On March 18, 1995, a press release was sent out via fax to reporters across the country, courtesy of Falk Associates Management Enterprises Inc. (FAME).
It carried a two-word message from 32-year-old NBA superstar Michael Jordan, who had been on a brief hiatus from basketball as he chased his (minor league) baseball dreams:
“I’m back.”
Jordan went on to win three more titles with the Chicago Bulls in a much-celebrated three-peat that began the first full season after his return.
Since Jordan’s official retirement in 2003, the six-time NBA champion has made a name for himself as one of the kings of the Queen City — and all of North Carolina, his home state — after becoming the principal owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets.
But as of last week, his competition as North Carolina’s biggest star is once again in contention.
Last Thursday, the Carolina Panthers announced they had reached a one-year deal with former MVP starting quarterback Cam Newton, worth up to $10 million.
And just three days later, Newton suited up for the Panthers against the Arizona Cardinals. He didn’t start — P.J. Walker did, subbing for the injured Sam Darnold — but in his first offensive snap of the season, Newton took the ball on a QB keeper and ran to his right, where he snuck past the pylon for a two-yard TD that gave the Panthers a 7-0 lead.
The FOX cameras and A.V. crew then caught Newton’s celebration, where he stared down the red sea of Cardinals fans in the end zone and screamed:
“I’m baaaaaaack!”
While it was much more animated and much flashier than Jordan’s 1995 press release, it was exactly what you’d expect from the true king of Charlotte.
And now that he’s back — probably only for a year or so with Carolina likely looking towards a younger QB in next year’s draft — Panthers fans should sit back and enjoy the ride.
Newton, who played nearly eight full seasons as the Panthers’ starting QB after they took him with the first overall pick out of Auburn in the 2011 NFL Draft, provided Panthers fans with the best memories of the team’s 26-year history.
I’m old enough to remember the buzz surrounding Newton when he was in the midst of his prime.
Discussion about him was in constant rotation on national sports talk shows.
Kids everywhere — especially in our state — were mimicking his over-the-top touchdown celebrations.
Everyone wanted a piece of Cam. Whether you couldn’t stand him and wanted him to fail or loved him and bought his jersey in three different styles, you were drawn to him. It was impossible not to be.
I even remember passing by a small gas station outside of downtown High Point, where a man had a stand selling self-made Newton shirseys (t-shirt version of jerseys) during his MVP campaign in 2015.
Not only was Newton flashy, exciting and jaw-dropping with his Superman-esque abilities, he was also incredibly good at winning football games.
He led the Panthers to the best season in franchise history in 2015, where he helped them to a 15-1 overall record en route to a Super Bowl 50 appearance, where Carolina lost to Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos, 24-10, in the team’s second Super Bowl since the franchise’s inception in 1995.
He’s been an NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, one-time First-Team All-Pro selection and three-time Pro Bowler (2011, 2013 and 2015).
Oh, and don’t forget the 2010 Heisman Trophy sitting in his trophy case at home, perhaps his most prestigious award of all.
To make a lengthy story not-so-lengthy, Newton is undeniably the most exciting player in Panthers’ history. And arguably one of the most exciting players in North Carolina sports history.
And yet, despite all he did to bring the Panthers back into relevancy after a brutal 2-14 season in 2010 — followed by growing pains in his first couple of years — he’s also one of the most disrespected and most underrated players in North Carolina sports history.
Over the course of his career, Newton rarely got favorable calls from the refs — likely due to his size, which prompted most officials to keep their flags tucked in their belts during potential roughing-the-passer penalties — and he was disliked by a plethora of fans both in and outside of the Tar Heel State.
People hated the way he danced after jumping over the goal line on QB sneaks.
They hated his confidence.
They hated his trash talk.
They hated his Alice in Wonderland-like fashion both pre- and post-game.
And, even if most of his doubters wouldn’t admit it, they hated the idea that a Black quarterback could have so much success at the QB position, something he — and now countless others — debunked.
But even with the hate, Newton kept delivering, time and time again.
It fueled him. It inspired him. It made him better.
That is, until injuries caught up with him, derailing his 2018 and 2019 seasons and forcing him out of Carolina under less-than-ideal circumstances and leading him to a one-year stint with the New England Patriots in 2020 that didn’t go quite as planned.
But now, Newton is baaaaaaack in Carolina.
And after a 34-10 shellacking of the previously 8-1 Cardinals — who were notably without starting QB Kyler Murray — in which Newton accounted for two TDs (in his first two touches of the ball) in a backup role, it’s clear that Newton’s passion is something the Panthers had been desperately lacking since his departure.
And while it’s unclear if he’ll be the starter for the Panthers going forward, one thing’s for certain:
Superman’s ready.
Reporter Victor Hensley can be reached at vhensley@chathamnr.com or on Twitter at @Frezeal33.