He chops down an entire forest. He power lifts automobiles. He jogs all night long. He competes with broken legs. He grunts like a wild boar. Tim Tebow is probably the most intense human being you’ve ever seen. We get it. The man’s work ethic and drive to succeed are second to none. Commendable, even. What’s tough to endure is just how far He, his family and the rest of His handlers have gone (and will continue to go when His talent is once again questioned) to push the dream through to consumption. This is what’s left me in dire need of a Tebow Time Out.
Behind all of the legendeering and brand experimentation presented in the documentaries The Chosen One and Everything In Between, both in heavy rotation on NFL Network, smiles a frighteningly manipulative farce. Tim Tebow works very hard to symbolize the humble Everyman — at the very same time His marketing team pitches that He is God Almighty’s favorite. Of His two images, far too many are falling head over heals for the former (letting the latter slide). I mean, can’t you imagine having a beer with Him?
Just listen to a few passages from The Chosen One (above left video):
“Proverbs 27:2. Let another praise you and not your own mouth…a stranger and not your own lips.”
“He’s very well-grounded…doesn’t try to come across like He’s it…even though people know He’s it.”
“He definitely has not let the attention get to His head, like it does so often for so many kids. He’s humble and He’s quiet, and He’s also real serious about being the best player He can be.”
“When you take a look at everyone telling you you’re great, everybody wanting your autograph…to be able to stay humble is pretty amazing.”
I’m sorry. I don’t see humility when I look at Tim Tebow. I know that I’m supposed to fall for it hard. What I see is someone who previously drove feverish vanity campaigns — first with the top college coaches to recruit Him and then with the Denver Broncos to draft Him. Products like documentaries don’t get produced, packaged and promoted without the subject’s steering and approval. He can pump the brakes now and play the gosh golly game with us. “Tebow Time” is already a phenomenon. Perception has been altered.
Among the most far-fetched perceptions is that He’s a Hall of Famer in-the-making. He compared Himself to Steve Young long before his first professional game. Heck, it was before his first college snap. Surely, these claims must be supported by his performance, right?. Uh, no. Tebow isn’t first in any category among His peers (yes, He has those). What’s worse, He ranks last in pass completion percentage (48.5%) and passing yards per game (117.3), among those quarterbacks with 100 passing attempts or more.
Yes, He’s third in total rushing yards (517 yards). Sure, He has just two interceptions against 11 touchdowns. Okay, His team is 7-1 on His watch. Still, He’s not tops in anything. The Denver Broncos have played solid, opportunistic defense during their surge. Their placekicker kicks 59-yard field goals about 30 feet past the posts. Willis McGahee is enjoying a resurgence at running back. These are all playing major roles in the team’s success. It’s not all Timothy.
All of this begs a simple question. Shouldn’t Tim Tebow politely remind reporters that the fuss about Him is VASTLY misplaced? America, I’m just not comfortable with all of your attention! That will never leave His lips. Perhaps He, His Family and His handlers have stumbled upon something huge along the way. Maybe that’s changed their thinking about the best way to sell Him. Are you ready for it?
Timothy is average. He works very hard and fails a whole lot. He breaks down in defeat. He requires your attention and loving support. He’s perfect for all of His imperfections. Ugh.
Tebow Time is the menace of mediocrity at its worst. It’s messaging that implies that performance should somehow come second. After all, mantras of mediance permeate the American upbringing. Nothing new there. It’s the thought that counts. Practice makes perfect. Work harder than the next guy. If at first you don’t succeed — try, try again.
Tebow Time is that protective coddling that assures all of us that we are special snowflakes — no matter what. Honey, pay no attention to those mean boys and what they’re saying about you. We’ll make sure you’re drafted in the first round. We’ll get John Elway to accept you’re worthy of a professional future.
So go ahead and shout “Tebow!” on football Sunday. Timothy would never let any of your fanaticism go to His head. He’s doesn’t pat Himself on the back. He doesn’t think He’s God. He isn’t after every last dollar in your wallet. He doesn’t demand every ounce of respect you have to offer. There’s absolutely no entitlement complex with our Timothy.
Tebow Time to wake up, America.
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Just because a guy praises Jesus he has to act exactly like him? I can’t agree. While I don’t share the same religious beliefs as Tebow, it’s hard to quarrel with an athlete who seems to “walk the walk”. The “talk”, I could do without, for sure. But until he’s “outed” as something other than he portrays (an earnest, clean-living, college graduating, socially conscious, God loving competitive athlete), until he becomes Tiger Woods, it’ll be hard NOT to root for the guy.
