Thug. Showboat. Immature. Arrogant. Selfish. All are adjectives used by some that have been used to describe Cam Newton. For many of us, we call those people haters because we see talent, confidence, success, individuality, humanitarianism, and potential greatness. Ironically, Cam Newton is who you believe him to be, but someone who doesn't care what you want him to be.

Cam has been divisive from the moment he hit the national stage. He's either a hero or a villain. The reason for success or the obstacle in the way of it. It's hard to think of a player more polarizing in the NFL, which shows how deep-seeded those beliefs in his character and ability are. 

Today, Cam Newton addressed his arrest exactly 9-years ago that led to his decision to leave the University of Florida for Blinn Junior College. It's a moment in Newton's life which is often revisited by those taking shots at Newton's character. The mugshot lives on, despite what in hindsight seems a minor transgression that wasn't indicative of his future behaviors and of the nature of a mistake that frequents teenagers--well that's how a Cam champion sees it anyway. One side convicts, while the other pardons.

Despite our verdicts, Cam views his arrest as a crucible moment that branded him with the resolve to "be better." Reflecting on the despair that followed, he writes, "į THØŪGHT mÿ lįfë âñd mÿ ¢ârëër wâš ØVËR."  The media coverage of his arrest suggested it couldn't be otherwise. "NØöñë gâvë më â ¢hâñ¢ë tö šü¢¢ëëd," he writes, and "įf į wöüld hâvë lįštëñëd tö thöšë pëöplë thât šâįd į €ÅNT, ₩HØ KNØ₩š whërë į wöüld bë tödâÿ. Newton heard but didn't listen and committed to living without "ÅNŸ rëgrëtš wįth thë šë¢öñd ¢hâñ¢ë GØD hâš gįvëñ më." "It's why "į plâÿ thë gâmë thë wâÿ į dö, â¢t thë wâÿ į â¢t, drëšš thë wâÿ į drëšš, âñd ëvëñ Ł1VË thë wâÿ į Ł1VË," he reports. 

Cam's Instagram post probably won't change your view of him, but that's OK because he's going to šhįñëTHRŪthëŠHÅDË regardless.

By Tony Dunn
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