Everyone can agree Cam Newton’s comments this past week were shocking and obviously sexist. Unfortunately for me, when I heard this comment I was not surprised. It is a very common stereotype that women “don’t understand” or “don’t know” football or any other sport for that matter. As a female sports journalist and a sports fan, this comment made me both sad and angry all at once. But it wasn’t the comments that made me more upset, it was the fact I knew exactly how Charlotte Observer reporter Jourdan Rodrigue felt as she was talked down to in front of a group of professionals.

For as long as I can remember I have heard the comment, “you’re wrong,” or “you don’t understand what you’re talking about,” when approaching sports-related topics, primarily football.

For some background, I grew up around the sport and I have been attending NC State football games for as long as I can remember as both my mom and dad attended NC State and are huge football fans. Yes, you read that right. My mom is a huge football fan just like my dad. From that comment it should be no surprise that growing up I wanted to know everything there was to know about football. Play calls, routes, penalties. The list goes on. Those things were something both of my parents could teach me about and I was incredibly excited to learn.  

In high school I brought a guy friend to a NC State football game and there was a flag thrown. I immediately told him that it was an illegal substitution. He proceeded to tell me that I was wrong and the flag was for an offsides. After a few seconds of him attempting to tell me I was wrong, the voice over the speakers in Carter-Finley said the flag was for an illegal substitution, much to his surprise. That conversation did not end with a “you were right” or a “sorry for doubting you.” Instead it ended with silence.

The story goes on as the same thing has happened with friends I have had in college. It happens almost every football game and just because someone didn’t see it doesn’t mean I’m wrong or that the holding call I am referring to didn’t happen. It’s okay to admit that a girl might know what is actually happening in a football game and she knows the rules and likes to occasionally yell at the referees.

But hearing the comments to Jourdan Rodrigue from Cam Newton that it’s “funny for a female to talk about routes” not only made me realize I was not alone. It was more confirmation of the mountain I have to climb not only as a sports fan but as a woman who wants to make a career in the field of sports.

One of the only things I want in life is to be able to enjoy the job I will have. I chose a career that revolves around athletics and I could not be happier with my choice. I want to be able to interact with athletes and be respected for my knowledge as a professional, not disregarded. I will face athletes as well as co-workers who will not believe my knowledge and love of sports has gotten me where I am thus far. I wish I could say that is part of what I signed up for.

But at the end of the day, I love talking and learning more about sports. I love to hear the analysis that others can offer, ask questions, possibly disagree and explain why.

Cam Newton’s comments urge me as a woman to fight harder. To fight against the stereotype and prove that I know and enjoy sports just as much as others. I will strive to be a better professional and fan than I ever thought before. I will ask more questions and I will learn more so I can get better on my own. I will try to prove those wrong who have the same views as Newton and many others.

While the comments are something I could never understand and are something that upsets me, I am thankful for the motivation. I can only go up from here.

Thank you, Cam Newton.