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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 2016)
February 3, 2016 Page 9 S PORTS Super Bowl Sunday Title game brings faceoff of No. 1 vs. No. 2 picks (AP) — In 2011, the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos were picking through the rubble of sea- sons gone horribly wrong — and a draft board that was unusually load- ed with talent at the top. The Panthers picked Cam New- ton with the irst overall pick and the Broncos chose Von Miller with the second selection. Five years later, they’ll meet in the irst matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the Super Bowl. “I’m a fan of his,” Newton said. “I’m his biggest fan,” said Miller. While studying ilm of the top outside linebacker in the league, Newton said he’s “trying to ind any and every way to alleviate him be- ing a pain” come kickoff. Miller said he’s doing the same thing with the league’s best quarter- back. Super Bowl 50 could very well hinge on which All-Pro prevails. No matter who wins, it’ll be a tale of both triumph and redemption. Newton suggested for the irst time last week that race may play a factor in why he’s become a light- ning rod for public criticism, and Miller, who’s also black, said he can’t fathom why anybody would criticize Newton. “I mean, for what, dancing after making big plays?” Miller asked. “I do the same thing.” Indeed, they both play the game with childlike cheerfulness, dancing or dabbing to celebrate their success. CBS to Broadcast Championship The Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers will face off in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, Feb. 7 with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (PST) on CBS (KOIN-TV Channel 6). The NFL championship will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., home of the San Francisco 49ers. In 2011, Cam Newton (left) was the No. 1 draft pick overall selected by the Carolina Panthers, and Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller, was the second overall pick selected by the Denver Broncos. Five years later, the irst-ever matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2 will face off Sunday in the Super Bowl. (AP Photo) Each is a kid at heart, taking his $103.8 million contract last offsea- sion to start the 2013 season and an role as loquacious locker room cut- son, and Miller is in line for a mega- ill-conceived plan to add 25 pounds, up as seriously as he does his rank deal this offseason. which he now believes led him to as team captain. “If he played defense he probably tear his right ACL at the end of that “I don’t think there’s ever been would have gotten $220 million,” season. another quarterback that plays the Miller said of Newton. “Because Re-establishing himself as one of game the way he does, and especial- he can probably rush the passer and the league’s premiere pass-rushers, ly the way his personality is on the drop back and play safety and all he’s had 25 sacks over the past two ield,” Miller said. “I’m just a big that other stuff, too.” seasons. fan of everything he has going for Their passion for the game Newton overcame a horrif- him. He’s a huge role model.” helped both Miller and Newton ic-looking automobile accident in They’re even similar in build — navigate a mineield of bumps, 2014 that left him with two fractures Miller is 6-3, Newton 6-5, and both lumps and slumps on their spunky in his lower back and imperiled his pack a lean 245 pounds. soar to superstardom. status as the league’s dominant du- Newton signed a ive-year, Miller overcame a drug suspen- al-threat quarterback. Blazers Host Run for Youth The Portland Trail Blazers are adding their own basketball spin to Oregon’s ultimate running event, the 2016 adidas Shamrock Run. Joining this year’s running events on Sunday, March 13 will be the irst-ever Blazers Lepre- chaun Lap, a 1k fun run/walk for kids 10 and under and their fam- ilies. The lap begins and ends at Waterfront Park, downtown. Participants will receive a Blaz- ers Leprechaun Lap t-shirt and a special Trail Blazers prize at the inish line. Registration is open now at trailblazers.com/shamrock. In their efforts to inspire chil- dren to be healthy and active, the team will reward the irst 200 kids registered for this year’s Blazers Leprechaun Lap with a free game ticket to watch the Trail Blazers take on the Denver Nuggets at the Moda Center on April 13. With 35,500 participants, the adidas Shamrock Run is the larg- est running event in Oregon and is the third-largest in the western United States. The race offers competitive distances including 5k, 8k, 15k and a half-marathon.
