I heard a very funny bit my Michael Felger on the Sports Hub here in Boston last week in which a caller asked whether he would rather invade the body of Tom Brady or Tim Tebow. There was a lot of chatter about homes (one for starving children the other some 25k foot spread in LA), about Super Bowl rings, and about the supermodel wife. In the end dealing with Gisele swung the vote into Tebow land. But even that was something of a back-handed compliment.
During the game Saturday night I took great pleasure in watching Tim get his ass handed to him by the home team. My lovely wife was upset because she felt sorry for Tebow. I was all for the Brady/Belichick onslaught.
“Why do we hate Tebow so much?” is a fair question. The Wall Street Journal tried to answer that this week, “The Secrets of Tebow Hatred.”
In the same sense, most males look at Mr. Tebow and see a virtuous rebuke to our own limitations and imperfections. If we were 24, single, supremely athletic, enormously wealthy and adored by millions of young women, how many could still wear Tim Tebow’s “purity ring?”
No doubt Tim does many, many good things. Before getting manhandled by Brady & Co. he spent time with a young man from my children’s school who was in a tragic football accident which has left the young player paralyzed and brain damaged. Right actions are certainly to be applauded. It’s just the fervor of the Christianity that rubs me the wrong way. Specially at a time in our country’s history where so many are taking religion and making it the centerpiece of politics. I am a strong believer in the power of faith too but my version is based on tolerance and an understanding that being Born Again doesn’t mean that all other paths to the Promised Land are inferior.
I guess maybe Tim found that out Saturday night.
And if you really want to understand the Tebow hatred you just have to go to the source document of all things popular culture, SNL:
About Tom Matlack
Tebow’s personal religiosity, purity ring, and the rest of his evangelical trappings doesn’t bother me. I have only one reason to “hate” him, and it’s because of his job and the embarrassing loss he handed the Steelers a couple of weeks ago. It would surprise me if, as the WSJ says, most males look at Tebow and see a virtuous rebuke to our own limitations and imperfections. No person, regardless of gender, has trouble finding rebukes like that. I think the wide anti-Tebow sentiment has more to do with “haters gonna hate.” I’m pleased he and his team are out of the playoffs.
Todd I personally wanted to beat the crap out of Tebow because he had put you, my buddy, through so much suffering the week before. The fact that my Patriots could do it … well that was gravy.
much appreciated.
Meh, I don’t hate Tebow. And God isn’t punishing Tebow because God isn’t real.
My reason for disliking Tebow’s public persona (for all I know I might like him personally were I to meet him) has to do with the overt religiosity and (not necessarily fair or his fault) the double-standard in our culture. It’s all well and good to proclaim a love for Jesus in every other breath, but an atheist who makes his views known publicly is attacked as strident and compared to child molesters, murderers, and rapists. I’m sure he has a personal relationship with Jesus, but he should focus more on the “personal” part. I remember when he was playing in Florida he had a fondness for displaying biblical references in his eye grease; one he appears to have missed is Matthew 6:6.
Tom, you have a complete misunderstanding of what Christianity is, as do most authors/writers trying to make sense of the Tebow phenomena.
What’s Christianity about, Ryan?
As if there were such a thing as “Christianity.” My estimate is that there are about as many different Christianities as there are Christians, likely because of the “No True Scotsman” and “Typical Mind” fallacies to which most Christians fall prey.
Tom, I don’t hate Tim Tebow. I hate the hype. Would there be all this hype if Tebow was black? Look at the season Cam Newton had as a rookie QB. Where’s all the Cam Newton hype? I’m always suspicious of those who wear their religion on their sleeve. It’s likely my upbringing in a Jewish home on the East Coast. My personal spirituality is my own business. The need for “religious self promotion” is off putting to me.
We hear talk about Tebow’s philanthropic work. Other athletes have foundations. Warrick Dunn’s Family Foundation comes to mind. Matt Light has a foundation. The Kraft Family has been involved in philanthropy for almost a generation There is nothing unique about this.
Tim Tebow played in a unique fad offense and achieve modest success (7-4 as a starter). He played small this past Saturday. Did God punish Tebow? Nonsense. Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots did.
Agree about Cam Newton Andy. I really think chances are in 3 years we will be talking a lot more about Cam then Tim.
Early in the season you’d have thought Cam Newton was the greatest QB to ever walk the face of the earth. He didn’t get as much hype later on because the Panthers sucked more than anything else. Tebow got a lot of attention because the Broncos suddenly turned around and went on a run straight to the playoffs when he took over, and he’s pretty much always been a media draw since his days in Florida.
