I walked in to a radio station focused on doing an interview totally unrelated to football and the producer starts ranting about how much he hates Tim Tebow. This was a day after Tebow once again brought his Broncos to victory. So I asked why he hates him so much. He really couldn’t articulate a reason. I pushed. Still no answer.
Is it because he is a good guy and has faith in God? No answer.
So you would prefer a Brett Favre who takes pictures of his body parts and emails them to women, or a Michael Vick who bank rolled dog fights? Or Tom Brady who has babies out of wedlock?
Apparently, it is no big deal when a player in the NFL is a bad boy. We’ve come to expect this according to Jeff Benedict who wrote a column for SI.com last year. He and his research assistant, Jeff Gasser, tracked public arrests of pro and college athletes from January 1, 2010 to August 31, 2010. In this eight month span, they found 125 reported arrests, more than one every other day. And that figure did not count minor arrests!
Back to Tebow, who so far, doesn’t have an arrest record, but has a I HATE TIM TEBOW Facebook page.
When Detroit Lions’ Stephen Tulloch and Tony Scheffler fell to their knees and mocked Tebow a few weeks ago (“Tebowing”), no one was too upset. But imagine if those two player did the same to a Muslim player who bowed to Mecca. There would be complete outrage. And there should be. Instead of mocking religious faith, we should be glad people embrace it. Religious faith usually helps people live better lives.
So why are people full of hate, want Tebow to fail and insist on making fun of him? Here are my thoughts:
1) People who enjoy seeing others fail usually attack others to feel good about themselves. Healthy people take joy in the success of others.
2) People are jealous and incredibly insecure.
3) Tebow raises the standard and makes others uncomfortable.
4) People are intolerant. They don’t agree with his pro-life stance and belief in Jesus.
5) American media has no problems making fun of Christians. There are few repercussions for this rude and insensitive behavior.
5) People are judgmental. If Tebow’s beliefs don’t match theirs, they go on the attack.
6) Misery loves company.
7) By debasing another, haters enhance their self-image
8) Haters do not have to look inward -they are too busy focusing on others.
9) Tebow acknowledges his dependency on God. We prefer self-sufficiency and humanism to win the day.
10) St. Paul reminds us that to those who are lost, the Gospel offends.
Your thoughts?
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posted January 19, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Tim Tebow is a great young man that continues to work hard through adversity. He has touched more people, even with the “hatred” that comes his way, than most people every will in their lifetime.
Birmingham Homes
posted January 16, 2012 at 3:17 pm
I do not hate him. I feel as though he can worship however he likes.
What I do dislike is the notion that there is a god who would give a man TD in a violent game as a gift, while there are people on bended knee continuously to pray for the wounded in war, the hungry, the pained, etc and yet no attention to them and no “TD’s” in that department yet.
I would feel really good about all the stories about him if I could see some lauding of the poor who pray for the poor.
posted January 16, 2012 at 1:18 pm
It’s obvious how intolerant all who want tolerance are. Christianity is a religion based on the notion that there is one way to God–through Jesus Christ. That is the central tenet of the faith.
Read my blog: Is Christianity Too Exclusive? It is exclusive in its belief of one God but not in opening itself to all.
Tebow is just being who he is…and somehow that means he is evangelizing the world? It’s a leap that is ridiculous. He is no more espousing who he is than Madonna did last night on the Golden Globes. She could openly talk about Kabbalah (and she has many times) and no one cares. But when it is Christianity, someone how it is offensive –my point exactly and those of you who are offended by the good character of this guy, make my point. You are intolerant of him and what he believes.
Celebrities, sports people included, discuss their beliefs when asked. And most of them are not Christian so this argument doesn’t fly. And last time I looked, this nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principals.
Being who you are is not a put down of others. But the lack of tolerance for a man who tries to be a good person because his faith lives up to what he believes is astounding.
posted January 16, 2012 at 10:18 am
Christianity has been pushed in the public eye way too long. It’s like an infection. You don’t see Muslims or Jews forcing their faith on people. That’s why Tebow’s annoying to watch. People who needs to excessively speak about their faith are usually bigots and intolerant of people’s beliefs. They are inconsiderate of the fact that Christianity is not the only religion in the United States. It pisses people off when these choir boys try to put up a good boy front.
posted January 14, 2012 at 1:39 am
There’s no doubt that Tebow has many qualities which deserve to be admired and perhaps idolized. I would not put anything he’s done in the same universe as something say, Michael Vick or Sandusky has… too soon.
At the same time, almost EVERYONE knows that Jesus doesn’t control the outcome of NFL football games (or anything at all for that matter… neither does Zeus). Him thanking god for a victory is something that to me is disgusting.
It follows that he indirectly is thanking…Jesus… for sending him talent and good fortune, rather than someone else.
*clears throat* Tebow most probably believes that all non-Christians are going to hell. It is quite understandable that the vast majority of the world would dislike him.
posted January 10, 2012 at 7:52 am
Andrew, You make my point for me. Thank you.
posted January 10, 2012 at 12:37 am
How do you make a “pro Tebow” rant and leave out the ONLY facts that matter here…. Tim Tebow is hated not because of his faith in a superstition (although I personally can not take anyone for real who ignores logic and reason and is foolish enough to actually base their lives on crazy unproven fairy tales), or because he happens to be a mild mannered “nice guy”…. Tebow is hated because he is a BAD QB!!! He has no business being on a scout or practice team, nevermind on a roster or somehow, (mainly DUE TO HIS “FAITH” and therefore popularity with a HUGE percentage of fans) a starting QB in the NFL!!
