WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET

Actions speak louder than words. Visuals tell a story. Emotions need no translation. These are all statements we have heard or said throughout the years. But what do they really mean? Researchers who study nonverbal communication state that self-image and social identity are shaped to a large degree by one's appearance.  After this past week in sports, we can certainly see how one's public appearance presents a very telling story.

Exhibit A- Eli Manning. The other evening Peyton Manning appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The topic of the Super Bowl soon shifted to his brother, New York Giants' quarterback Eli Manning and his now famous "stone face." Peyton and Eli supporters know "that" face all too well. It's an Eli face. It means that Eli is thinking. It's his game face. But for the rest of the nation, Eli appeared to be snubbing his brother with his blank facial expression following his big brother's second Super Bowl win. Perception is 90% of the law.  However, as a Giant fan, I know that his face, despite the jokes, didn't express what he was thinking.  But at the end of the day, that doesn't matter.

Exhibit B- Cam Newton. We have all had our opportunity to read and watch Carolina Panthers' quarterback Cam Newton's Post-Super Bowl press conference. Heck we wrote about it and referred to it a few times last week. One of the nonverbal attributes that Newton exhibited is what every young male and some females have demonstrated when they feel defeated; that hood up, slouch in the seat behavior. For some, it wasn't that Newton walked out of the press conference but rather how he walked into it. His ego-bruised body all packed into a grey hoodie walked into the press conference defeated. It's every middle school teacher's pet-peeve and he demonstrated it beautifully in front of billions of viewers across the globe.

Exhibit C- Jenrry Mejia's cover photo on New Daily News.  He looks like a user in the picture chosen for the front page of the Daily News.  We know that images sell papers, stories and products.  The Daily News chose an image much like the New York Post did.  It told a story and made Mejia look like a thug.  My closest friends who saw the paper and watched the stories didn't need to turn up the sound as they moved along on the treadmill with the television in the background- they just used the images of Mejia to crucify him.

Exhibit D- The New York Yankees infamous dress code. People sneer at the Yankees' dress code which includes or rather excludes excessive facial hair and long hair, but it's there for a reason. It's called professionalism and it's a nonverbal trait that is earned with careful preparation and continuity.  The way you dress and the way you carry yourself says a lot about who you are, regardless if it is true or not.  It is what they (the public) perceive.

So, what you see is what you get or is it?  Is there another story to tell?  Perhaps, but athletes need to think before they look...literally.  People will believe what they see and it is important for them and frankly all of us to take a closer look in the mirror before we look out at our audience.  We might not like what we see staring back at us when we take a closer look.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer

BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof








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GROW UP, CAM

A wise man once told me, “If you’re gonna take shots, back it up!” I will do so now...

My fellow BYB'er, Erica Morales wrote a great piece defending the recent post game behavior of Panther’s QB Cam Newton. I too agree that it is ABSOLUTELY understandable to be totally disappointed after a Super Bowl loss. It’s what you dream about as a little kid playing in the backyard. The biggest game there is for an NFL player. The biggest stage! Against one of the greatest QBs to play the position…sure, we’d all be pissed, saddened and in a foul mood. But how you handle it is the measure of the man/ woman.

Cam Newton is an extremely gifted athlete. He plays the game with passion and is a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Do I mind the celebrations? Not one bit…after a touchdown. But after a first down? Yeah, just do YOUR JOB and keep the chains moving. That’s my opinion. Maybe it’s not yours…that’s OK too.

My biggest beef with Cam is he wants it both ways. He’ll claim that people don’t like him because he’s a black quarterback…all due respect, BULLSH*T! Yeah, I KNOW there are some simpletons out there that look at the color of a man’s skin, but believe it or not Cam some don’t like you because you seem like a bratty showboat who is all about the name on the back of the jersey. And the behavior displayed after the game Sunday was PROOF positive of that. End. Of. The. Story.

I am a big fan of the player who can be a leader on and off the field. Think back to Tim Wakefield after the 2003 Aaron Boone walk off. Is there a greater defeat as a pitcher? He gave up a dinger to the New York Yankees with the Boston Red Sox inches from reversing the imaginary curse! And did Timmy give a moody teen’s excuse for a presser? No, he faced the music, tipped his cap to the Yankees and vowed to be back. I’m I nuts to expect a similar response from a National Football League QB? NOPE!

Look, Cam wants to be the man…well, ACT LIKE ONE! You got beat by a defense that was absolutely relentless. They were BETTER than you, they just didn’t play better. They abused Carolina’s bigger O line! They pursued like a pack of hungry wolves and covered like a squadron of F-18 Hornets. The BRONCOS are Champions for a reason. Tip you cap and quiet your critics…not as a black quarterback, but as an NFL MVP quarterback that took it on the chin.

This is pretty simple. Cam Newton has the talent to be in the conversation with names like Marino, Montana, Aikman, Favre and Young. But maturity and accountability are PARAMOUNT to being in the company of those men. 

And as of this moment Cam Newton is closer to Johnny Football than Johnny Unitas. To defend him is to enable that type of behavior…I’m not making that play. When it comes to backing the young Carolina QB I’ll punt.

** I think Cam is the NFL equivalent of this kid. Talented? Sure, but who cares…he is just a solo act that who we all got tired of quick. **

  



 
--Mike O'Hara Senior "Features" Writer
Twitter: @mikeyoh21
















 

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CAM NEWTON'S REACTION WAS EMOTIONAL & UNDERSTANDABLE

Let me start by saying that I do not want to justify Cam Newton's actions. Walking out on a post game press conference probably wasn't the best option. What I am saying is that I do not buy into all the negativity that surrounded his actions, and I do not agree with the character assassination that he has been a target of as a result.

