Okay, that’s it for Survivor this week, but before we push on to tonight’s My Two Cents, I wanted to mention once again how thankful I am for your support. I know these recaps are not the most significant part of your lives, but I truly appreciate the opportunity to try to make you laugh a little.
My Two Cents
Okay, so you’re all familiar with the “Cam Newton thinks it’s funny when a female reporter asks a question about routes” debate, right?
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, here’s a brief recap.
Cam Newton – who’s a stud – is the starting quarterback for the NFL Carolina Panthers, who led his team to the SuperBowl a couple years ago. He’s also black – which has nothing to do with this story but some people might think it had an impact on how it was reported – and he’s the face of his franchise.
So, a female reporter asked Cam a question about “routes,” (the path a receiver is going to run once the ball is snapped) and he chuckled at the fact a woman was asking him about routes. Because, I guess, in his mind, football is a man’s game, and it’s weird a woman was stepping into his forum.
I can’t say I know EXACTLY what was going through Cam’s mind when he laughed, maybe it was just a juvenile reaction to something that popped into his head, but nevertheless, Newton was excoriated in the media, on the news, and in social media about how sexist he behaved, and he eventually found it necessary to apologize on his Twitter feed. He even lost a sponsorship with Dannon Yogurt. Because Dannon Yogurt is a woman’s yogurt, I guess…
Okay, now that we’re all on the same page, here’s why this is worth a My Two Cents column…
First of all, let me remind all of you that I’m pretty liberal in my views. I think I’ve made that very clear by now. However, there are things I can agree with on the conservative side too. I am neither Republican or Democrat, so please keep in mind that just because I bash Trump, it doesn’t mean I’m a Democrat, or a libtard, or a snowflake, or anything else the right uses to describe someone who didn’t vote for Donnie Baby…
But getting back to the Cam Newton situation, here’s my beef…
Everyone was so pissed at what Cam said and how it revealed how sexist he is. With all this talk of gender equality nowadays, “Cam should’ve known better,” and “That’s not appropriate for a male athlete anymore,” were the main points people were trying to make.
But that’s where I have a problem. Hear me out.
Believe me, I understand why he was torched in the media. But it was only because he didn’t say what people think he’s SUPPOSED to say. But that’s the whole problem with that argument. What is he supposed to say?
Whatever happened to free speech? Whatever happened to voicing one’s opinion? I know it may not be the accepted stance to liberals, but what happened to the 1st Amendment? What the liberals are basically saying is, “There is a right way and a wrong way to discuss gender equality, and Cam Newton chose the wrong way.”
So, what you’re telling us is there is only one acceptable way to view gender equality. In essence, they are dictating to Cam (and all of us) how we should feel and say. And that is the one thing that we Americans have a big problem with. Don’t tell us what to think.
Once again, I’m not trying to defend or attack Cam Newton, but I am calling bullsh*t on this idea there’s only one way to view everything.
Whether it’s gender equality, gay marriage, transgender rights, abortion, gun control, or a host of other issues, what one side is saying is, “You have to agree with our side.” I’m actually a supporter of a woman’s right to choose, but if someone tells me they don’t support abortion, I’m not going to try to convince them they’re wrong, I’m just going to shut up and not deal with them anymore (…and I don’t mean I’m not going to speak to them anymore, I’m just not going to speak with them about abortion anymore).
So, with this Cam Newton thing, it just frustrates me that people are so up in arms about what Cam did. “You can’t say that, Cam, woman are equal to men in sports.”
And yes, they are – in some things – but does that mean every sports fan has to agree with that? There are probably some hard-nosed football players of an older generation who probably don’t agree with it, and are they WRONG for their beliefs? Hell no. And it doesn’t mean we need them to change their minds. They probably never will. Some people are just set in their ways.
I’m getting off topic from my Cam Newton argument, so let me just wrap it up. If Cam – or anyone – wants to have an opinion that’s not the popular one, do we really need to make them change their minds and admit they’re wrong? Can’t some people just not agree with the liberal views on things? I’m sure Cam tweeted out his apology, appeased his fans, and went right back to thinking it’s funny when a female reporter asks a question about routes (he just won’t laugh the next time).
And if I haven’t made this perfectly clear, I don’t think it’s funny when a female reporter asks about routes. But I do think there are times when women and men can stay separated. Do we really need girls in the Boy Scouts? Do we really need men attending all-girl colleges? Can’t some things just be, “This is for us, not for you.”
Not sure if you’ll agree, but I think there’s something wrong with female reporters in a man’s locker room while they’re still showering. Call it what you want, but it seems inappropriate to me. Missy, your damn questions can wait until Bryce Harper has his pants on! If you wanna ask him a question while he’s in his underwear, grow a dick and look Bryce in the eye…
I’m sure people would be up in arms if they let Joe Buck into a woman’s locker room to ask Alex Morgan a question while she’s standing there with her tits out, so if that’s taboo, then keep your female reporters out of our locker rooms. It’s called decency…
Can’t wait to read the responses to this week’s M2C. Love any feedback, whether it’s positive or negative. Next week, perhaps I’ll dive into the Harvey Weinstein situation or the fact that he’s been enabled by subordinates for years. How ‘bout we #canceltheOscars this year?
