Fish and Chipps: The Dab Lives On

Cam Newton and his motley crew of dance moves and dabs are taking their talents to the 2016 Super Bowl after the Carolina Panthers’ complete destruction of the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game on Sunday.

In case you haven’t heard, America isn’t too fond of Newton’s elaborate touchdown celebrations. Guess what? It’s not going anywhere.

Love him, hate him, can’t freaking stand him. It doesn’t matter — the “dab” lives on. Talk is cheap, but this is what’s been directed at Cam Newton all season.

Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate.

If the Panthers’ quarterback ever had the time (which he doesn’t, because he’s always leading his team to victory) to think about how media pundits and other critics feel about his “dab” or touchdown celebrations, that’s exactly what he’d hear.

Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate.

“He rubs me the wrong way.”

“That’s not what a franchise quarterback is supposed to do.”

“He doesn’t compose himself the way a true leader does.”

“He’s not a good role model for kids.”

These are just some of the ridiculous things people have said about Cam Newton this season, but all of the hate is just music to Newton’s ears and gas on the burning fire of his brilliance.

Before you choose to characterize Cam Newton, his personality, style of play, leadership capabilities or touchdown celebrations, let’s first establish the cold hard facts.

Newton has accounted for 35 passing touchdowns, 10 rushing touchdowns and nearly 4,500 all-purpose yards. He’s led four game-winning drives this season, including a career-solidifying win against the Seattle Seahawks, on their turf, in Week Six. And most importantly, he’s led the Panthers to a 17-1 record and the second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

He’s been the field general of a top-five offense with the league’s best scoring average (31.3 points per game), and is the likely MVP of the 2015-16 NFL season.

Newton has done it all for the Panthers’ offense.

But instead of talking about how he’s had one of the best seasons of any quarterback in recent memory, we’re talking about his character and the way he carries himself.

Instead of talking about how he’s revolutionizing the quarterback position with his six-foot-five inch, 245-pound body frame that moves more like a shifty running back than a bulky quarterback, we’re questioning his leadership capabilities and his status as a “role model.”

Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate.

Why is Newton being held to a different standard than any other quarterback in the NFL? Why do fans and sports critics question his character because he dances in the end zone and celebrates after games?

Newton likes to dab when he scores a touchdown. So what? Last time I checked, everyone has some kind of dance move to show off for the fans when they score nowadays.

As SportsCenter anchor Robert Flores pointed out, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce wasn’t criticized for his colorful touchdown dance earlier this season. Perhaps it’s because Kelce is white?

Let Cam be. He’s kicking the NFL’s ass and doing it in style. If you don’t like it, go watch one of those Tuesday afternoon soap operas or go play solitaire on your 1997 Dell PC.

Yes, Newton is unique and polarizing, which is why ESPN’s Tim Keown, who wrote a fabulous profile on the Panthers’ quarterback, best described Newton by writing, “He’s not a quarterback; he’s a Rorschach test.”

But he’s neither a bad guy nor a poor role model.

Newton is simply an amazing football player whose swagger is so dope most Americans just can’t hang with the dude. I mean, let’s be real, who can? He’s freaking Superman. (Side note: I’ve been spending the last three weeks trying to teach myself how to “dab on them folks,” and I’ve got to admit, my “swag game” is not on par. Thanks, Dad).

The majority of the American public is more concerned with the way he carries himself than his superhuman football skills.

“Unfortunately, what you modeled for them today was egotism, arrogance and poor sportsmanship,” one woman wrote of Newton in a letter to The Charlotte Observer after his week long debated touchdown celebration in the Panthers’ 27-10 win over the Tennessee Titans earlier this season.

When he announced the birth of his son a few weeks ago, this is what another woman wrote about Newton’s son being born out of wedlock: “So the man whom we celebrate, and with good reason, has produced a son. Congratulations would be in order if he had been man enough to marry the mother of his child and make a home.”

I don’t recall fans ever harshly criticizing Tom Brady when he had a child out of wedlock.

Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate.

This is 2016. I thought we are all “PC” now. Who are we to judge someone’s character, especially when we base our judgment off of his dance moves during a football game?

Cam Newton has always been judged unfairly and it’s about time ignorant fans wake up to the realization that their hate is rooted in underlying racism. No white players have faced nearly as much scrutiny for touchdown dances or family matters.

But at the end of the day, none of that hate even matters right now.

You know why?

Because Cam Newton is taking his talents (and his dab) to the Super Bowl.