On Sunday night, after the Cardinals scored a late touchdown to take a 10-point lead against the Seahawks, Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer did this to the crowd in Seattle:
And while you’d think that that would get a lot of people fired up because, well, “KIDS ARE WATCHING SO YOU CAN’T USE YOUR CROTCH AS A PROP, CARSON!” most people have already forgotten that it even happened. Palmer might receive a fine from the NFL for it, but he’s moved on.
Just hours before that happened, Cam Newton did something that was, by comparison, about 5,000 times less offensive than that (and for the record, we don't think either thing was offensive at all). Newton scored a touchdown and then he—GASP—danced. Or more specifically, he dabbed.
Some Titans players didn’t like it, but as Newton said after the game, if you don’t want to see him dance, then don’t let him score.
The Titans weren't the only ones offended by it, either. For whatever reason—I think we probably all know the reason, right?—Newton’s dancing has become a source of great controversy over the last 48 hours. Forget that the Panthers are 9-0 or that Newton did a lot of things other than dance during the game against the Titans. “KIDS WERE WATCHING SO HOW DARE YOU DANCE, CAM!”
No, really. There are actually people saying that, including one woman from Nashville who took her 9-year-old daughter to the Carolina/Tennessee game, only to witness the great atrocity that was Newton’s touchdown celebration. She got so worked up about it that she wrote an open letter to Newton and sent it to the Charlotte Observer. Here is an excerpt from that letter, which we can promise you is NOT a joke:
My daughter sensed the change immediately – and started asking questions. Won’t he get in trouble for doing that? Is he trying to make people mad? Do you think he knows he looks like a spoiled brat?
There are so many responses that we could have to this letter. So, so, so many responses (like the Carson Palmer Vine, maybe?). But the Panthers themselves already issued the best response of all:
Yup, that about sums it up. Keep dabbing on ‘em, Cam.
Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com.
[via Charlotte Observer]
