Strange Superstar

I just saw today that Tim Tebow just came out with a book. It’s called “Through My Eyes,” mostly an auto-biographical sketch of his life and perspective. Don’t know when or if I will pick it up to read. I have just got several other books fresh from Amazon – an effort to encourage a habit I have always wanted (don’t know if it’s going to work). ‘That Hideous Strength’ and ‘Intellectuals and Society’ are two of those. Hopefully I will get the chance to read “Through my eyes”. Anyway, the release of the book reminded me of a few of his tremendous college football accomplishments (not to the exclusion of potential NFL accomplishments to come). I also reflected a bit on some of the cultural phenomenons that accompanied that career.

In my college memories (3 long years ago), no single athlete ignited college dudes’ heated conversations and unsolicited opinions like Tebow. The most common irritant - the perception of an over zealous Tebow-love and worship by the sports media certainly has some merit. The elite sportscasters adored him in those dynasty years at Florida. Thom Brennaman, announcing the 2009 BCS championship game, famously commented "if you're fortunate enough to spend five minutes or 20 minutes around Tim Tebow, your life is better for it.” After Tebow received an unsportsmanlike for performing the “gator chomp” in the face of OU outside linebacker Nic Harris, Brennaman joked that it “that might be the first thing he's ever done wrong.” Incidentally Tebow and the Gators went on to win the ‘09 championship.

More than that, I just remember a good deal of cynicism directed at him personally. When push comes to shove, there are a lot of people that recoil when they come to the realization that someone else’s life poses a threat to their worldview. In a recent interview on the ‘Daily Show,’ comic John Stewart exemplified this well. After they discussed some of his background as a missionary kid, football career, among other things, Stewart said:

“Wow. You seem like a real (expletive)!”

“I mean, but that’s how I try to come across.”- Tebow replied.

Of course, John Stewart is just one to have fun. But in the end that does pretty much sum up a common perception of Tebow. For a guy who wears John 3:16 on the eye black (seen by 93 million), goes to serve in other countries, and does pro-life commercials, the thing that makes the culture most uncomfortable about doing those things is that he seems happy doing them and that even as the money and fame increase, Jesus does not seem to become an inconvenience over time.

Many people would question writing an autobiography at age 23. In his defense.. if he waits too long, I think eventually not as many people will care, because let’s be honest – he’s just not an NFL style quarterback. Haha.