Photo: Susi K.
Monday night in Baltimore, players of a co-ed beach volleyball league got the surprise of their lifetimes when reigning NFL MVP Cam Newton showed up and asked if he could play.
Newton, who is in the area this week doing workouts for Under Armour, was joined at the Baltimore Beach courts by many of his Panthers teammates including fellow quarterback Joe Webb; wide receivers Damiere Byrd, Avius Capers, Tedd Ginn Jr., Stephen Hill, Tobais Palmer, and Miles Shuler; and tight ends Braxton Deaver, Scott Simonson, and Beau Sandland.
According to Kevin Lynch of southbmore.com, Newton and his teammates participated in a couple games of four-on-four with players from Baltimore Beach’s Men’s 2A League for about an hour.
My friend Susi K., who I graduated with at UMBC, had a chance to play with Cam last night. She was kind enough to share her experience below.
Last night, thunderstorms rolled into Baltimore right around the time our league plays at 5:30pm. Despite the nasty conditions, my partner and I decided to go to the court anyways, rain or shine. Thank God, we did.
Due to a slight weather delay, we ended up playing until 8pm instead of the normal 7:30pm. Right after we finished our last game, a fellow player/friend of mine came over and asked me something I was mostly oblivious about.
“Do you know who’s standing behind you right now?” my friend Ray said. “That’s Cam Newton from the Carolina Panthers and some of his wide receivers!!”
Honestly, I am a foreigner and I don’t know much about football, but I do know what the NFL is and I did watch the Super Bowl last year. I knew Cam was named the MVP. After a moment, I was seriously in awe. We have NFL players on our courts, here at Baltimore Beach?? Wow, how exciting!
I instantly ran to get my cell phone to maybe, hopefully get the chance to take a picture with him. However, Cam was talking to our chief Todd, who is in charge of all the courts. Cam asked him if he and his boys could play volleyball with us. Cam also pointed out that he wouldn’t take any pictures unless he got to play. Todd was a bit hesitant to cut into league members playing time and politely asked the guys, who were up next, and if any of the teams are willing to give up their court to play with NFL players. Well, that wasn’t much of a question to the guys on Court 1.
The Baltimore league players quickly formed a team of four, and so did Cam and his crew. We all couldn’t help but stay and watch. These guys were amazing and super athletic. The rest of Cam’s Panthers teammates were hugging the sidelines of the courts to watch and support, just like we were. We all had a chance to talk to them. They are so down to earth and so nice.
My favorite moment was when Cam asked to hold a fellow player’s baby, which he referred to as “his man.”
The games lasted for about an hour and we all had a chance to play with the team and take pictures with Cam Newton and the players. It was such an incredible experience. My Facebook and Snapchat posts have never gotten more attention.
I am so glad I went to play. You just never know what might happen any given night. What a special memory!
Photos and Video
Photos and video: Susi K.
Photo: Baltimore Beach Facebook Page
Photo: Shaun Alder/southbmore.com
Photo: Isaac Hawkins
Tuesday update: Cam Newton and the Panthers came out to Baltimore Beach again tonight.
.@CameronNewton playing beach volleyball again tonight in Baltimore. Live cam: https://t.co/1VQKNUcI12 pic.twitter.com/eJwPlPG6FA
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) July 20, 2016
Here’s video via Brandon Serfass of Newton getting his spike blocked. Amazing.
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