I’ve been a New England Patriots fan since the 70’s and, like many others, been honored to be a fan during the Tom Brady era.
I can’t recall one time when I’ve heard a local or national sports reporter praise him for how much he’s given back to the community. That’s not to say Tom didn’t have a foundation or charities he chose to donate his time and money to. I just don’t remember hearing of that and most of the questions asked to him during press conferences were about the last or upcoming game.
Nor do I remember Tom Brady being expected to be a role model to young people in his community.
Now that the Patriots have Cam Newton, some of the very stereotypical questions and expectations of the black quarterback are now easing into the routine availability.
During a November 19th question-and-answer, sports columnist Matt Vautour asked Cam about his being a “role model”….
Listen to these condescending questions, not to pick solely on Vautour, because almost any Sunday pregame interview with a black football star revolves around his upbringing, how much he “gives back” to the community, and if he’s in that superstar stratus, being a “role model”.
I certainly don’t remember Tom Brady being asked about how he “carried” himself off the field.
Granted, we have players like Houston’s J.J. Watt who donated his name, time and money to help during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. He chose, out of the goodness of his heart, to help where there was clearly a dire need. It wasn’t expected and it wasn’t specifically expected to come solely out of his own pocket.
Could it be that deep down inside, sports liberals have a real problem with exceptional black athletes making obscene amounts of money while most of these “journalists” will never be offered a contract? Could it be that deep down inside, sports liberals have expectations so low of inner city kids with no fathers that professional football players need not just be father figures but also passive sugar daddies?
I am not a role model. I’m not paid to be a role model. I’m paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.
— Charles Barkley, Nike Air Commercial
No such low expectations are ever implied of white kids so white athletes aren’t expected to be “role models” and give chunks of hard-earned dollars to their communities. If they do, great and it’s featured as a feel good, public interest story. But it’s not expected.
Cam Newton should be left alone to concentrate on doing his job which is playing quarterback for the New England Patriots. The money he’s being paid is money he’s earning for himself and his family. He shouldn’t be expected to give away a portion to a myriad of top-heavy nonprofits who hit up teams and players. Cam should be the best player he can be so his team can succeed. It’s not his responsibility to be an example to just younger blacks, as if without such mentoring, we all know they’ll go astray.
Cam shouldn’t have to prove himself as a person more than Tom.
It’s sad we still have to remind some people of that.
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