Sanctimony will always be vilified in America, and rightly so. There’s nothing admirable about loudly public piety and self-righteousness.
I agree wholeheartedly. The highly religious often leave everyone else with an inferiority complex. A Sri let on the cheek touting John 3:16 does not make someone better than another.
Maybe that is it. If you are that GOOD there’s really no need to wear it on your sleeve. I tend to think that we are all some shade of grey myself. I try to do more good things than bad but I screw up pretty much every day.
How is Tebow self-righteous? He always praises God, his teammates, everyone but himself, really.
I always thought Tom Brady sold his soul to the Devil anyway…Come on, 3 Super Bowls, Rich, Famous…Super Model wife for a 199th Draft pick…!?
COME ON! TOM THE MAN UPSTAIRS DOESN’T HAND OUT CONTRACTS LIKE THAT..
Hey, tell me Belecheck , wearing his grey hoodie on the sideline, doesn’t look like the Emperor in the last ‘Star Wars’ movie?
I would, but I don’t want him to choke me with his mind.
I would like to think Tebow isn’t getting hate because of his beliefs, especially considering just how many people in the US are Christians, or at least most identify with Christian values, but it’s hard to find any other reason most people don’t like him. The only other thing I can think of is that people simply get tired of hearing about him, which makes some sense. I’d like to think most people would rather hear about someone like Tebow than the latest NFL player to be arrested for beating up some random guy outside a nightclub. But I’m not sure anymore. Pacman Jones never seemed to get the kind of hate Tebow gets. And if they hate the attention he gets so much, why keep talking about him? Something doesn’t add up there.
I’m surprised at you Matlack. Tearing apart a man for expressing his religious beliefs! Tebow gives one quick comment to the 50 microphones shoved in his face, and the media, with their ‘follow the crowd’ mentality, play it about 1,000 times over the next couple of days and people think he’s constantly “preaching to them”. So tell me, who would you perfer to be “The New Face” that the cameras follow? Lets see, how about Santiano Holmes? (7 kids with 6 different women). No? Maybe “Pack Man” Jones (I ‘ve honestly lost count of how many times he’s been arressted). How about your boy Brady?(knocks up 1 girl then ditches her for the supermodel). Even if your not “Born Again” (I assure you I’m not) , even if your an athesist, why do people feel they have to piss on this guy? I mean, I ‘ve yet to hear him say”You must all follow my lead or burn in hell” or anything like that. What happened to your “Many ways to be a good man”? Is that just a slick marketing slogan?
there was pissing?
While not a sports fan, I can say I do not ‘hate’ Tim Tebow.
He just aggravates the hell outta me.
With the labyrinthine nature of the “off limits” areas surrounding the locker rooms in any NFL stadium, let alone within the confines of the locker room itself, Mr. Tebow can’t seem to find one single spot to do what most people choose to do during a moment of privacy.
Namely, what is now called “Tebow-ing”.
Oh no, Mr. Tebow is apparently NOT satisfied unless he’s out in front of not only the entire damned STADIUM, but the network cameras as well, to claim a moment of pious grandstanding pseudo-drama. THAT’S why it’s aggravating as all get-out to ME. By the way, where is the NFL when this goes down? After all, this IS the same outfit that has fined the living daylights out of players for “end-zone celebrations”? Where are they in this case? Especially since this is essentially doing the same thing for religious purposes, merely on a slightly different section of the playing field, sidelines or NOT.
As for the deplorable behaviour of other players committed OFF the field, bringing that up in conjunction with ‘Tebow-ing’ is so intellectually bankrupt that I’ll just satisfy myself with THIS comparison:
Until one of these guys decides to perpetrate those crimes in front of network sports cameras and on the sidelines, dragging them into this as an attempt to make Tebow’s self-serving demonstrations look better, is one of the silliest righteousness-by-comparison strategies I’ve ever read.
This brings us to The Big Enchilada…invoking religion in the interest of being the team that wins, or HAVING your team win, whether you’re a parishioner or a minister or a player, has got to be the epitome of abusing belief in a higher power, period. It is so trivial, so self-serving, that anyone participating in this vice (yes, that’s right, VICE) should be ashamed of themselves.
You cam blame Tebow for bringing THAT up, too.
