Posted on 08/23/2016 2:28:19 PM PDT by drewh
Tuesday morning, the front page of ESPN.com — which has long been the most valuable piece of Internet real estate in all of sports — featured a story on the baseball exploits of ex-NFL quarterback Tim Tebow.
According to the article, more than two-thirds of all MLB teams apparently have at least some interest in the Heisman Trophy winner, who last played baseball in high school — where he was an all-state selection in Florida.
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Just how did ESPN manage to land this scoop? Let’s break it down.
Here’s the first line of the report:
Tim Tebow is scheduled to hold a workout for Major League Baseball teams on Aug. 30 in Los Angeles, a source told ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick.
The very next line cites a (different?) source talking to another ESPN reporter.
More than 20 MLB teams are confirmed to attend the workout, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Two paragraphs down, a third ESPN reporter gets in on the anonymous source fun.
Tebow had a tryout with the Los Angeles Dodgers before this season, sources have told ESPN’s Darren Rovell. A scout was present for the workout, and the team showed interest in Tebow afterward, the sources said.
Three anonymous source citations from three different reporters in five paragraphs is already problematic for a report that hardly qualifies as being Watergate-level in terms of the public’s need to know. What further complicates matters is that Tim Tebow is currently under contract with ESPN. And this report, save for one brief mention of the “mixed reaction” surrounding Tebow’s desire to play baseball, basically reads as PR fluff.
The Rovell-reported passage is clear in what it implies. A major league team actually saw Tebow play baseball, and is still interested in him. That anonymously sourced information is very clearly communicating that Tim Tebow can still play baseball. And its placement on the ESPN homepage makes it essentially a commercial to the MLB teams not already ticketed to attend Tebow’s workout on Aug. 30 (which exists, a source told Jerry Crasnick, and will have 20 teams in attendence, a source told Adam Schefter).
Hey, you’d better get in on the frenzy. Tim Tebow is here, and he can help sell a bushel of tickets for your Double-A team!
And ESPN is looking to capitalize on Tebow-mania too, which it, of course, is helping to create. They want people tuning in to whatever broadcast he pops up on during the baseball offseason. As it stands now, ESPN will almost certainly profit off of Tim Tebow’s baseball exploits. He’s back in the news, at the top of people’s minds.
Tim Tebow is immensely popular. There’s no getting around that, whether one is a fan of his or not. So the revelation that he’s pursuing a baseball career is news, and ESPN is justified in running it, and featuring it high up on the website.
But when ESPN gets an anonymously sourced scoop about an employee, then runs a puff piece off of which they will profit, they’re wading into murky journalistic waters.
At the very least, ESPN should sever its ties with Tebow for as long he’s pursuing his baseball career. Otherwise, ESPN’s journalistic integrity may take a hit.
Steve Garvey the real father of our country
Perhaps. But he hasn't played baseball since high school and hasn't faced pro-caliber pitching ever. His career as a professional athlete is over. Time he accepted that.
Good point.
Tebow gives everything he’s got. I think he’s got a shot at making the majors.
Christianphobe? Really? Wow, what a stupid statement.
You don’t start a baseball career at 29. Even if the guy could hit a 96 mph fastball which is highly doubtful, I doubt very much he would be good enough to play anywhere in the field. Even if he could hit a fastball they would put him away with the curves and sliders etc.
He couldn’t cut it in football and in my opinion that’s an easier sport than being productive and defensive in baseball. These guys grind out many years of practice and blood sweat and tears to make it to the majors and still most of them, even high school all stars will never make it to “the show”
I have nothing against Tebow or Christians, because I am one myself.
Chuck Connors, A.K.A. “The Rifleman”, played basketball for the Boston Celtics and baseball for the Chicago Cubs.
Then be more careful with cheap attacks against Christians...especially since you are an “alleged” Christian.
Own your words, dude!.
Newfreep clearly has a chip on his shoulder. This is obviously a publicity stunt. All you have to do is read the article. Tim Tebow is a great guy and a great athlete, but just doesn’t have the skills to make it at the professional level in football. And his odds of making it in baseball are slim at best.
No - word is that Tebow is looking for a corner outfield slot, not a pitching role. He will have holes in his swing, and not a lot of time to close them, given his age.
I’m a Tebow... I’m just good enough at everything to be dangerous.
Hold my beer and look out!!
Typical of people like yourself jumping to conclusions and trying to sound like your some kind of Christian hero around here. Don’t try to read between the lines because you’ll usually be wrong doing that.
My original statement said nothing about any religion at all or about Tim Tebow personally but you somehow took it that way. It was based only on my lifelong involvement and knowledge of the game of baseball.
You make me chuckle, “Dude”
I’m praying for him now. Some struggles come to mind, like, major league slider, curveball, changeup...
That said, miracles do happen.
The day Michael Lorenzen, a Cincy Reds pitcher, this past Friday night hit a 98mph fastball out, and on the first pitch... and it wasn’t a cheapie...This was his first AB in weeks and he just lost his dad suddenly a couple weeks back. Tears flowed in the Reds’ dugout and the manager’s comments were pretty deep...
Miracles do happen...I think humble pie plays a part...was MJ humble during his baseball flirtation? Not sure. Will Tebow be? I’d wager so.
Lorenzen? Watch the tape and his interview.
1. How do you know Tebow doesn’t have the skills to be in pro baseball?
2. Too many attacks on Tebow simply because he’s an outspoken Christian.
3. To say it’s a “publicity stunt” without any proof is simply another attack on a Christian.
4. As someone who had the skills to make it at the MLB level, I can relate to Tebow’s pursuit of a dream.
5. Clearly, Tebow is a Christian and NOT the type of person to engage in PR stunts...only an “useful idiot” would make that accusation.
I callz dem as I seez dem....
ESPN’s “journalistic integrity” has taken so many hits that is comatose and near death if not already dead.
He was also a college baseball star, as well as playing basketball and excelling in track and field. Following his time in the military he began his career in professional baseball and stayed there. Robinson didn't fail in one professional sport and only to then try another.
He is too old. It would take a couple of years to get used to major league pitching.
By then, his legs will start to go.
He waited too long.
If he had the eyesight and the coordination, he would have gotten a look long before the age of 29.
Maybe, but I think showing up for training camp is a prerequisite.
In baseball, 29 is over the hill. He’s a great athlete, but if Jordan couldn’t do it, the odds are against him. Good luck to him anyway. I hope he proves me wrong.
I call them as I see them too. Here’s my call... try the decaf.
I have met Tim Tebow and what this guy does — quietly, with zero publicity — for the downtrodden in many states and countries, makes the Pope look like a miser. I wish him success in whatever he desires. God knows this fine man deserves it.
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