Posted on 01/13/2012 8:53:19 AM PST by rhema
I have officially called off my boycott of the National Football League. I do not care how many felons or frotteurs play the game. Now there is Tim Tebow to redeem it. He can pass and run. He inspires his teammates. He inspires many returning fans like me. I shall follow him through the playoffs and maybe even next year as the season resumes anew. He is an American original -- and he is controversial. I am for him.
No, I shall not fall for the NFL's gimmicks. You will not see me wearing a jersey of the Denver Broncos, for whom Tebow plays. I shall not even buy a coffee mug. In fact, I think I shall add up how much money I could spend on Tebow paraphernalia and donate it to charity. Tebow inspires his teammates, and now he has inspired me.
I first noticed Tebow when he won a string of games in the last minutes. It was phenomenal, but then I seemed to have brought him bad luck, for he lost the next three games.
Then came the Denver Broncos' surprising upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. The Steelers played a great game behind the two-time Super Bowl winner, Ben Roethlisberger (himself an almost-convicted felon who has now confessed his errors and mended his ways), but Tebow outplayed him. Roethlisberger did lead his team to an overtime Sunday.
That worried me, for I had already sat through hours of play, and one of my complaints with the NFL is that the games are the closest thing we can experience on earth to eternity. Yet the Broncos won the flip of the coin. They elected to receive. And on the first play from scrimmage, Tebow threw a pass to Demaryius Thomas (note the noble Roman name), and Demaryius outran the desperate Steeler secondary for 80 yards and a touchdown. Good show, fellows! The whole play took 11 seconds -- the briefest overtime in NFL history.
Then came the grounds for controversy. After congratulating his Roman receiver, Tebow knelt on one knee and thanked God. His recollections convey the essential Tebow. "When I saw him scoring," recalled the victorious quarterback, "first of all, I just thought, 'Thank you, Lord.' Then, I was running pretty fast, chasing him -- like I can catch up to D.T.! Then I just jumped into the stands. First time I've done that. That was fun. Then, got on a knee and thanked the Lord again and tried to celebrate with my teammates and the fans."
Tebow is very pious, very humble ("like I can catch up to D.T.") and a lot of fun ("that was fun"). How can anyone dislike him? He runs charities in the offseason. He invites sick children to games. He does all manner of good deeds. He is the son of missionaries, and he takes his religion seriously.
This appears to be a problem for some players in the NFL and other concerned Americanos. Some have uttered insults at him over his religion and, in fact, over his general good-guy deportment. Why should this be? One can strut and perform the most lurid dances on the field. One can demonstrate on behalf of various controversial causes. Nary an eye is batted. Yet a show of piety to one's creator is deemed an offense.
By the way, Tebow was not the only person on the field expressing a prayer. I saw a fellow from the Steelers make the Sign of the Cross repeatedly, and after an exceptionally good pass, I dare say Roethlisberger raised his hands to the heavens. So what is so outrageous about a pause for a prayer of thanksgiving?
I predict that Tebow is in for some serious controversy in the weeks and years ahead. Some say he does not deserve his fame, that he is an unorthodox passer and a terrible ball-handler. I do not know what they think they know. He is as strong as a bull, and his running and passing win games.
Yet his real problem is the religious angle. Many Americans do not like it. They prefer their own gestures of false piety. They need our prayers.
I gotta say....I’ve reached the point of overexposure with Tebow.
Tebow has brought me back to football, after over 30 years.
Then turn off the TV set.
Tebow is really not a very good NFL caliber quarterback. He seems to be a great person, has a winning attitude, but the reality is he is not very good. People seem to forget his/Denver’s 3 game losing streak going into the playoffs - including being absolutely destroyed by the crappy Bills.
Denver is an 8-8 team and Tebow is an average QB at best. Perhaps he will get better, but I bet 18 months from now when all the Tebowmania has died down we will see Denver quietly release him because Tebow quite simply isn’t that good.
Odds are New England is going to destroy Denver this weekend. It could get ugly too. Think 44-10 or so ugly. Yes, I will be rooting for Tebow too. Can’t help it. I do like the guy and it’s fun pulling for the underdog, but the reality is Denver/Tebow are likely to get absolutely pummeled.
Since Cleveland still doesn’t have professional football, I’ve decided to be a Broncos fan for as long as Tebow is the QB.
With my luck regarding teams I pull for, this is most likely the kiss of death.
Not me. I love the guy.
You have a TV? I don’t. I wouldn’t know who this guy was were it not for the endless stream of articles and vanities being posted here at FR.
overexposure?
I’ll bet Tebow hasn’t been mentioned anything like Payton Manning has in past seasons.
It’s the religious angle that sticks, though, and makes it seem that we hear it more than we do.
Amen RET. He is the real deal and boy oh boy, do we need him.
From your lips to God's ear, man . . .
I think---I hope---NE will win, but I don't think it's going to be a blowout by any stretch of the imagination. Denver did a lot of things to lose the game when they squared off earlier in the regular season. Granted, NE took advantage of Denver's miscues, but there are just too many question marks on the defensive side of the ball for NE, and I think Denver will be able to put up some points.
I am no expert but it seems to me that Tebow is doing better than most rookie quarterbacks. I too think that the Patriots will win big but I don’t think it will bode poorly for Tebow’s career. His mechanics can only get better and his instincts and leadership qualities seem to serve his team well. I doubt he will be the next Payton Manning but I think he will have a decent career and will proably get more exposure than most by being one of the few actual role models in the league.
I understand your feelings and I have felt somewhat the same. I’m a little Tebowed out. However, if this over-exposure of a good role model can have a positive influence on young kids, then we should be happy for it.
The Broncos will not pass the Patriots.
People either really like him, or really hate him.
I like his message, his faithful attitude to God, and I think his unorthodox style is exactly what God called for (ya know, He seems to find the least likely human to do His work!).
Some Christians perceive Tebow as too “in your face” about being a Christian so they don’t like how he makes them feel about their personal relationship to Christ (kinda reminds me of the Pharisees).
For nonChristians who don’t want to know Jesus, he is an irritant like salt on their wounded souls.
But for those nonChristians who like Tebow, he opens their hearts & eyes to the opportunity for letting God into their lives.
And, for those of us who are already Christians, Tebow makes us want to be as strong in our faith, and to truly “walk the walk, not just talk the talk.”
If he wants to make his team better, nice. If he makes his team winners, better. If he makes other Christians want to imitate his evangelism, best. If he brings someone to know Jesus, priceless.
Blessings!
Tebow was one of the best QB in college football. I started liking him prior to the draft when the attacks against him started. First his faith then his throwing motion, then his team, then, then, then...
He has played less then one season of games - 15 games he is a rookie and has improved over the year and I think next year will continue to improve based on he personally and history of getting better at every level he has tried.
Had Cam Newton done what Tebow done everyone would be at the alter of Cam but cam lost and did not lead his team.
I don’t think the Bronco’s will win this weekend the other team is just too good and the bronco’s will continue the three man rush giving the other team too much time.
It will be a good game and we can looking forward to many years of TT in the NFL. One day I hope my son can play with him.
It's really pretty simple, you get to choose what to click on.
I agree that many people are more comfortable with fake piety. But I also believe that the main reason the media is attacking Tebow is because, at his acceptance speech for the Heisman trophy, he thanked his mom for not having aborted him. And that is sacrilegious for the liberals!
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