In all the time I've spent following sports I don't know if I ever came across a more confusing bunch of "fans" than the group that has jumped on the I-hate-Tim-Tebow bandwagon.
Hating Tebow is like rooting for Rudy not to make the football team at Notre Dame, and hoping the Make-A-Wish Foundation goes belly up.
I fully understand that the often less-than-stellar quarterback, who miraculously finds a way to win, is frustrating for those rooting for the Broncos' opponent. But hating Tebow for being Tebow is a completely different prospect – and judging from what I see on my Facebook it's an epidemic.
I see people complaining that Tebow gets too much attention from the media.
If you just read that last sentence and agreed with it here's what I have to say to you: Think of the percentage of NFL players making headlines for positive reasons, and then get back to me if you still have a problem with this man being one of the faces of the league.
I mean seriously, the 2010 AP Comeback Player of the Year Michael Vick's "comeback" was that he got released from prison.
Pro Bowl quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for the first for games of last season because he was accused of rape – twice!
Most recently, Chicago Bears' wide receiver (well I guess you can say former at this point) Sam Hurd was arrested on federal drug charges. He was a kingpin in Chicago's drug world – allegedly.
These are the cast of characters you'd rather see on ESPN? This is what you want to read about?
Look I understand he's not the most talented, but who doesn't love an underdog. He'll never be Tom Brady, and he'll probably never even be Ryan Fitzpatrick. But there's something magical about a guy who everyone says can't do it that comes back and shoves it in their faces.
I have some advice for you my fellow sports fans: Root for the underdog. No one likes a front-runner, don't be that guy.
If you dislike Tebow because of him being open about his faith than that's just prejudicial. Freedom of religion is a kind of a staple of the Constitution and his "Tebowing" in prayer on the field is well within his right to express himself. Besides the whole "Tebowing" thing is far less overt than the over-the-top touchdown celebrations that players plan out week-to-week.
Finally, and most importantly, Tim Tebow is a good guy. This man has done more for charity in his 24 years of life than most people can dream of. The beauty of Tim Tebow is that he believes football is just a platform that he can use to do an incredible amount of good in the world – he says it all the time.
He's currently building a children's hospital in the Philippines; an area he should be an expert in by now after spending so many of his off days visiting them.
He flies families that have had tremendous hardships in their life out to Broncos games, puts them on the field with him right before kickoff, then hangs out with them afterwards for over an hour win or lose. It may not sound like a huge deal, but try telling that to Zack McLeod a 20-year-old who suffered a traumatic brain injury playing football. McLeod was Tebow's guest for his playoff loss to the Patriots and just the most recent in a long line of people he has tried to reach out to through his W15H charity.
This guy sounds like he should be playing for the Saints.
After the Broncos had just lost to the Patriots, and Tebow had played arguably his worst game of the season the man had this to say.
"It still wasn't a bad day," Tebow said after the game. "It still was a good day, because I got to spend some time before the game with Zack McLeod and make him smile, and overall when you get to do that, it's still a positive day. Sometimes that's hard to see, but it depends what lens you're looking through. I choose to look through those lenses, and I got to make a kid's day, that's more important than winning the game. So, I am proud of that."
Sounds like a real jerk right?
Email: Tyler.Cady@ubspectrum.com
