The Real Tim Tebow

It is funny how everybody knows the name TIM TEBOW. Your mailman, your grandma, and your pastor all have mentioned the name TIM TEBOW. Some talk about his heroics with the Denver Broncos. Some talk about his lack of throwing ability with a football. Some talk about his pose in prayer to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Other criticize him for his overt Christian faith. Not since Tiger Woods and the disintegration of his marriage, has a sports figure received so much attention from all corners of culture. Not a day passes on any single sports radio show in America without mention of Tim Tebow. There have been days that I have grown sick of all the Tebow talk, let alone sick of Tebow himself. I wonder: how does a guy like this get away with all this success? As a Christian, I have not made that personal connection with him. I still have a middle school student who loves to mention that when Tebow was in the womb there was a chance that he may have been aborted. I think that misses the point entirely. What I do know (and have read about time and time again) is that Tebow talks more about others and does more things for others than most professional athletes. He does not want us even to know about all the tickets he has given away to families who have lost loved ones, suffered through heart wrenching surgeries, or are living their last days looking for a ray of hope. Apparently, after the miraculous touchdown last Sunday to beat the Steelers in overtime, Tebow went into the stadium and spent an hour talking with a 16 year old named Bailey about her favorite television shows and the 73 surgeries she has gone through. It looks like Tebow is the real deal. Not the messiah. There are flaws galore. But he is the real deal. It is an amazing example to our young people. Back in the 90's, Charles Barkley used to do a shoe commercial were he said in bold letters to the camera: "I AM NOT A ROLE MODEL." The funny thing is that Tebow could do the same commercial and he would be speaking the truth if he exclamed: "I AM A ROLE MODEL." Of course, Tebow may skip the commercial and do something good for someone else instead. For today, consider me a fan!