Tebow has never said that his team won because “God’s on our side” . Despite the constant “Baiting questions ‘” from the media to get him to say it, to my knowledge he hasn’t. There are roughly over 1,500 young men playing football in the N.F.L.. Many of them are outwardly religious. In fact, if you ever attend a game, stay till the very end and look out at midfield. You’ll see anywhere from 10,20,30, sometimes even more players from both teams in a circle on one knee, their heads bowed in prayer. They used to sometimes show this on T.V. ,but the “Secular Humanist” complained, so now they avoid it like it’s pornography or something. So now that brings up the question, why do tha=ey follow Tebows every movement on the sidelines? (There are anywhere from 10 to 15 cameras covering an N.F.L. game). So how can ANYONE know if a camera is #1 on them #2or if that’s the camera shot that’s on your home T.V. screen? I seriously think that since network television never passes up an oppurtunity to mock religion (except Islam, only because their afraid of the “radical fringe”). that they keep following Tebow just waiting for him to “stumble” or even fall and then they’ll be there to say “Ah -HA” , “We have thhe story of the decade now!”
It always amuses me when Christians claim persecution at the hands of the secular humanists, particularly when over 80% of Americans identify as the former and less than 5% as the latter.
I think there’s three things that converged here.
1) Tebow has a propensity for being showy about his religiosity.
This is completely unnecessary. When I was a Christian, we would go feed the homeless under a bridge that was, ironically enough, where Sports Authority Stadium is now located. We didn’t make any big pronouncements or show of it. We would pack up soup and sandwiches in a non-descript van and feed anyone who was hungry. We didn’t quote scripture at people, let alone put it in our eye grease. If they asked about our church we would tell them, but we felt our lived example should be enough witness.
2) Tebow was picked well ahead of where he should have been in the draft.
He’s a good quarterback (but probably a better running back) but there have always been questions about his mechanics and ability to play an NFL style offense. Those questions appear to have been spot on, as the Denver offense was reworked to fit Tebow, rather than Tebow learning how to run a pro offense.
3) The quarterback drama of the past three years culminated with Tebow in the starting position.
If he had remained in a backup role and developed his skills over time, there probably wouldn’t have been so much attention and hype when he did become starter in 2-3 years. But with Tebow’s premature elevation, Denver started squeaking out some wins (primarily on the leg of Prater) with its unconventional offense and highly ranked defense and people paid attention.
I suspect that many fans applaud Tebow’s good works and perhaps even admire his faith but squirm at his ostentatious displays of piety on the football field. I propose that those fans display in response to his “John 3:16″ the phrase “Matthew 6:1-6.”
The verse is part of the Sermon on the Mount, which expresses what are widely considered by Christians to be “the central tenets of Christian discipleship.” Jesus says:
Matthew 6:1-6
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Yeah, but then again, right in the same book (Matthew 10:32-33) it says: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Some evangelicals (and others) point to verses like this (and others) to describe why they’re often thought of as so in-your-face and/or show-offy about their faith.
I think this is why chapter-and-verse-offs are frustrating for everybody. Coming to the bible to reinforce a position, or invalidate anothers, usually causes more confusion, at least in my experience.
Me, I’m into authenticity. I have no doubt Tebow is being authentic in expressing his beliefs. It’s part of his deal, it appears to be a requirement for him to “tebow” on the field and start every press conference (and possibly conversation) by thanking his personal savior Jesus Christ. It may make me tired, but that’s my problem.
One man’s ostentatiousness or sanctimony is another man’s mighty witness and faithful following of commandments.
And you know, now that I think about it, wearing bible verses on one’s eyeblack, or bumper sticker, or boxing trunks (remember Evander Holyfield?) may be more about evangelicals talking to other evangelicals rather than trying to talk to anybody else. In a general sense, I get the impression that lots of people in that tradition think they have the whole God thing codified to the point where, yes, they want you to be save, but you have to get with them and understand the code to be so.
In any case, I don’t hate Tebow, I “hate” Tebow. And I “hate” Tebow because he had a unexpectedly great game against my team and it made me sad that my team lost. He’s by all appearances a great guy. I hope he can continue to live up to the standards he’s set for himself in his faith. I hope he doesn’t become much better as a quarterback. There are too many in the AFC as it is. I agree that God didn’t punish Tebow. The Patriots did.
You are right that it is possible to find a Bible verse to justify just about anything. There is scriptural “justification” for both the religious show-offs and those who prefer more discretion, meaning that neither of those approaches is “right.” People choose whichever one they happen to prefer, just like some people obey the Biblical admonition against eating pork and some people don’t. But I still think that those who are frustrated with Tebow and whose approach to religious practice is more in keeping with Matthew 6:1-6 might find it satisfying to display their preference with a sign or a spot of under-eye paint.
Actually, I see much more hatred spewed from the tebow culties. Who tend to viciously attack w/ personal ad hominem any who do not believe in Tebow’s imaginary friends. Or mention how that he is the NFL’s worst rated passer statistically.
I’d say this derives from the ever present christian persecution complex used to defesively divert from any examination of their unsupportable assertions.