Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Tebowner Alert!

At long last, it has happened. After all the buildup, the doubt, and the anticipation, our moment of truth will arrive one week from Sunday in Miami. Timothy Richard Tebow, the Heisman Trophy and National Championship winning, God-fearing quarterback of the Denver Broncos, will make his first start of the 2011-12 season. We are about to see the ultimate litmus test for people who believe in “the end justifies the means.”
Never in the history of the league has so much time been devoted to discussing a backup quarterback. So much has been made of Tebow’s abysmal footwork and loopy, slow throwing motion that you’d think the guy had never been successful on any level. I can see why commentators of all types want him to fail, though; the generally held belief is that a quarterback’s technique must be flawless in order for him to succeed on the field. If Tebow- who last Sunday ran around the pocket with all the order and precision of a Roadhouse fight scene- is somehow able to succeed, then we will have to reconsider everything we thought we knew about quarterbacking.
After all, Tebow is one of the greatest winners in the history of college football. He won two national championships, a Heisman Trophy, and holds pretty much every record Florida has. Plus, this speech of his was emblazoned on the side of the athletic center while he was still on the team. He is a winner, a leader, and someone who by all accounts never gets into trouble*. He is a deity in the state of Florida. He has been the subject of two ESPN documentaries. When he wore the bible verse “John 3:16” on his eye black in the 2009 BCS championship game, 92 million people Googled it immediately after.
*Plus, he steadfastly maintains that he is a virgin. Considering the ample options I’m sure were thrown at him at Florida, that is probably the most impressive thing about him.
Tebow captivates an audience in a way we almost never see from athletes. And, when someone does grab our attention, it is usually driven by exploits on the field. Tebow has played in exactly four NFL games, and his stats aren’t exactly eye-popping (a sub-50 completion percentage doesn’t inspire much confidence), so clearly that isn’t the sole reason for his mass appeal. Throughout his career he has granted fans an accessibility rarely seen; he genuinely understands the importance of being such a revered figure, and he embraces it wholeheartedly. He is vocal about his religious convictions, but is not pushy or judgmental. He is omnipresent, but never in your face. He does so little to offend, that I am not sure how you could watch an extended interview with him and not come away impressed.
The split between fans and analysts on Tebow, though, is almost comical. Most football fans familiar with Tebow’s story want him to succeed; most analysts want him to fail. While these talking heads have a lot more at stake**, they also should want to see Tebow do well. He represents a new, potentially franchise player who can revitalize a Denver team that has badly needed a star since John Elway retired almost fifteen years ago. He can be a face of the next generation of NFL stars, since (sadly) Brady, Manning, et al. won’t be around forever.
**I’m not really sure these guys have much credibility to start, given how far off most of their predictions end up being, but oh well.
While Tebow likely will fall somewhere between Hall-of-Famer and complete bust, this author is hoping for a long and successful career for him.
It would be refreshing to have a vocal, principled person as the face of the NFL, which generally keeps its superstars as faceless as possible. Plus, I am dying to see all the naysayers explain how a guy who throws like a windmill on a mini golf course has suddenly become a superstar. If you’re looking for me next Sunday, I’ll be right where countless others are stationed: in front of my TV, watching Tim Tebow lead the Broncos to a much-needed win over the truly horrendous Miami Dolphins. I think I’m going to need a cold shower immediately afterwards.

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