If it’s the commercialism that bugs you, why? Is he supposed to be a destitute athlete? Last I checked, he was playing PROFESSIONAL Football. Part of that (a big one at that) is promoting YOURSELF. Lord knows, the NFL isn’t about promoting the PLAYERS. It’s about THE SHIELD.
We’ve yet to hear a bad word about the guy. If things come out which contradict what he portrays, then he’s fair game for any and all rebukes. Until then, I’d prefer to see him succeed on and off the field. Even if I could do without the preaching.
i’m in marketing and branding. i take no issue with a promotional machine cranking at full steam. but i’m also one of those idiot romantics who believes “truth in advertising” — i know, how ridiculous is that? i decide whether i want to get on board, be indifferent or disagree. i say let people see him for the egomaniac He must be, and not this nonsense about being humble, down to earth, yada yada. americans don’t like big headed people, yet they’re embracing tebow. i find that interesting. that must be because people aren’t seeing what He has put out there in the background — portrayed as someone else talking about Him. all that salesmanship from Him, His family, His Handlers. if they were, i don’t think people would be so jazzed about Him. He is signing off on all of the “i’m amazing, worship me” stuff, then playing us with the “i would never!” backpedaling. what a charade, in my opinion. i’m with you that the nfl isn’t going to build a name for its players — but that doesn’t mean a player should blow Himself up like this.
btw, love the “cutter” handle. i still wish fair lawn high school would adopt a logo that shows a student skipping class. that would be fresh! with a major media network contract like i’m guessing you had to sign recently, are you not allowed to use your real name in posting on a blog like this?
Interesting viewpoint and curious use of capitalizing the “H” in he, him, and himself when referring to “Timothy” Tebow, very biblical. To me, he’s the same QB that has won just about every game he’s ever played in as the starting QB from pee wee to the NFL. He is the leader of men you want as QB. Go back and check out his post game speech after Florida lost at home to Ole Miss in 2008, he made a promise and delivered, his team was just along for the ride of a lifetime. Everyone should just sit back and enjoy the show, and let the haters eat their words!
for the record, i’m not a tebow hater. i just think we need to call a spade a spade, bring this dude down to earth a little, etc. he’s playing quite a shell game, and not all of us need to fall for it. my idols growing up were walter payton and rickey henderson. if a dude has a big head but delivers, then i can get behind that. his team is winning but i’m not sold that He is the chief reason. there are many reasons one could point to in all of this. btw, i think He would enjoy “the chosen one treatment” more than anyone. so it’s He, and not he, like we mortals. He’s lost some big games. personally, i take the breaking down He does to be shock that He lost one. He works so hard to be viewed as #1…it could just be a vain reaction to when He doesn’t. who knows. i’m just offering counter-speculation to everything i’m hearing on the major networks. i’m trying to put 1 and 1 together, i’m getting 2 but find myself wondering why everyone else is saying it’s 3.
Firstly, I too don’t hate Tim Tebow. To hate someone means you usually have to know the person well enough to make that opinion. Professionally, I do not like the way that Tebow seems to be high up on the totem pole when he has just started his first year in the NFL. Secondly, I am reminded of the old adage “there’s no crying in Baseball.” I believe this should apply to all sports. I remember the game Tebow and his fellow teammates played against Alabama. The boy cried. I call him a boy because real men understand defeat and have the gall to praise another team for doing well. Start having the completion percentage as Aaron Rodgers or even Drew Brees. There’s nothing wrong with having a hero such as Steve Young, but wait awhile until you have the stats such as Young before you associate yourself with a person of that caliber. I have no doubt that Tebow could be great someday, but greatness means to do well on and OFF the playing field. You are not a god. You aren’t even close enough to be called an apostle. I have no qualms with your religion, only when you consider yourself high and almighty like the real G-d!
i’m on the fence about the crying thing. i like reality tv as much as the next dude, but something tells me its about shock. how can i be losing? man, it sure sucks to lose! if that’s the case, then He does need to grow up. that could be the home schooling, not socialized enough, etc. Tebow leaves the house to be worshipped. there are no down to earth moments. the comparison to steve young that His handlers made was ill-advised. let me change that — non-advised. it was small business doing what it does so well. putting things out there without soliciting what others think. if they did consult others, then they got poor advice. nobody wants to hear far-fetched modeling of reality. there are similarities, sure, but he hadn’t performed on the big stages yet. that makes it ridiculous. it sets the precedence that what actually happens is irrelevant. it’s their perception machine cranking away at full steam again. as for the religion angle, that’s not my commentary. i respect what people choose to worship. i just think it’s sad when that’s another person. respect someone. like someone. both cool. worship is for something greater. our Timothy is not great or greater than others.
