This started out as a reply to yet another snark diary making fun of Tim Tebow for being different, and then I decided I had too much to say and that it deserved a diary of its own. Yes, Tim Tebow is a really different Quarterback. He's left handed, and throws left handed. He doesn't stay back in the pocket, terrified he might be tackled and get hurt - he loves to run the ball as much as anything else. And he loves himself some serious Jesus. I don't. I decided as a young teenager that my family's Methodist religion and all religion was a bunch of nonsense invented to get people to do things and act in a certain way. But I also think the world would be a very boring place if we all believed the same way and only enjoyed the same things.
So, I'd really appreciate your sparing me a few minutes and let me introduce you to Tim Tebow.
There is no shortage of obnoxious Christians pushing their beliefs in your face and trying to make you follow their morals. Tim Tebow is not one of them. Yes, in college he used to put Bible verse numbers on the black paint under his eyes. I believe there's a few things I did in my college days I'd prefer to move on from. Those of you laughing at him for "Tebowing" - dropping to one knee for a quick prayer after a score or win - may be surprised to learn that he doesn't really think his God is taking time out from all his duties around the Universe to guide his team to victory. He's just being grateful that he was able to throw a great pass, and/or that he and his teammates had what it took to win, and he's just thanking God & Jesus for being a part of his life when that happened.
I loves my football, both college and NFL, and I've been following Tim Tebow since he played at Florida. He caught my attention, there's just something special about him. And a longtime fan of the Denver Broncos, I was delighted when they selected him in the draft. But I've come to know Tim Tebow so much more in the past few weeks as all the attention on him has spurred some really insightful articles:
ESPN writer Rick Reilly's article from yesterday: I believe in Tim Tebow
I've come to believe in Tim Tebow, but not for what he does on a football field, which is still three parts Dr. Jekyll and two parts Mr. Hyde. No, I've come to believe in Tim Tebow for what he does off a football field, which is represent the best parts of us, the parts I want to be and so rarely am.
Who among us is this selfless?
Every week, Tebow picks out someone who is suffering, or who is dying, or who is injured. He flies these people and their families to the Broncos game, rents them a car, puts them up in a nice hotel, buys them dinner (usually at a Dave & Buster's), gets them and their families pregame passes, visits with them just before kickoff (!), gets them 30-yard-line tickets down low, visits with them after the game (sometimes for an hour), has them walk him to his car, and sends them off with a basket of gifts.
Home or road, win or lose, hero or goat.
Remember last week, when the world was pulling its hair out in the hour after Tebow had stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers with an 80-yard OT touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas in the playoffs? And Twitter was exploding with 9,420 tweets about Tebow per second? When an ESPN poll was naming him the most popular athlete in America?
Tebow was spending that hour talking to 16-year-old Bailey Knaub about her 73 surgeries so far and what TV shows she likes.
"Here he'd just played the game of his life," recalls Bailey's mother, Kathy, of Loveland, Colo., "and the first thing he does after his press conference is come find Bailey and ask, 'Did you get anything to eat?' He acted like what he'd just done wasn't anything, like it was all about Bailey."
More than that, Tebow kept corralling people into the room for Bailey to meet. Hey, Demaryius, come in here a minute. Hey, Mr. Elway. Hey, Coach Fox.
"It was the best day of my life," she emailed. "It was a bright star among very gloomy and difficult days. Tim Tebow gave me the greatest gift I could ever imagine. He gave me the strength for the future. I know now that I can face any obstacle placed in front of me. Tim taught me to never give up because at the end of the day, today might seem bleak but it can't rain forever and tomorrow is a new day, with new promises."
Bailey Knaub suffers from a rare disease that has required 73 surgeries in her 16 years of life so far, including the removal of one of her lungs. Anybody who gives a young girl like that the best day of her life and gives her hope for the future is AOK in my book. Tebow created the Tim Tebow Foundation and Wish 15 Program that invites someone who is ill or suffering and their family to be Tebows guest each week to sideline seats at a game, and visits them before and after the game.
That's Jacob Rainey with Tim, Jacob was Tim's guest at the Buffalo Bills-Broncos game. Jacob was a high school QB who lost his leg after a freak tackle in a scrimmage. The Buffalo game wasn't the Bronco's better games - Tebow threw three interceptions in that Buffalo game and the Broncos were crushed 40-14.
Jacob described his meeting with Tim after the game: "He walked in and took a big sigh and said, 'Well, that didn't go as planned. Where I'm from, people wonder how sincere and genuine he is. But I think he's the most genuine person I've ever met."
Jacob got his prosthetic leg a few weeks ago, and he wants to play high school football next season. Yes, tackle football. He'd be the first to do that on an above-the-knee amputation. Where in the hell did he get a crazy idea like that???
"Tim told me to keep fighting, no matter what," Jacob said. "So I am."
And this is Zack McLeod, he and his mom & dad will be Tim's guests at today's game at the Patriots. If you watch the game you might catch Tim visiting with them before the game. Zack is from the Boston area and suffered a traumatic brain injury playing high school football. He nearly died, but is now recovering well. And while he still struggles to speak, when his parents told him they were going to be Tim Tebow's guest at the game he screamed "Nooooo waaaay!"
So yeah, I am not a Christian - but I do believe in Tim Tebow. I will confess to being a long suffering Denver Broncos fan, but when I compare Tim Tebow to the NFL QBs accused of abusing women to the point of date rape, think of a certain QB from Atlanta who squandered his talent and fame & fortune into building a dog fighting ring, I think Tim Tebow has already won a Super Bowl. He inspires people into believe in themselves, to believe that tomorrow will be a better, brighter day. There is no greater gift than that.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to practice some serious Tebowing before the big game.
I feel like the little girl from Miracle of 34th Street:
"I believe . . . . I believe . . . I know it's silly, but I believe."
