Look, I love Tim Tebow. I love him as a brother in Christ; I love him as a role model; I love him as a human being; I love him as a leader; I love him as an inspiration; I love him as a winner. Do you want to know what I don't love him as? Sure you do; you wouldn't be reading this if you didn't. I don't love him as a headline. That is to say, I don't like him as the only headline.
I'll offer you a little window into my pathetic personal life (well, I like to think it isn't that pathetic): I listen to three podcasts daily: Mike and Mike in the Morning, The Thundering Herd (Colin Cowherd), and PTI. For those who are unfamiliar, these are all sports podcasts. Yes, I realize I spend too much time listening to sports news (although I can afford it while I code eight hours per day), but my addiction to my iPod is not the subject on the table right now. Increasingly over the past few weeks, Tim Tebow has become the center of attention. It came to the point this week where I think he was mentioned every day (and I didn't keep track, but probably every podcast each day). So this means on Wednesday, while we're three days removed from his previous game and four from his next game, he still made the news. It's not even the playoffs, yet! (Additional note: I will be rooting for him every game until he plays the Steelers in the playoffs (which is likely the first round), but I'm not looking forward to having to hear about him every day) And I understand why he is talked about; it pulls in listeners, so the broadcasters have to talk about him, but I've gotten tired of Tebow.
That's the real tragedy. I've grown tired of Tebow. He's probably the greatest role model in sports of all time (that I can think of; I may be overstating it) and I've gotten tired of hearing about him. Of what I've seen, he takes no credit for his success, but gives it all to God which is what we all need to do (at least, I know I need to do this better). What makes this tragedy even more tragic is the fact that he shouldn't be an exception. Tebow shouldn't be the only strong leader in faith in the NFL. I realize that there are other followers of Christ in the NFL, but Tebow seems to be the only one that genuinely loves God more than football. This is likely the fault of incessant media coverage of him and not others (distorting my view of a true representation of athletes today), but I hope that more people like this are going to be covered more in the future (assuming these people exist, which I pray is the case).
As a final note, I do realize that by writing this blog post I'm only giving the man more coverage, but I wouldn't be human if I weren't a bit hypocritical.
- Every morning before I turn on Mike and Mike, I predict that Tebow will be the topic of conversation. This prediction is accurate about 90% of the time.
ReplyDelete- The other day, a coworker pointed out that Tebow's very public display of faith makes him more hated then players with criminal/moral issues. Even her non-Christian value system found this to be insane. Another coworker pointed out how ridiculous this was by sarcastically saying, "Man, I really hate Tebow for being such a good person!"
- It is recognized amongst Pittsburgh sports reporters that Polamalu loves God more than football. However, I'm not sure if this is known nationally like it is with Tebow.
- The almost-guaranteed Pittsburgh-Denver matchup in the first round scares me to death. God clearly wants the Tebows to win this year.
- I (only partially tongue-in-cheek) agree with Bill Simmons that if God were to send someone into modern-day American culture to make large numbers of people believe in Christianity, it would be a QB. Who else has more followers than an NFL athlete? Add in the fact he is a mediocre player who doesn't lose and wins in highly improbable ways. When he beats Tom Brady today, people will start rethinking what they held to be true in life.
I don't have much response other than I love that you said "When he beats Tom Brady today". Soooooooooooo hope that is the case. Currently 16-7 Broncos.
ReplyDeleteLol wow I really don't think that tebow is hated because he is a Christian. I dont understand people who think that Christianity is constantly under attack and that the ONLY reason he could possibly be so unpopular is because he is Christian (my poor baby is attacked by these heathens #sarcasm). But seriously I believe he is unpopular because he is seen as overrated. Is he really overrated? I dont know to be honest. He is a good guy with strong character no doubt about that.
ReplyDeleteAs for the media.....they always find one big story and run with that. Most sportscasts
My bad my phone is acting up....most sportscasts and news stations have like a few big stories that they get and they run with it until it just gets too old (kardashians anyone?) . So yea I like tebow and I'm glad he has a lot of supporters. Just be careful about...how you interpret what people say cuz a lot of analysts say there is nothing with what being open with his faith abd beliefs but he isn't as good of a player.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few that hate him for being so public with his faith (I wouldn't say because of his faith, but that he is so blatant about showing it). This being said, I agree that most people that do hate him, hate for the exact same reason that I do: he's too big of a story (or overrated because he's getting this attention).
ReplyDeleteAlso idk if tebow Is hated more than people with criminal records. People hated Michael Vick like.....omg he might as well committed murder (And I say that because Ray Lewis at one point may have committed murder but he Didnt get reactions like Vick.) but certain groups of people in America that happen to be the majority and that are stereotypically in love with animals possibly more than other people is another issue all together. It's hard to say now because enough time has passed for Vick haters to simmer down. Tebow hate has just gotten started.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thete isn't much room to talk. Christians are the first to backlash other people for things because most Christians are other-phobic (meaning they hate or act scared of anything they perceive as different than what's right in their mind).
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, there are a lot of "Christians" who are very fear-motivated. This, however, should not be the case. The dominant command in the scriptures is do not fear. Hence, the motivation for my fear post.
ReplyDeletespeaking of players that love God more than football, Jared Allen, the vikings sac machine, this week after coming up one short on the season record was more quick to give God credit than i have seen in a long time in a sports interview. But unlike many I have seen over the years it wasn't I thank god and move on, or I thank the big man upstairs. It was, I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. without him i would be nothing. I just thought it was one of the coolest things i have ever heard in an interview. Also it was amazing to see how a man of God reacts to a teams disappointing season and personally just falling a bit short of a monumental record. He has now become on the players i respect most, both as a player (who will always play for the team not individual goals) and as a man.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, didn't know that about Jared Allen. Now if you can get him to stop doing that weird dance/gesture after he gets a sack, I'll be a huge fan.
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