Former NFL MVP Cam Newton sparked controversy recently with his comments about baseball, predicting a grim future for the sport. During his 4th & 1 podcast, the former Carolina Panthers quarterback claimed that Major League Baseball (MLB) will be overtaken in popularity by the WNBA within the next two decades.
“Baseball is like a— I hate to say it— a dying sport,” Newton remarked. “I think baseball will be surpassed by the WNBA in 20 years.”
While such pronouncements about baseball’s decline are not new, Newton’s take drew a sharp response from former National League MVP and current Pittsburgh Pirates player Andrew McCutchen. The Pirates’ designated hitter dismissed Newton’s comments, suggesting they were uninformed.
“He talks about baseball like a person who has never been around baseball talks about baseball,” McCutchen wrote on X in response to Newton’s remarks.
Baseball by the Numbers
Only time will tell if Newton’s bold prediction comes true, but his timing for such a claim seems questionable given recent data. According to MLB reports, attendance during the 2024 season reached its highest levels since 2017. Television ratings also showed positive trends: ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball saw a 12% rise in viewership among the 18-34 demographic, while FS1 recorded a 24% increase.
A Divisive Prediction
Newton’s comments have sparked debate across social media, with critics pointing to MLB’s recent success as evidence against his claim. Whether his prediction about baseball’s future holds any merit remains to be seen, but the discussion underscores the broader challenges and opportunities facing both MLB and the WNBA.
This story was originally published on December 27, 2024, by The Arena Group, Inc.
