WITH CAM NEWTON

7 downloads 2712 Views 234KB Size Report
What made you decide to start a clothing line? ... Do you wear your own clothing when traveling on the road? ... So I definitely want to wear my own line to make ...
WITH CAM NEWTON BY CHRYSTAL ROWE All Carolina Panthers fans see Cam Newton, the man making plays while wearing the #1 jersey on the field – but few get the opportunity to meet the person with the infectious smile and warm personality. Recently The Roar sat down with Cam Newton to find about more about the man underneath the helmet. Let the readers learn more about Cam off the field what do you like to do for fun and unwind? I am a big movie, video game and family guy. My favorite movie is “The Town” or basically anything with Denzel Washington. Then for video games I enjoy sports games – Madden, NCAA 2K.

When you are playing Madden – do you play yourself? And are you any good at Madden? ABSOLUTELY – you better believe I play myself – and hey – I am great at Madden. It’s all in the thumbs. I don’t think it is a skill game, I think it is the thumbs and hand-eye coordination.

What made you decide to start a clothing line? It was an opportunity that presented itself and I wanted to make the most of it. I am big into making a first impression and I am big into fashion. It is about giving yourself confidence by looking good. Belk is a staple in Charlotte and I wanted to partner with someone that has an unbelievable presence, not only in Charlotte, but in the Southeast. 24 / www.panthers.com

Where did the name MADE come from? It was a team effort. But I wanted it to have something to do with my name – most people just see M A D E. But if you really look into the color waves of the logo, you see C A M. It was a very cool way to show a link with me.

Do you wear your own clothing when traveling on the road? I definitely do. I think I am more excited about this year with the new line. Fashion is a vice that has taken over professional sports. You see basketball and baseball players and even with football when these guys go on the Red Carpet for events or in for interviews everyone is trying to look good. So I definitely want to wear my own line to make a statement.

Are you more comfortable dressed up or dressed down? Definitely dressed up. Growing up in Atlanta where my father is a preacher I always felt comfortable being dressed up in dress clothes. It is about looking good and being comfortable in your skin.

If readers were invited to your house in Charlotte – would your sense of fashion be seen? Absolutely. But I can’t take the credit for it – I have a lot of females that provided their touch with my mom, my grandmother, cousins – everyone has chipped and made an effort to help me. “Well I got you a picture, or I got you that…” So definitely my décor has a female touch to it because house design is not my thing. I am more into sleeping and having a comfortable bed – and anything other than that is all them!

Do you cook, and if we were invited to a dinner party at your house – what would you fix? I do cook. You would be surprised – I make the best Cinnamon Toast Crunch EVER! I mean EVER! And yes – for a dinner party at my house it is going to be Cinnamon Toast Crunch with a light side of milk – soy milk preferably.

Talk to us about your interaction with the fans – where did the handing the footballs to fans begin? Interacting with the fans means a lot to me. The handing the fan the football was a one-time thing and now I can’t not do it. To see the joy on a young fan’s face – it brings even more joy to me. It brings closure to why I do what I do. God has placed me in an unbelievable opportunity, and I just want to give another person joy. Whether it is one person, 10 people or thousands of people – I just want to do my part to bring that joy.

You are always one of the last guys signing autographs – why is it important to meet the fans?

If a fan takes their time to come and support us, I want to show my gratitude and support to them. I know I am not going to be able to give every autograph or get a picture with everyone - but I try to get to as many as possible. To put it in perspective – we are out here working everyday to try and be great and hope that the people of South Carolina and North Carolina can have a sense of pride when wearing their Carolina Panthers jersey or a Panthers hat. Whether you are in Charlotte, or in Georgia, or in New York, California or Texas, when you wear Carolina Panthers gear, I want them to wear it with pride. That is why we are out here working hard to get that swag back to the Carolinas.

What do fans not know about you that you would like them to know? I just think that what you see is what you get – and that I have a sense of humor. A lot of people assume so much that is on the field. You take the microphone away from the player outside of the game. We are human beings just like they are. We need 7 or 8 hours of sleep just like everyone else. I like great food just like you do. I want to look good and feel good just like anyone else does. I like to go out – I may be at the EpiCenter on any given night. And I get asked “What are you doing here?”. Well it is the same thing everyone is doing there. We want to get out and eat at places too – it is crazy to hear responses when they see you out. I am human just like you are. I like to have a great time just like everyone else. And if you want to come take a picture – you don’t have to hide and take a picture. Come up and ask me to take a picture. CAROLINA PANTHERS V.14.10 / 25

We have to ask a few football questions – as fans we whether it was playing football or being a philanthropist or giving all remember the somerrsault for the touchdowns last back to my community - I always want to be that type of person. year – what moment or game stands out most for you In 20 years – what do you want Cam Newton, the in your NFL career? football player, to be remembered for? I would have to say my first NFL game. Just getting to run out in the huddle for the first time and making that first play was unbelievable. I felt like a kid in a movie, running out and just turning around and thinking “This is the moment I have been waiting for all my life.” I still have that moment each and every time I go out on the field. I hear the fans respond and chant, and it is encouraging. You know that the people in the Carolinas are waiting for wins. We owe it to the fans to give all the effort we have each and every play. Giving it my best, giving the football to fans, playing football in Bank of America Stadium – all of that will always mean a lot to me.

Cameron Jerrell Newton was a person that played how he looked. And when you see me playing, I want you to always see a smile. I want you to see a man who loves playing football. When I am having fun and doing what I love to do, it is obvious.

DREAM. NOTHING WILL EVER GET ACHIEVED WITHOUT SOME TYPE OF BLUEPRINT OR SOME TYPE OF ASPIRATION OR GOAL. When I am signing autographs, I always try to smile. I don’t want to ever give the impression that this life is not what it is. Because this life is unbelievable. God has blessed me and will continuously bless me as I give joy to another person.

You talk about your moment that you were waiting for all of your life – for the young kid that was sitting at home watching you be drafted by the Carolina Panthers – what advice would you give them? So when you see me on Sundays out on the field smiling and having a Dream. Nothing will ever get achieved without some type of blueprint or some type of aspiration or goal. For me – when I was young and growing up in Atlanta, I would always dream. That dream may be dumb to someone else – but it made a lot of sense to me. I would always picture myself in some type of uniform. I always pictured myself making big plays. I always pictured myself doing something that was helping my community and making a difference. My parents encouraged me to be the best person that I could be – 26 / www.panthers.com

great time – that isn’t something to look down on. It is encouraging because I am doing what I love and always wanted to do. I went the unconventional route to get here – I went to Division I, then to Junior College, then back to Division I. Those Junior College days were more humbling than anything. And to this day I have lessons and traits that I picked up in Junior College - to remember, to enjoy waking up and playing football – the game that I love each and every day.