In case you missed it, there was a bit of a big game on Sunday. Ah, yes, a reported 111.9 million of us tuned in, combining to form history’s third largest Super Bowl viewing audience. And somewhere after arguably most of us left the audience, each team’s quarterback took a turn before the mic.
[Disclaimer notice: as often with our sports posts, I perceive this post to be about far more than sports…]
Winning team QB Peyton Manning was obviously pleased and proud at the mic. Including his repeated, perky promise to “drink a lot of Budweiser” that night, Manning was incredibly gracious and glad in front of the microphone.
Losing team QB Cam Newton was notably sullen and sad. Fielding questions in the same room with a member of the opposing team — who was gleefully sharing how they manhandled Newton — Newton was abrupt with his answers, offered little insight, and in the middle of the session, he got up, despondently walking away.
With no more games then for the next five months (and thus minimal football news flow), many have spent the last two days debating Newton’s behavior. To be clear, Manning said that Newton “couldn’t have been nicer” to him when the two met at midfield after the contest, adding that Newton “was extremely humble.”
Let’s first, though, take note of the regular season… All year, Newton’s behavior has thrilled many fans with his high fives, chest bumps, and joy-filled, flight imitation celebrations. He and his team have had much to celebrate. Some fans, however, saw such exuberance as boastful and brash.
My sense is that one of the reasons Newton’s abrupt appearance stood out at the microphone is because it’s juxtaposed against of the contagious vivaciousness Newton displayed previously throughout the year.
I understand those who have no patience for Newton’s curt, dejected reaction. He’s a grown man, a star in the league, and makes millions of dollars; he is the clear, outspoken leader of his team. A leader must lead through the good, bad, and the ugly. As Hall of Famer Deion Sanders said about Newton, “You are the face of our brand right now; you can’t do that… You’re opening yourself for more criticism, because everybody is going to say you’re dabbing and smiling and smiling and styling. So this is how you go out when you lose?”
Good point. A wise man is gracious in both victory and defeat. The only thing understandably absent in defeat is the grin.
That said, Newton is also only 26 years old.
26.
When I was 26, I admit: I did some incredibly stupid things. (Can I just say again? …thank God Facebook and Instagram weren’t around then…)
But it’s true; it would have been wiser for Newton to act differently… he’s an adult…. he should know better… And sometimes when I was 26, I should have known better, too.
I must also confess… there’s another aspect I actually, oddly find somewhat refreshing — albeit, true, in a rude sort of way. That is, Newton didn’t fake how he felt. Maybe it’s the political season we’re in; maybe it’s this abundance of image branding and rebranding, in which we see continued persons attempt to look better and wiser than they really are; it’s so inauthentic. The fact that Newton didn’t fake the way he felt — the deep dejection after finally getting to the pinnacle of his profession and then losing it — in some ways, makes sense to me.
Thus, while Newton’s public reaction was rude and unsportsmanlike, I also wonder how many other 26 year olds would have had the wisdom and composure to lead well in that moment… under the pressure of the microphone and under the glare of society’s always-watching microscope…
Here’s to leading better, growing in wisdom, and holding onto both the grace and the grin.
Respectfully…
AR