Early in the 2017 NFL season, Cam Newton insulted a female sports journalist. The blow back once again proves that some of us feed on hurt feelings.

Now, we understand that both major and social media thrive on this stuff. The hunt for content is not about stealth. Few pretend that a true sense of “journalism” exists on the highest levels. I’ve heard plenty of national radio talk show hosts come right out and say, “We just need content. We really have nothing relevant or important to talk about.”

What takes it to the next level is that many people are constantly, or consistently, offended by things said and done. These reactions not only give forth content, but allow for a personal dimension to it all. “You, or someone you care about, has been hurt. How does that make you feel?”

So, media talking heads become towering influences of emotion. They become judgmental witches who cast a spell over gullible consumers. And, of course, the money is there to supply this cottage industry. Win-win.

But forget the image-makers for a moment. This is for the average media addict consumer. The first question out of me is: Why are you even angry and offended by what Cam said?

IT’S CAM NEWTON. What do you expect, a level of self-awareness? You have sure got the wrong guy!

“Well, Cam should have more sense than to say that,” is the general reaction. What people mean by this is that Cam should know by now how to toe the line. Get down with the goddess worship. Commercials, films, television, and music are among the leaders in this push to exalt females simply because they are females.

Surely there are women better than some men at the same job. But men do deal with “offenses” daily at work, too, and are expected to brush it off in large part. Sometimes these offenses even come from women! The job must still be done. (To her credit, the reporter who had to face Newton’s giggling seemed to want to keep it moving. Not gonna happen.)

Yet somehow women are supposed to be exempt from some meatball with a silly word on his or her mouth. They somehow need protection in the lions’ den they chose to enter. I thought they were supposed to be superior and tougher, pound for pound?

After he was dropped earlier in the day by one of his sponsors, Newton issued a video apology Thursday night, saying “my word choice was extremely degrading and disrespectful toward women.”

“To be honest, that was not my intention,” he said, “and if you are a person who took offense to what I said, I sincerely apologize to you.”

He acknowledged he lost “sponsors and countless [countless? really?]  fans,” adding that he’s “learned a valuable lesson through all of this.” — Washington Post

If you don’t exalt women in our time you are marked for evil eyes and public scorn. We are meant to go beyond basic respect and dignity into a figurative genuflection.

Cam used that public apology statement to kiss the toe. He appeared to have badly slipped up in trying to make a joke. He angered the feminine goddesses who have intimidated most of us into silence, and cowed the men males who worship at the mound of Venus.

One sports media talking head, during his numerous repudiations of what Cam Newton said, and of Cam in general, made sure to insert: “I’m not being politically correct here. But women are better at journalism than men. I’m not being P.C. here. Women ask better questions. I’m not being P.C.” [paraphrase]

The ‘valuable lesson’ Cam Newton learned is that he wants those paychecks — same as that talking head. He likes that cash. He needs to stay with the agenda, or the program, or the programming, or all of that, in order to keep all his cash. Get it?

No news here: The NFL and all of these highly-pressurized sports venues are full of people trying to look and sound good. They’re all striving. At those levels, there is always someone who wants your gig.

Newton, in particular, clearly cares just as much about his image and legacy as the actual game which even affords him an image and legacy. He came into the league and told us this openly. Women and football are important to him, for sure, but only in that context. Only at the appropriate times. Such as, during money-losin’ times.

Have you never heard Cam’s nutty quotes? He should not be expected to possess great perspective. Anyone looking for these things out of any athletes or other celebrities is already suspect.

“Hindsight is always 50/50.”

“I say this with the most humility, but I don’t think nobody has ever been who I am trying to be.”

“When you speak of quarterbacks, it’s automatically a default that you’re supposed to be a leader.”

“I’m always protecting who I am. Thinking about my brand.”

“I pray to God that I do right by my influence.”

As you can see, Cam Newton don’t need the dab dance to be an entertainment machine.

I am not saying that Cam Newton nor anyone is right to belittle women. But do his long list of Yogi Berra-esque statements point to a man with a high social IQ? Did he ever seem like someone who was ‘woke’? [Ugh.] No. Good advice would be for the social justice snowflakes to wipe their chins and let this one go. When a child acts up, most adults simply sigh and roll their eyes.

They won’t let it be, though, because they need to be victimized. They know they won’t find a diamond in that pile of confetti and party favors named Cam. They keep checking anyhow.