Feistier than normal,
Fish
Email: bryan.fish.fischer@gmail.com
Twitter: @BF_TheFish
AIM: bryan.fish.fischer@gmail.com or Bryan Fischer
Hi Fish!
Glad you kept the My Two Cents going! Honestly, it bothers me how everyone has to be so politically correct now in fear of stepping on someone’s toes. He laughed. Big deal. My husband thinks it’s cute when I get really into the games as well. It’s because it’s UNEXPECTED. Football is traditionally a mans sport. It’s their thing. Women watching now? Cool. Nothing wrong with that. I think there’s bigger issues than to attack a guy for having an honest, spontaneous and not necessarily negative response. It’s just being misconstrued as negative because everyone wants to make a big deal out of everything nowadays.
As for your Survivor recap, you’re on the ball as usual. I disagree with you only on one point – I think Ali is quite stunning and already skinny enough… haha. No one wants a twig that looks like they’re dying, right?
Alan needs to go. I don’t even know why he came on the show. His game strategy is laughable at best. Glad Patrick left. Thanks for the little tidbit that Patrick and Ali knew each other. Sneaky sneaky!
Keep up the writing! Your recaps are just about my favourite 🙂
Thanks again for a great recap. They are truly something I look forward to each week! This season of our favorite show is shaping up to be kind of a dud, I’m afraid. I still like little Ryan the Bellhop. Ali seems to be a decent player. I’m so glad that Patrick is gone. He was getting painful to watch. Alan is still nuts, Joe is still awful, and I still think I like Chrissy. My problem is that no one is very memorable. And when you drink as much wine as I do while watching, players need to be memorable 🙂 Hopefully some front runners will start to emerge soon.
The hubs and I were talking about the “hook ups” this season. To me, that’s icky. You’re stuck on an island with no soap, shampoo, or razor. There are bugs and sand everywhere and that’s uncomfortable. You’re just asking for a UTI. Well, maybe not in the virgin’s case, but anyone else who gets their freak on is begging for a raging infection. Hubs thinks it’s out of sheer boredom and that if players hook up in the ocean, it’s more sanitary. Anyone have any thoughts on this burning topic? Moving on…
I’m really enjoying the M2C. Here’s MY two cents: Cam Newton is hot. He can say whatever he wants. I’m with you on this, Fish. You can’t pick and choose when to fight for the first amendment. It’s all or nothing. ALSO, I don’t think this was super offensive. My husband would die laughing if I ever asked about routes. I watch football strictly for the chips and beer that go along with it. I don’t have a favorite team or a favorite player. I choose who to root for based off of which uniform I like better. So, yeah, it might be funny if I asked anything remotely “footbally.” I do appreciate other sports, but have never gotten into football for whatever reason.
I’m going out of town this week where wifi is scarce so I might have to watch double episodes next week. Have a good one!
Hi lil! Thanks for the comment, and for reading! Yeah, the whole PC thing has gotten so magnified. And it didn’t help that “the whole PC thing” also became part of Trump’s platform. It’s like “if you didn’t give a crap about people who aren’t PC you will now because Donnie baby says people are too PC.” Huh? I think people should stop following the herd and make some original decisions. Friggin’ lemmings…
Sorry for the Ali hate. BTW, I included that line about Ali just for you! 😉 Besides, I like twigs… And I guess Alan is playing the ABW card that I was referring to in last week’s comment section. Why can’t players just be nice?!
Hi jen! Thank you for writing in and I’m glad you like my recaps. Both of the comments this week give me the warm fuzzies…
Re: dud of a season. Let’s hope things improve this week. Evidently something exciting is happening at Tribal Council. Not sure if it’s true, but I read somewhere that someone said we’re drawing rocks. I can’t even say that’s a spoiler because I have no idea where I saw that. It may have even been in a dream and I can’t remember. Honestly, there are times I drink and write and the next morning I read something and say, “I don’t even remember writing that sentence…” That’s funny, right? It’s not sad, right?
Re: Ryan. Ew. Just ew… And Ali is growing on me. I do like her vibe now, and the way she communicates with others. However, I thought she could have spoken to Lauren with a little more believability when asked who she’s voting for. Just seemed like she had a problem lying and that’s never good on Survivor. And as much as the idea of hooking up would be on my mind when girls are “scantily clad and showin’ body,” I do wonder how funky people’s breath is and how stinky everyone must be. Ocean sex seems doable, but the cameras are always watching… Next thing you know, it’d be an episode of the Bachelor and Jeff would have to give out roses… And I’m glad you also like M2C. As I said, I wonder if Cam laughed simply because it was a woman. Or was it THAT woman? I don’t know. The whole thing was so dumb and such a “let’s make this into more than it is because we’re the media and we have to create news.” We all know that happens sometimes… There are some days I read articles on Yahoo or CBS Sports and I just wonder, “Why the hell is this even online?” And then I remember, everyone needs to create a steady stream of content. However, it’d be nice if there was an online editor who says, “This is even too dumb for us to publish.” I guess the bar is lowered some days…
Have a wonderful couple days! I think I’ve decided what to do with all that Survivor swag I acquired. Will tell everyone this week… Stay tuned!
XO
Fish