if those bible beaters need a football hero, then they got one. they always say whatever happens is the lords will (even if their house gets crushed by a hurricane), so they’ll be able to live with not winning the superbowl — should it prove to be a flash in the pan. I find all this genuflecting annoying and similar to the noise makers we had to put up with in the soccer tournament in Africa. If he was an eskimo, or a head hunter, or a cannibal, I doubt you’d be seeing much blood drinking after a touchdown. Good thing he’s tapped into a popular religion, as goofy as it is.
oh my. you had me at genuflecting. then you went for the two point conversion with vuvuzelas and blood drinking.
drop kick me jesus through the goal posts of life
You had me at “dropkick me jesus”…
I think what you see Tebow with is genuine. I think his Broncos teammates think it too. That’s probably one of many reasons they are playing better as a unit.
For the last five years, every talking head in football circles has told him he couldn’t be a pro QB. Could you imagine if the general public was telling you that you couldn’t do your job, before you ever had a chance to prove yourself? What would your reaction be – from a training, performance, and branding perspective? Would you simply stand by and let others destroy your chance at a legacy, earnings and professional achievement?
I wouldn’t.
I’d fire back with everything I had. I’d work my ass off. I’d build my personal brand to counter their tearing me down. I’d work harder than I ever had before, and when I shoved it in their face (like going 7-1) I might even cry. One thing for sure, I’d be talking a lot more shit than Tebow at this point. He’s a better man than I, that’s for sure. But he’s responding the way any true competitor would.
Is Tebow-mania over blown? Absolutely. That’s what we the fans want, and what the media gives us in return. We love hype. We love underdogs. We love winners. We love to tear them down.
I don’t blame Tebow for building his own brand. I think he had to in order to get a fair shake and earn his opportunity. Lots of people talk, very few deliver.
Tebow wins. And the end of the day, I think that’s the only branding he really cares about.
i agree with you on the firing back, the impetus, all of that. what i don’t agree with is His worthiness of it. He isn’t greatness personified. He isn’t the difference maker right now for the broncos. so that means it is forced marketing, false advertising, etc. there are consumer groups to protect against this sort of big business preying on folks. those wins sure do help people buy into it easier. if He was losing (and He will get down to that soon enough, starting this sunday against the patriots), then what could be said on His behalf? this is all Teblown out of proportion. if the broncos were smart enough to see the talk that we’d be engaged in, and not mind what ultimately came of it through their brand, then that’s a big win for them. they’re relevant again. and He does have them believing. i will give Him that much. but watch coach fox and elway. they’re not 100% convinced, and they’re not staking anything definitive on Him. very interesting. let’s milk this Tebow thing then draft a real qb in the offseason. looks like they have that manipulative streak in Them too! birds of a feather perhaps.
Agreed. The hype far exceeds his accomplishments to date. Same could be said for Andrew Luck, Bryce Harper, Strasburg, or any other phenom. His win percentage will certainly drop below its current level. At the same time, I think you’ll see a rise in his QB rating, completion percentage etc. as he matures.
I know its a long shot, but what if he out duels Brady this weekend? I mean, Rex almost did it last weekend, with a much worse defense.
In the immortal words of another player who’s hype far exceeds his performance…”Can’t wait” — Bart Scott
here’s to hoping He does not end up on top in that game. i think raider nation will forgive me for backing brady for the first time since the tuck rule game. it’s for a greater cause. Teblow is the closer of two rival qbs. we play Him twice each season. yes, we play Him and not His team. there are no broncos. it’s like that last matrix movie. Tebow is the agent obsessed with Himself, power, the matrix. he would love to replicate Himself to play wr, te, rb. wait. He already is the rb. urlacher was right about that.
Like just about everyone else, I’m tired of hearing about him. He’s easily one of the worst QBs in the NFL from a mechanics, stats, and production standpoint.
I don’t feel like anyone can really make any judgments on Tebow’s character or personality. The facts are that he’s in the NFL (whether anyone likes/agrees with it or not), he’s pulled a depressing franchise to within “hallelujah” distance of the playoffs, and is a controversial personality at the very least. Should he get the majority of the credit for the Broncos turnaround this season? Probably not. The defense should because they keep the games he’s played in close enough to pull off his said “miracles.” but even his teammates have gone on record saying he’s a great leader and has helped them to believe in something (a playoff berth if not God almighty). He may not produce any stats that make him comparable to the great QBs in the league, but his effect on the team is bigger than the numbers he produces. The Broncos turnaround this year is clear evidence of that, because Tebow’s not winning games with 4 TD passes and 300-400 yard passing. He’s a pretty good runner, but that will hurt him sooner or later once he gets hit to many times or to hard (Harrison anyone?). Who knows what will happen to him when/if that occurs?
