Conan O'Brien Gets It Right About Cam Newton's Childish Walking Away From Press Conference

Conan is the best. Growing up I would stay up late when I could get away with it to watch Conan. He's a mix of all of my favorite aspects of comedy: eccentric, self-degradative, witty on the spot, wild characters, super smart, smart-dumb, and not-pandering. I hate this whole "I'm so awkward and ironic" or "I just made a reference with no commentary so just applaud" or "look how super important what I believe in is" movement going on in comedy right now. Conan makes commentary on how absolutely crappy some of his stuff is, but that isn't even close to the "oh my gosh I suck and everything sucks" thing a lot of comics (surprise none are primetime spot people) are doing right now. Comedy is for the outcast and counter-culture blagh blagh blagh I don't buy it they way hipsters are trying to spin everything. Comedy still requires being funny and Conan is just that. Yes I'm saying lots of people that are in the comedy game in some capacity right now aren't funny, too.

I love this bit. I laughed at "Cam Newton, more like Fig Newton" right off that bat. Call me a sucker for silly but that just got me. Then to just go for it in the whole parody press conference after that? 

Yes. I love it. People have been going back and forth about all things Cam this year and especially on his walking away from the press conference. Cam is wrong because he's not just a team leader, he's also the league MVP--he's gotta stick out the conference. Cam is right both because he could hear Chris Harris next door and also Cam's a super passionate player. Then Cam himself defends his walking away saying, he's a "sore loser," adding "show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser." Source.

That's enough of Cam being the All Mighty for me. Cam, it's undoubtedly part of your job to stick through it when things suck. It's been said a million times, but that's the truth. Tom sticks them out. Aaron sticks them out. Peyton sticks them out. Hell, Russell is even suspiciously positive and thankful after losses. To not do your job and talk to reporters is simply childish. "But what about Marshawn, he's unique and true to himself when he doesn't talk." Shut up already. You have to talk and you have to stick it out. If the reason you can walk away, Cam, is because any "good loser" is a "loser," I've got a take for you: you lost real good on Sunday and so that makes you a real loser. It's OK to be so, in every football game half of the people are. Just own it. Don't be childish about it. You're only a short-term loser after the game because you lost the game. You become a long-term loser when you act like you're too good to lose. Which just isn't possible in the result-capacity or the moral-capacity. Everyone loses. How Cam walking away initially played out and is still playing out is just childish.

That's what I love about Conan's bit. It's childish. He makes a childish joke then has a childish news conference about it. His posture when defending himself is even like Cam's, that of a sad, hormonal teenager. I'm pumped Conan is going after the Cam conference thing, too. People are suddenly avoiding going after some stuff nowadays and that is NOT how comedy works. Either everything is fair game or nothing is.

Cam is a great player and he'll be more than fine when the dust has settled. That doesn't mean we can't be critical right now of what he did. Cam was super emotional because he's a great, emotional player. He just didn't let his emotions out in the appropriate manner, walking away. Cam, just let it out in the mic. I bet the Panthers nation would be pumped up about that. You're allowed to say emotional, honest stuff. That won't make you less of a role model or whatever. You have to say it, though, otherwise all we have to analyze is your one action, not your words. 

Did I just make an "actions speak louder than words" reference? Are you really coming at me for my choice of phrasing and not about the content? You whining about my one word-play and not the article-season at large? You think this post isn't post-season worthy!?

Not getting up, not walking away.

My point is what Cam did is childish and he'll do better in the future. Don't stifle your emotions, just let us hear about them, however you end up articulating them.

Also, Andy Richter's joke "we're gonna be right back with Ray Romano and maybe we'll be lucky he'll bring his friend Bob Parmagiano" is another great joke. I'm always a sucker for silly. Unless it's being silly by not talking to reporters AFTER THE SUPER BOWL. The off-season rage has already set in.