There's so much that people don't want to consider. First being that post game interviews are incredibly redundant. If you watch enough sports, and enough post game interviews, you can probably guess which series of questions would be asked on any given day. For the losing team, it adds to the stress and negative emotions.

Then consider the post game interview setting. ESPN posted a video of the interview with Cam. He is seated at the table, giving short yet direct responses to the questions asked to him. You can clearly hear Chris Harris of the Broncos discussing what the game plan had been. It was set up so that both teams shared a single space for the post game interview, and the only divider was a black curtain. Personally, I find the setting incredibly unprofessional. There is no reason why the opposing team should be heard while you conduct a post game interview. It's disrespectful to the person you are interviewing. Regardless of the win or loss, it's just a less than ideal setting.

Even before this incident people have called Cam arrogant and cocky. Over a dance? Because suddenly he is the only player in the history of the NFL to celebrate his wins? Let's focus on the fact that he walked out on the post game interview, and completely ignore the fact that he congratulated Peyton Manning with a huge smile. "I've been on that side of it," Manning said of Cam. "It's tough, and it's not an easy pill to swallow. But he was very nice to me and I appreciated that." But that's arrogance, right?

It's so much easier to vilify him than to attempt to understand the thought process. I'm sorry, was Manning vilified in 2010 when he walked off the field without so much as acknowledging the New Orleans Saints players after the Colts lost to them 37 - 17? No... that was passion. He was upset, and he allowed his emotions to make the call. Completely different from what Cam did... except it's the exact same thing! Funny that the same passion one player is praised and respected for, is what makes another cocky.

Oh but his responses were short, and he had an attitude. I'm sorry, how many post-game interviews have you watched? Which athlete, when interviewed after a loss, is verbose and boisterous? I'll wait... Oh, what was that? None? Yea... that's what I thought you'd say. Even Mariano Rivera, who is arguably the most humble athlete I have ever watched, was curt with his responses after a loss. And let's face it, Derek Jeter was no picnic to interview after a loss either. That's not exclusive to Cam.

He's incredibly talented, proof of which came in the form of being named NFL MVP, and going into the Super Bowl having helped his team to a 19 - 1 season. No one can deny that he is a phenomenal player. He also pretty much wears his emotions on his sleeve. When he is happy, he celebrates. He sings and dances and enjoys himself. Why then did you expect his disappointment to be quiet and reserved? He busted his ass this season. He did so much more than what was expected from him. And then he lost on the big stage. Hell yes, that's disappointing. If he hadn't shown any emotions, I would question his passion for the game.

Again, him walking out of the interview probably wasn't a great call. But it is completely understandable. You can attempt to demonize his character for it and call him names, but who hasn't been so disappointed by a loss that they haven't needed to walk away? Emotions were running high. He was upset, angry, maybe even a little sad. He reacted. Knee jerk move, yes. But it does not make him the monster people want to paint him out to be.

--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer 
Twitter: @e_morales1804



 
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...AND NOW BASEBALL BEGINS

I wanted Peyton Manning to win.  I wanted him to win for him, but more than that, I wanted Cam Newton to lose.  I don't care for the show players put on when they think they're just too good. Cam did  that all season long. He needed to be humbled.  He needed to feel the sting of a big loss.  And you know what?

He's young, he'll have years to win.  Tonight, the Super Bowl needed to go to a good ol' boy and his Bronco crew.  That's just how I felt about the game.  No, I don't care about football like... at all. I honestly don't.  But I DO like it when the unexpected happens in the Super Bowl.  Manning won.  Good for him!  Cam, nice try, but there is no question you are talented.  I have no doubt there's a Super Bowl ring or 2 in your future.

The game was good, not great, but good.  And all the while I was thinking about Spring Training. Because when the big game ends, baseball begins.  I was thinking about what CC Sabathia is going to offer this year.  I can't wait to see Ardolis Chapman in pinstripes...same with Starlin Castro.  I hope to see Mark Teixeira healthy even though he probably won't be. Look,  I just want the Yanks to do well this season.  I want them to do great... kind of like the way the Half time show went tonight... great!

I was surprised at the social media blasting the half time show. Ridiculous.

@BleednYankeeBlu Thank you! Why are people killing this halftime

— Joanie Giammarino (@Joangyankee) February 8, 2016

"It was horrible", they said.  "Worst one ever" I read.  What the hell were you expecting?  They picked 3 top recording artists in the industry to sing for 12 minutes in front of 100 million people.  Who did you want? Springsteen?  Bocelli? Can't folks just relax and enjoy some entertainment? Bruno Mars is a top notch performer.  Chris Martin, is damn talented.

People hate Coldplay... I guess because it's Coldplay, but why is that a bad thing?  Beyonce? IT'S FREAKING BEYONCE! I guess you wanted alittle acoustic from Pete Yorn and Paul Simon?  You want boring? That's boring. Honestly, I have no idea why everyone was complaining.

The best part tonight? The end.  Baseball is now here ladies and gentlemen.  There is going to be another season of baseball, not only in Yankeeland, but for me personally with my kids.  It's a great season.  I get the teach as a coach.  I get to watch, as a Yankee fan.  And the weather's nice, so I'll catch a few games at the stadium, but before that, I'll catch a few innings here and there as the Yankees nail down their roster in Tampa in just a few weeks.  And you know what? That's where I'm at my best.  That's where I'm at peace the most.

Football is a great sport, but it's just not MY sport... and that's OK.   Baseball... that's where it's at for me.  And you know what?  It's finally here.  When the Big game ends... baseball begins.  It seemed like forever to get here... but it's here.

Thank the good Lord for that.

Congrats to Peyton and the Broncos.  A job well done.

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