I “PRAY” Tim Tebow gets hit on one of his scared scrambles and has his spinal cord severed…. See how happy and “god” praising all you Tebow idiots are then!!!
I really cant even finish this, the simple reality that im talking to a bunch of idiots who believe in PROVEN LIES AND STORIES!!! Santa is more realistic than ANY God based religion!! WOW!!!!
posted January 9, 2012 at 4:08 pm
It is obvious the author is a Christain. All his reason are bogus defence mechanisms.
Nothing is so useless, albiet more dangerous as a theologist. They preach ancient legend and ignore Science. Faith means not wanting to know what is true. When science proves the bible wrong, don’t call it a miracle. Fact:
When food crops evolve into better plants, This is “evolution”.
The Earth is Round. There are not 4 corners.
Noah did not put 2 of all living creatures in a boat bigger than an aircraft carrier. And feed them nothing while the earth flooded. It takes many animals to sustain a breading heard.
People Hate Religous Extremists.
posted December 25, 2011 at 11:00 am
Wow “jesus”. Sounds like you have been wounded badly. Praying for you!
posted December 25, 2011 at 1:11 am
you are all bigots, would you be tolerant of a person who believes the holocaust to be a farce? And yes, I hate Christ, because I am a person not in search of meaning in a world devoid of anything resembling purpose. I’m sorry you aspire to be confined by the rules set by an assembly of dead men.
“And did you trade, a walk on part in a war, for a lead role in a cage?”
posted December 25, 2011 at 12:39 am
would you be tolerant of a person who thinks the holocaust is a farce?
posted December 20, 2011 at 8:29 am
Great comment on a great Christian!
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posted December 17, 2011 at 11:45 am
To Dr. Linda, you hit the nail on the head!!! Any other religion being mocked would cause OUTRAGE! To Tebow, you keep standing up for your beliefs! I feel sorry for the “haters” because they know not what they do. They are void of the peace, hope, and joy that can only be fully gained by a relationship with God. I pray that those people will one day come to know the truth. Thank you for setting an example to my teenage son, of someone who is successful, surrounded by worldly views, under a microscope, yet STILL standing up for your beliefs. I hope you never lose sight of Him. I’m sure that when you are far past your NFL years, no matter your NFL experience, your biggest success in life will be your walk with the Lord….you will never know how many people you have probably helped to have the courage to stand up for their beliefs. May God bless you abundantly.
posted December 17, 2011 at 11:00 am
Amen ! well put, the truth as sure as the gospel !
posted December 16, 2011 at 6:53 pm
I love the presence of Tim Tebow. I love his exhuberance and his confidence in his faith. He is a big breath of fresh air. It’s the same no matter the age, profession, or gender. Others criticize because they are uncomfortable with their inequities. Just like when my daughter was bullied (she’s cuter, she’s smarter, she’s confident, and the bully didn’t seem to phase her) which all just aggravated the bully more. They now are “friendly”. I hope he succeeds and sways the nay sayers. The evil forces are always trying to sway the good. It’s the epic battle of time. Tebow Time!!! Can’t wait for it each week.
posted December 16, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Why are Tebow’s (or any player’s) choice to pray before a game or express his beliefs being taken as a commentary on the fans’ beliefs? He’s not judging anyone or preaching a sermon. He’s expressing his faith. Why is that wrong? As long as he doesn’t earn penalties for prayer during kick off, I say give the guy a break, good grief.
posted December 16, 2011 at 12:10 pm
I agree with everyone of the ten reasons. Someone was once kicking someone verbaly – and I said, “when you are kicking someone’s butt where are you standing? – Behind them! These people who are making fun have the problem not Tim Tebow!
posted December 12, 2011 at 9:15 pm
Only those who are not Christians or don’t believe are the ones to complain about Tebow.
posted December 7, 2011 at 7:17 am
Hugh, the last thing I would want to do as a Christian is to shun you if you don’t believe. That is not the hallmark of Christianity. Jesus said we would be known by our love. I know, we aren’t always known for our love. We often blow it l.
As for football, I’m not sure how the tradition of thanking God started. I agree – it doesn’t have much to do with football and teams that lose, pray, Christians drop passes and get penalties too! But it is part of the game for whatever reason and my point is for people to stop hating Tebow just because he stands for something positive.
posted December 7, 2011 at 3:20 am
I have the same issue with him as I do ANY player who praises God/Jesus/Allah/Ganesh/whomever when they do well and score a TD, etc…..what does that have to do with football/sports?!?!
What about the praise to a higher being when their team sucks or loses?
It is the ‘unsaid’ and ‘behind closed doors’ nature of religious (in)tolerance that invalidates this argument: devoutly religious people shun those who choose not to believe….like this article….it makes me wrong and miserable b/c I choose to not have a formal religious belief system or b/c I don’t want your belief system shoved down my throat and made to make m feel like I’m some variant of an evil person?
posted December 6, 2011 at 11:32 am
People hate Christ… most wouldn’t say it exactly like that, but they hate anything that puts perameters in what they want to do, anything that makes a value judgement of their own selfishness. I remember seeing just a few minutes of the movie ‘Left Behind’ (not a fan, but that’s not the point)
There was a courtroom scene in which Christians were being judged for being ‘haters’. I thought “that is going to happen in my lifetime” and now it unfolds every day.