Is Tim Tebow Marketing God?
There’s no debating Tim Tebow’s popularity. His jersey was the #1 seller in the NFL – last year when he was sitting on the bench.
Now he’s led his team to five wins in a row, some of which might be described as improbable. Particularly Sunday’s win in which the Broncos were down 10-0 with 3 minutes left to play.
So guess who is the talk of the town, TV, radios and Internet now?
No one other Tim Tebow.
Tim Tebow wears his Faith on this proverbial sleeve. He starts out news conferences by thanking God. He ends them by blessing people in the room.
He prays during his team’s field goal attempts.
He kneels and gives thanks to God during games – a position which has become known as Tebowing.
The media eats it up.
Players from all sports have been thanking God for decades. Tim Tebow certainly takes the praise to a new level, and the media is eating it up. They cover his testament religiously. They love referring to him as the “chosen one.” Though Tebow plays the role quite effectively, there’s no denying the feature film that has been created. And one that’s making lots of money for those producing and directing it.*
*And in fact, ESPN radio claims that more conservative Christians (aka new listeners) are tuning into their station than ever before.
Some find it offensive.
I’m sure there are plenty of people who are tired of hearing about Tebow. Many who don’t want his religion thrust down their throats. Those who want to watch him play football but prefer to leave his belief system out of the equation. See above – this is easier said than done.
“Chosen” or not, he is winning football games for a franchise that was at the bottom of the division when he took over at the helm.
Is he marketing God?
Athletes make lots of money marketing products from Nike shoes to Rolex watches to Gatorade and pretty much everything in between. If it’s a free market, so why isn’t Tebow allowed to market Something I’d argue is far more meaningful that a material possession? Even if he isn’t deliberately trying to push God in our faces, there’s no arguing that Tebow has a captive audience – a stage from which he has more power to preach than Billy Graham ever did.
A refreshing change of pace?
In a day and age when countless athletes, CEOs and other “leaders” are cheating the system, consuming illegal substances and even harming each other and animals, what’s so wrong about someone sharing an uplifting message? For listeners offended by all his “God” talk, isn’t it a nice change of pace to ridicule goodness as opposed to wrongness?
And for those who question the validity and meaning of religion altogether, do Tebow’s winning ways provoke a double take? Is there something to this notion of Faith?
Hum…maybe that’s Tebow’s motive.
Photo courtesy of tebowing.com. (I highly recommend you take a peek – the photos are hilarious!)
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But therein lies the problem. The concept of causality. Tebow implies his love for God in heaven with remuneration here on earth. He is entitled because he prays. Its incredibly irritating.
When was the last time you were at an office meeting and christians got on their knees and prayed for improved market share? Or a doctor before surgery? A teacher before lecturing a class? And I have to wonder -does Tebow pray when he’s on the bench press? Does he pray for a good bowel movement when using the bathroom? Or does he do it often in public so everyone can see him?
A person can be living one’s faith and not be acting it out in public. Love and respect your craft, your family, the earth. Why does Tebow want it on billboards? I mean, just because I support gay marriage doesn’t mean I want two watch two guys making out in front of me in public. Get a room guys.
I’ve read that Peyton Manning is a devout Christian and a regular attendee of bible study. Why don’t christians celebrate him? Is it because he chooses to do it in private instead of the 50 yard line on national tv??
My point is Tebow hasn’t done anything wrong -he’s just freaking annoying. And if God is truly paying attention to whether somebody makes a field goal or not, please send me to hell.
BTW, for the record: Tebow is also the nicest guy on the planet and I love to watch the man play football. What he does in the fourth quarter gives me chills. He is truly a fascinating player to watch and I haven’t said that about any NFL player in decades. Why can’t we just appreciate that?
I agree with you on two important points. One, I hope the Big Man has better things to do with his time than watch Bronco football and influence the outcome. Two, I also prefer Manning’s subtle approach to living and expressing his religious views.
But it’s not really my place to suggest Tebow tone it down if this is what he feel he’s called to do and how he grew up. And from what I know/have read, he seems to be practicing what he preaches. So if his message positively influences the lives of kids, families in the Philippines or folks in prison, how can that be a bad thing?
I also believe that Tebow’s ability to lead a team to victories in the fourth quarter, especially after a poor performance in the first three, is because of his faith – and not just faith in God, but also faith in himself. Because of the former, the latter is stronger. And we don’t know what Tebow is praying on the sidelines anyway, do we?
Oh yes we do. This nails it for me:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Video-In-SNL-sketch-Jesus-tells-Tebow-to-821?urn=nfl-wp14093