I guess what I’m trying to get at is we should just let the man play the game and let the chips fall where they may. Let him win or lose doing his way. I think he deserves that much at least. I doubt anyone realistically believes he’ll be an “elite” QB or go the the hall of fame. But talking about his issues and what people perceive to be his flaws on and off the football field is what is creating the controversy, not Tebow. Who cares if he doesnt play the QB position like everyone else does, or even like the fans and NFL experts thinks he should? Saying he doesn’t belong is just hating on him for the sake of hating on him. And frankly I think he’s handled his critics on and off the field with real class.
That’s how I feel anyway. I don’t like him as a QB and think its amazing he’s gotten as far as he has. So what if he cried once or twice on TV during a loss. What? That the first time we’ve seen players break down. Football is an emotional game. But he’s been a part of something that the so-called experts can’t explain, and continues to amaze if not perplex us all.
He absolutely can be judged for his character. because He built the machine that now needs to be stopped. He called attention to Himself. well, here is my attention to you, Tebow. that attention is going to look different depending upon who you are demanding give it to you. after all, He didn’t just sit by idly and let the natural course of His average abilities play out. He would have failed. miserably. He did lose some big high school games.
i had this same point about judgment made to me about a week ago. the “who are you to judge” thing. the woman had asked me to vote for her in a contest indirectly, as part of a group email. i checked out her entry and didn’t feel compelled to vote for her. frankly, she wasn’t deserving of winning the contest. then she chats me, more insistent that i vote. i told her why i hadn’t. “who are to to judge?” she says. um, did you not just ask me to judge? insisted even. or is voting for you something that requires no judgment to be made first?
that is the point. because we are friends then she has my vote. sorry, that needs to be earned. Tebow kinda thinks that being average is a way to be exceptional, and he thinks that if He portrays that He’s nice that He should rise to the top. He needs to win the public opinion game because He knows He can’t win the best quarterback game. thats why He pushes His leadership and work ethic stuff. americans love someone who works hard. they respond well to someone telling them to do something.
here’s a crazy thought. even if He drops out of favor in football, He will run for politics. He would be a better candidate right now than anyone the repubs are trying to run, because you can imagine having a beer with Him. that is a truly frightening prospect for the future. you heard it here first.
I confess to having mixed feelings about Tebow and all the hype about him. Like you, Eric, I find the tone of “The Chosen One” anything but humble and unassuming. It is offensive. He is being branded as a virtual Messiah. Being an idol is a scary thing in American culture: if the fans love to put people on pedestals, they also delight in their falls – the further the better, as far as they are concerned. So I think Tebow may be riding for a fall. I’d like to see him acknowledge the contributions of his teammates much more, like Prater, who kicked that amazing 59 yard field goal against the Bears. But if we love to create idols in sports, we also love to create prima donnas. Just ask my daughter, who captained her cross country team this year. The coaches put all of their focus on their two fastest runners, and neglected every one else, even though the team as a whole was very strong and went all the way to Regionals.
Having said all that, I get a lot more worked up over athletes like Roger Clemens & Alex Rodriguez, who lied about steroid abuse; Michael Vick’s disgusting cruelty to animals; and Kobe Bryant managing to evade sexual assault charges. Tebow will learn soon enough how fickle fans are, and how quickly adulation fades. He may even eventually figure out that his handlers are using him to serve their own agendas. Say a prayer for him when that day arrives!
hilaire — knowing your congregational leadership background, i’m glad we’re in agreement on the offensive nature of comparing oneself to God. He has done that in a number of ways, or His parents and handlers have done it and He’s cool with it. same thing at the end of the day. the irony is that they believe in God and act that way. the idolatry, false gods, etc. even if you’re not a believer, it’s ugly to blow yourself up so far — especially when you’re, in fact, average. in business, we call it false advertising. we have consumer protection groups to shield people from falling prey to businesses like Tebow. dangerous. manipulative. wait until this dude runs for political office.
below is something i just read, courtesy of a forward from steve isola. taken from a yahoo sports article called “debunking the myths of tim tebow” by les carpenter. draw your own conclusions about the kind of man tebow is.
“A lot of people are comparing you to Alex Smith because you run the same offense … ” Herock started when Tebow suddenly cut him off.
“Now hold on there, Mr. Herock,” Tebow said. “That’s where the comparisons end. I won the Heisman Trophy. I won a national championship two times.”
He said it not with arrogance, although the words could have been parsed that way, but rather with an assuredness Tebow rarely reveals in his public interviews.