Joel Osteen hung out with Cam Newton. ‘He seems to be a great guy’
They’re both guys who can fill a stadium and then get people to jump up out of their seats.
Panthers QB Cam Newton … and televangelist Joel Osteen.
Turns out the two superstars know each other — sort of.
The Smiling Preacher, who will headline a “Night of Hope” event at Time Warner Cable Arena today, told me that he and Cam got to chat in February at the Super Bowl in Arizona.
“I got to visit with him a little bit there,” Osteen said of Newton. “He seems to be a great guy.”
And though the Houston-based Osteen is a diehard Texans fan when it comes to the NFL, he’s rooting for the Panthers to continue their winning streak. “I’m happy for you guys,” he said. “I’m happy for Cam. I don’t know him well, but we talked a little bit. I want him to do well.”
No word on whether Cam will be among the thousands expected to be there when the show starts at 7:30 p.m. By then, the Dancing Quarterback may already be in New Orleans, where he hopes to lord it over the Saints on Sunday.
– Tim Funk
In other headlines …
– The Boulevard at South End is closing its doors Dec. 30. “Development plans coming to our corner make operating a retail business not a viable option at this time,” the store posted on its Facebook page. That development referenced is the same one that is displacing Common Market and other shops.
– The U.S. National Whitewater Center bought 488 acres near its current location for $5.3 million, and plans to preserve the area. The center now totals more than 1,100 acres.
– Three months after the death of a cyclist, some residents want Parkwood Avenue to go on a “road diet” — less space for cars and larger bike lanes. Think East Boulevard.
– There are benefits to attending Stephen Curry’s alma mater. The NBA star gave 13 members of the Charlotte Christian basketball team pairs of his Curry Two “Providence Road” shoes. The design includes Christian’s colors, the N.C. flag and “704.”
– Expect to see a lot of orange in Bank of America Stadium during the ACC Football Championship Saturday night. Clemson clinched a spot in the game a good two weeks before North Carolina did, so the stadium will likely be two-thirds full of Tigers.
– Looking for the perfect gift for that Beatles fan in your life? Drummer Ringo Starr is auctioning off three made-in-Monroe drum kits, a velvet coat, a watch and more.
Photo: Yalonda M. James/Charlotte Observer
This story was originally published December 3, 2015 at 8:34 PM with the headline "Joel Osteen hung out with Cam Newton. ‘He seems to be a great guy’."