NFL Star Gets Lecture From Mom
Rosemary Plorin probably didn’t anticipate the strong backlash her words would receive when she published an open letter to Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, scolding him for his “in your face” end-zone victory dance that confused her 9-year-old daughter during the fourth quarter of the Titans-Panthers game.
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“I refuse to believe you don’t realize you are a role model. You are paid millions of dollars every week to play hard and be a leader,” wrote Plorin, of Nashville, Tenn., in the letter published Tuesday morning in the Charlotte Observer. “In the off season you’re expected to make appearances, support charities, and inspire young kids to pursue your sport and all sports. With everything the NFL has gone through in recent years, I’m confident they have advised that you are, by virtue of your position and career choice, a role model.”
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Plorin wrote the letter — which soon went viral on social media — after attending Sunday’s Titans-Panthers game with her young daughter. After congratulating Newton on his touchdown, she stated that both she and the girl were disappointed and unimpressed with Newton’s “pelvic thrusts,” “arrogant struts,” and “‘in your face’ taunting of both the Titans’ player and fans.’” Newton’s antics had prompted her daughter, who was attending her first NFL game, to ask, “Won’t he get in trouble for doing that? Is he trying to make people mad? Do you think he knows he looks like a spoiled brat?”
“I didn’t have great answers for her,” Plorin admitted in her letter. “And honestly, in an effort to minimize your negative impact and what was otherwise a really fun day, I redirected her attention to the cheerleaders and mascot.” Plorin didn’t return Yahoo Parenting’s calls for comment.
Football fans quickly blasted the mom online for taking football rituals too seriously. “So, in other words: ‘Honey, don’t watch the bad man who is fully clothed. Look instead at the scantily clad women who aren’t really leading any cheers,’” wrote Mike Florio on NBC Sports. “This lady took a 9 year old to a NFL game and this was the worst thing they saw???? Lady, don’t take your kid to Oakland or Buffalo for a NFL game, please!!” added an online commenter on ESPN. And one writer suggested that Plorin “look elsewhere for role models” other than on the football field.
But if anyone can handle the ardent pubic outcry, it would be Plorin, who is president and CEO of an award-winning public relations firm specializing in crisis management.
Photo of Cam Newton: Getty Images
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