Person of the Week
So whats the deal with Tim Tebow? Has there ever been an athlete that has polarized the sport world as much as this guy has? It's really hard to understand why. Ever since his days as a high school football quarterback at Nease High School in Ponte Verde, Florida, through his college years at Florida and on into his NFL career with the Denver Broncos, Tebow has been the one player, that people love to hate.
The thing is, he has been extremely successful at all levels of his sport. In high school, he was the two time Florida football player of the year, and a Parade magazine All-American. As a Gator, he was the first sophomore ever to win the Heisman Trophy. Oh yea, under his watch, his team won two national championships. He was a first round draft pick by the Denver Broncos, and in his second year, he led them to a division title, with a thrilling playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. And still, to quote Rodney Dangerfield, he gets no respect.
In fairness, some of the criticism is valid. His passing technique is loathed by NFL coaches and scouts. The coach that drafted him in the NFL was fired, and drafting Tebow was said to be a reason. His statistic line borders between 'bad' and 'terrible'. Sometimes he looks like NFL great John Unitas on the field, and others he looks like Millie Unitas. But the one that that he does very well, is win games. And like any superstar, he makes everyone around him play better. Usually that means another mark in the 'W' column. Many pundits had the Broncos as the 'worst team' going in to the 2011 season. But someway, somehow, Tebow led and rallied this team to victory more that a few times..
Off the field, he has a tendency to discuss his religious views quite openly, which puts off many people. But in reality, he isn't the first football player to ever discuss religion, and certainly won't be the last. .But the athletes who have done it in the past, in no way inspired the pure vitriol (yes, it is a new word. I hope you like it.) that Tebow does. And no one seems to know why.
There is one thing that everyone who has ever met him agrees on. He is very nice person. Every where he has ever played, his teammates love him. He treats the fans and media will respect. He visits hospitals and gives away game tickets to sick and underprivileged kids for everygame, both home and away. Even before the playoff win over Pittsburgh, (which by the way, was won on a 80 yard Tebow touchdown pass in overtime), he had spent time with a young girl who had 72 surgeries. Most people enjoy being around him, as he seems to inspire everyone he comes in contact with. Yet he still gets takes an awful a lot of abuse from detractors.
There are those who say the success that he and his team has had, is due to divine intervention. They point to Tebow's late game heroics, with the comeback wins, and think that God woke up one day a Bronco fan. Personally, I don't believe that, but it has been said more than once.. In my mind, Denver wins because of a solid defense, good running game, and a quarterback (Tebow) who keeps plugging away, and makes plays when they are needed. I'm not sure that he will end up as one of the all-time greats, but certainly won't be one of the worst to suit up either.
All I know is that, love him or hate him, it has been a great fun seeing him take the field. I'm not alone in that thought, as TV ratings for the Bronco's have been sky high since he became the starting quarterback. He is one of those guys, you just can't take your eyes off. He's going to do something and you don't want to miss it. Denver has a tough one this weekend against the Patriots in New England. But for now, Tim Tebow is our Person of the Week.
Back Sunday with another Top Ten List
We will talk soon
Jeff
The thing is, he has been extremely successful at all levels of his sport. In high school, he was the two time Florida football player of the year, and a Parade magazine All-American. As a Gator, he was the first sophomore ever to win the Heisman Trophy. Oh yea, under his watch, his team won two national championships. He was a first round draft pick by the Denver Broncos, and in his second year, he led them to a division title, with a thrilling playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. And still, to quote Rodney Dangerfield, he gets no respect.
In fairness, some of the criticism is valid. His passing technique is loathed by NFL coaches and scouts. The coach that drafted him in the NFL was fired, and drafting Tebow was said to be a reason. His statistic line borders between 'bad' and 'terrible'. Sometimes he looks like NFL great John Unitas on the field, and others he looks like Millie Unitas. But the one that that he does very well, is win games. And like any superstar, he makes everyone around him play better. Usually that means another mark in the 'W' column. Many pundits had the Broncos as the 'worst team' going in to the 2011 season. But someway, somehow, Tebow led and rallied this team to victory more that a few times..
Off the field, he has a tendency to discuss his religious views quite openly, which puts off many people. But in reality, he isn't the first football player to ever discuss religion, and certainly won't be the last. .But the athletes who have done it in the past, in no way inspired the pure vitriol (yes, it is a new word. I hope you like it.) that Tebow does. And no one seems to know why.
There is one thing that everyone who has ever met him agrees on. He is very nice person. Every where he has ever played, his teammates love him. He treats the fans and media will respect. He visits hospitals and gives away game tickets to sick and underprivileged kids for everygame, both home and away. Even before the playoff win over Pittsburgh, (which by the way, was won on a 80 yard Tebow touchdown pass in overtime), he had spent time with a young girl who had 72 surgeries. Most people enjoy being around him, as he seems to inspire everyone he comes in contact with. Yet he still gets takes an awful a lot of abuse from detractors.
There are those who say the success that he and his team has had, is due to divine intervention. They point to Tebow's late game heroics, with the comeback wins, and think that God woke up one day a Bronco fan. Personally, I don't believe that, but it has been said more than once.. In my mind, Denver wins because of a solid defense, good running game, and a quarterback (Tebow) who keeps plugging away, and makes plays when they are needed. I'm not sure that he will end up as one of the all-time greats, but certainly won't be one of the worst to suit up either.
All I know is that, love him or hate him, it has been a great fun seeing him take the field. I'm not alone in that thought, as TV ratings for the Bronco's have been sky high since he became the starting quarterback. He is one of those guys, you just can't take your eyes off. He's going to do something and you don't want to miss it. Denver has a tough one this weekend against the Patriots in New England. But for now, Tim Tebow is our Person of the Week.
Back Sunday with another Top Ten List
We will talk soon
Jeff
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