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:
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.
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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).… Read more »
there was pissing?
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… Read more »
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.
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.
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… Read more »
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.
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.
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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.