Last week a reporter by the name of Jourdan Rodrigue asked Cam Newton about the route running of Devin Funchess. Cam replied, “It’s funnyt to hear a female talk about routes. It’s funny.”

Ms. Rodrigue said she was dismayed by Cam’s response and later sought him out. She said Cam did not apologize for his statement. I guess Mr. Newton didn’t feel there was anything to apologize about. He might be right.

Today women share the athletic limelight alongside men everywhere you look. Both men and women excel in sports like basketball, tennis, golf, soccer, swimming, skiing, skating, ice hockey, volleyball, boxing, auto racing etc. However one of the few sports women don’t actively participate in is football. They may love and follow the game but few can lay claim to “been there, done that.” Perhaps that’s the irony Cam thought “funny” when he answered the route running question in the first place.

Just as Ms. Rodrigue was dismayed by Mr. Newton’s comment, I am equally dismayed by Ms. Rodrigue’s reaction to Mr. Newton. Maybe he should not have let his inner feelings be known. But to have all of this rise to the level of outrage it has is outrageous. It seems as though in today’s society people are going out of their way to become offended.

Now that’s offensive.

— Allan Gilmour

Salisbury