Cam and "adversity"

[clutchcargo]

Several times in the Auburn-Oregon telecast, it was mentioned how Cam Newton had overcome adversity.

Will someone, with a straight face, please explain to me what "adversity" Cam Newton has had to overcome to get to where he is?

 

[Jake_Taylor]

With gas prices so high, $180,000 doesn't go as far as it used to. ???

 

[Bristol Whipped]

He had to live in Brenham, Texas for six months.

 

[mediaguy]

Thought the same thing. Like when the "comeback player of the year" needed to overcome nothing more than his own poor decisions in the past. ESPN opened its piano-backed Cam feature this morning with the adversity lead-in, throwing in "scrutiny" and "controversy" but nothing that he actually was accountable for.

 

[clutchcargo]

Thought the same thing. Like when the "comeback player of the year" needed to overcome nothing more than his own poor decisions in the past. ESPN opened its piano-backed Cam feature this morning with the adversity lead-in, throwing in "scrutiny" and "controversy" but nothing that he actually was accountable for.

Did they happen to mention whatever it was he stole at Florida, a laptop or something like that? That sort of adversity.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

He had to live in Gainesville and he couldn't even afford to buy jean shorts.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

I heard people talk the entire second half of the season about how incredible it was that he was able to block it all out and perform. How he must have amazing focus.

Yeah, or maybe he has no conscience. Maybe he doesn't give a **** if he did anything wrong. He's lived like a king in Auburn and will soon go on to NFL riches. If and when anything comes of it all, he'll be able to go home to his mansion and cry then.

 

[Oggiedoggie]

He had to overcome the glare of Oregon's socks.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

The no conscience thing crossed my mind. If I was a NFL GM I'd want nothing to do with this kid.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

The no conscience thing crossed my mind. If I was a NFL GM I'd want nothing to do with this kid.

Well, I wouldn't go that far.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

The no conscience thing crossed my mind. If I was a NFL GM I'd want nothing to do with this kid.

Well, I wouldn't go that far.

I should have said a NFL GM with a top 10 pick.

 

[mb]

Cam's "adversity" ranks right up there with Ed Reed's family "tragedy."

 

[LongTimeListener]

Cam's "adversity" ranks right up there with Ed Reed's family "tragedy."

Ed Reed's brother missing and presumed dead isn't a tragedy?

 

[mb]

Ed Reed's brother running from the cops and jumping in the river to elude police ... not sure that qualifies as a tragedy.

/willing to admit that it's maybe just me

 

[zonazonazona]

Thought the same thing. Like when the "comeback player of the year" needed to overcome nothing more than his own poor decisions in the past. ESPN opened its piano-backed Cam feature this morning with the adversity lead-in, throwing in "scrutiny" and "controversy" but nothing that he actually was accountable for.

This brings up an interesting argument: Michael Vick may not be MVP, but is he the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year? I say yes, because he has had to "come back" from something... yes they were his actions, but it's more than, say, a roethlisberger-type situation where he misses four weeks when he was otherwise healthy. Vick lost his whole career. It was self inflicted, but the events were more than just his poor action. He actually had to "build something back" over the last two years since being released from Prison... And now he'll start in the Pro Bowl in two weeks... interesting argument either way...

(i'm not advocating that we worship Vick; to the contrary, the Vick-loving has made me slightly queesy; but just posing the argument)

 

[Point of Order]

Several times in the Auburn-Oregon telecast, it was mentioned how Cam Newton had overcome adversity.

Will someone, with a straight face, please explain to me what "adversity" Cam Newton has had to overcome to get to where he is?

All the hataz.

edit: Did you say with a straight face? Sorry. I got nothing.

 

[shockey]

Ed Reed's brother running from the cops and jumping in the river to elude police ... not sure that qualifies as a tragedy.

/willing to admit that it's maybe just me

you're not the only one... i'd certainly call it a 'personal hardship' or i suppose a 'personal tragedy,' but it sure isn't a 'tragedy' the way most of us define it. if reed's brother was murdered? a tragedy. believed dead after jumping in a river in an attempt to flee police? um, no.

this does make for part of a terrific piece on how many of our star athletes have escaped from a world most of us couldn't imagine by making the most of the advantages their athletic gifts have given them...

but how the star athlete breaking free from the world he was raised in doesn't mean his entire family has been saved. we've heard many similar tales, haven't we? sobering...

 

[Michael_ Gee]

It's a family tragedy, and if we knew a family in similar circumstances, all of us would offer them the sympathy accorded the victims of tragedy.
I agree about "adversity" as a sports weasel word. It has come to mean anything from "had a groin pull this week" to "indicted for second-degree murder on Tuesday." Why not just say "Newton was the subject of an NCAA investigation for taking money to come to Auburn, but was cleared to play?" It's accurate and it's not judgmental.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Ed Reed's brother running from the cops and jumping in the river to elude police ... not sure that qualifies as a tragedy.

/willing to admit that it's maybe just me

you're not the only one... i'd certainly call it a 'personal hardship' or i suppose a 'personal tragedy,' but it sure isn't a 'tragedy' the way most of us define it. if reed's brother was murdered? a tragedy. believed dead after jumping in a river in an attempt to flee police? um, no.

this does make for part of a terrific piece on how many of our star athletes have escaped from a world most of us couldn't imagine by making the most of the advantages their athletic gifts have given them...

but how the star athlete breaking free from the world he was raised in doesn't mean his entire family has been saved. we've heard many similar tales, haven't we? sobering...

Gosh.

You guys are saying that no suicide, no drug overdose, nothing where the deceased can be termed "at fault" qualifies as a tragedy. That is harsh. Also, it's very much a tragedy for the people left behind.

 

[Steak Snabler]

I heard people talk the entire second half of the season about how incredible it was that he was able to block it all out and perform. How he must have amazing focus.

Yeah, or maybe he has no conscience. Maybe he doesn't give a **** if he did anything wrong. He's lived like a king in Auburn and will soon go on to NFL riches. If and when anything comes of it all, he'll be able to go home to his mansion and cry then.

People who said that have no idea how insulated college football players are. You'd be surprised how little these guys know about that doesn't happen inside their school's football building.