Cam Newton Scandal: Target of Vast SEC Conspiracy or Sign of the Times?

The scandal involving Auburn quarterback and Heisman-hopeful, Cam Newton, continues to heat up as the Tigers prepare for their final two regular-season SEC games and a potential run at both the SEC and BCS championships.

The allegations involved in the scandal primarily allude to a pay-for-play scenario that heavily targets the player's father, Rev. Cecil Newton.

The stories have ran rampant on FoxSports and ESPN and have included allegations of academic misconduct while at the University of Florida and the documented case of Newton having been in possession of a stolen laptop computer while in Gainesville.

The most serious allegations surround the so-called "free-agent status" of Newton and the shopping of his incredible football skills to the highest bidder.  A Mississippi State recruiter recounted a phone conversation with the elder Newton, who reportedly stated, it'll take "more than a scholarship" to bring his son to Mississippi State.

Cam Newton also stated, according to the Mississippi State source, that he regretted his change of commitment to the Bulldogs and that his father had made the choice for him to go to Auburn and "the money was just too much."

Both Newton and his father have denied the allegations.

As the story continues to unfold, even Vegas has weighed in and pulled the Auburn-Georgia game from their betting lines.

Like a bad virus, the ugliness will run its course and in the end some semblance of the truth will be revealed.

Auburn fans are galvanized, perhaps blindly, in their support of the star player.  Head coach Gene Chizik has boldly defended Newton as well. 

We have all been duped before.

Do you remember?

Richard Nixon

"I am not a crook!"  I think we all know how the Watergate scandal turned out.  Nixon ended up resigning as President and several of his colleagues were sent to prison.

Bill Clinton

"I did not have sex with that woman, never."  The First Lady proclaimed that her husband was the target of "a vast right-wing conspiracy."  Clinton later admitted he had been less than faithful to his wife with a young intern named Monica Lewinsky.

Pete Rose

After lying about betting on baseball for 18 years, Rose finally stated on The Dan Patrick Show, "I bet on my team every night."

Mark McGwire

McGwire denied steroid use for more than a dozen years while shattering hallowed home run records.  Finally, in early 2010, he admitted using performance-enhancing drugs in 1998 while breaking Roger Maris' single-season home run record of 61.

Roger Clemens

Clemens lied to Congress under oath in 2008 about his steroid use and has since been indicted for perjury.

Alex Rodriquez

Rodriquez said he felt immense pressure in Texas after signing the richest contract in baseball history.  He lied about his steroid use until early 2009 before he finally admitted his transgressions.

Barry Bonds

Like Clemens, Bonds lied under oath to a grand jury while giving testimony and was indicted for perjury in 2007.

Reggie Bush

The 2005 Heisman Trophy winner's skeletons finally came out of the closet when it was revealed that his family received "benefits" while at USC.  In September of this year, Bush voluntarily forfeited his award and sent back the trophy to the Heisman Trust.  USC is currently paying the price with multiple NCAA sanctions.

Do you see some things in common with these self-admitted liars?  They were all on top of their respective "games," if you will, when it all came crashing down.  They all thought that they were bulletproof.  They weren't.

The list includes two Presidents, the all-time MLB hit king, the single-season home run champ, arguably the best right-handed pitcher of our generation, the probable future MLB all-time home run king, the current all-time MLB home run king and a former Heisman Trophy recipient. 

I use this to make a point, not to conclude that Newton belongs in the group.  The point is, when high-profile personalities are caught up in scandals of their own doing, they typically tell us what we want to hear to garner support and sympathy rather than come clean with the truth.  Only when it became so obvious, beyond a shadow of a doubt and they had nothing more to gain by lying, did they admit their wrongdoing.  In so doing, they did further damage to their country in the case of the POTUS and to their teams, fans and sports in the case of the athletes.

This story would get very little ink if a marginal player from a 1-9 team from C-USA were involved in such a scandal.  But this is an Auburn team that just happens to play in college football's most prestigious conference, the SEC, and Cam Newton is one of the most amazing players that we have ever seen.  Add to that a perfect 10-0 record with a legitimate shot at a national title and the odds-on-favorite to win the Heisman and you have the perfect storm for media frenzy.  This is what makes the Cam Newton story so fascinating.

I keep hearing people say, "Why are we just now hearing about this?"  My response: Why not now? 

Information is like a stock.  You try to hold onto it until its value is at its peak.  If you want to keep your stock (information) private, you simply don't make it available at a public offering. You don't sell it.  Once you start selling, it's available to anyone out there for a price and possibly worthless if they hang onto it for too long.  The old adage applies, "Buy cheap, sell high."

Timing is everything, especially when it comes to the media.  Was this story worth as much before the season began or is it worth more when the team is undefeated and making a run at a BCS championship with the Heisman front-runner at the center of the storm?  Don't kid yourself; this kind of information rarely comes without a price tag but that in itself doesn't make the information false.

Another question that I keep hearing asked, "Why are we not hearing from other teams that may have been approached?"  If you were concocting such a scheme, would you run an ad in USA Today or put it on eBay?  How about a commercial?  I think you would keep it in as few circles as possible until you found a buyer.  If I were selling my car, would I keep running the ad in the paper after I had already sold it?

For those of you who believe in conspiracy theories, I have just one question: How many of the above listed admitted liars were simply victims of a conspiracy with no culpability whatsoever?

I wish no ill will on Cam Newton, Auburn, or any other player or team in college sports.  I hope he is cleared and can restore his already damaged reputation but there is certainly a lesson to be learned in all of this. 

My grandmother used to tell me, "It sure is a whole lot easier to stay out of trouble than it is to get out of trouble." 

She was right.