch the video again (tinyurl.com/camnewtonfunny). You see that? Below his Where's Waldo-style cap, below his exaggerated grin, there's something on his chin. There, you see it? Is it a blond patch in his minimal dark beard? Is it a Band-Aid, like that rapper sports as an accessory? What is that thing flapping as he calls the female reporter's question funny?
If I'm this distracted by his chin (seriously, what is that growing in his goatee -- an actual goat?) it must mean I'm not that offended by his speech.
Perhaps I shouldn't be defending this guy. Not only am I a Baltimore Ravens fan (though the team continues to test my devotion this season), I took -- and took seriously -- tons of Women's Studies classes in college. At one time in my life, I would have been quick to deem this personal foul sexism.
But now when I see Newton standing there stammering, I just don't detect discrimination. I see a 28-year-old who is more comfortable on field turf than in front of the press, unwittingly stuffing a size-14 cleat in his mouth.
Still Newton felt compelled -- or pressured -- to apologize, which he did in a video: "After careful thought, I understand that my word choice was extremely degrading and disrespectful to women. And to be honest, that was not my intention."
I don't believe Newton, who was caught off guard while on camera, intended to ridicule. He was impressed by the woman's articulate question, and he couldn't as articulately say so.
After all, he's an athlete, not an ambassador.
Such awkwardness doesn't trouble me. Overt awfulness does. I'm much more concerned about NFL conduct violations like domestic violence, punished only by the most insignificant scolding and temporary suspensions. That's where we'd be wise to focus our attention and outrage.
Right after we figure out what's on Newton's chin.
Pass an email:
jchristman@arkansasonline.com
What's in a Dame is a weekly report from the woman 'hood. You can hear Jennifer on Little Rock's KURB-FM, B98.5 (B98.com), from 5:30-9 a.m. Monday through Friday.
Style on 10/10/2017