Salon.com > Tim Tebow

Religious right shuns black gay athlete

Thu, 09 May 2013 20:05:00 +0000

On April 29, the New York Jets released quarterback Tim Tebow from their roster after only a year on a team. In ironic timing, news almost immediately followed that Jason Collins, a veteran center in the NBA, had become the ﬁrst active male athlete in a major American team sport to come out as gay.

Collins and Tebow are a study in contrasts, perhaps especially when it comes to their faith. Tebow is known for game-saving theatrics and an equally performative profession of faith politicized by the culture wars. He’s positioned himself as an all-American poster child for the pro-life movement and homophobic groups like Focus on the Family. Collins, on the other hand, is a career role player who keeps his head down on the court and his devout Christian faith, rooted in family and community identity, private.

The last evangelical celebrity? Tim Tebow’s firing may signal a recession among the faithful

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:45:00 +0000

Tim Tebow, who captivated the nation in the 2011 football season with simultaneous unlikely wins and outspoken public faith, may never Tebow in front of thousands of fans again. Having been released by the New York Jets, some speculate he may need to consider a future in sportscasting, as there are few open positions he could occupy. He's been offered a position on an Omaha indoor football team, but maybe his biggest role -- as the evangelical world's biggest star -- seems fumbled.

Tim Tebow cancels appearance at controversial church

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:07:00 +0000

Tim Tebow has canceled a planned appearance at the First Baptist Church of Dallas because of “new information that has been brought to my attention,” he said.

Tebow released his statement in a series of tweets, saying: “While I was looking forward to sharing a message of hope and Christ’s unconditional love with the faithful members of the historic First Baptist Church of Dallas in April, due to new information that has been brought to my attention, I have decided to cancel my upcoming appearance. I will continue to use the platform God has blessed me with to bring Faith, Hope and Love to all those needing a brighter day. Thank you for all of your love and support. God Bless!”

Tim Tebow has broken ribs

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 14:01:00 +0000

Tim Tebow stood on the sideline with a cap on and his hands in his pockets as Jets fans chanted his name.

They wanted to see the backup quarterback in a 49-19 blowout loss to New England on Thursday night. Turns out, there was little chance Tebow would see a snap.

Tebow, who didn’t play at all, revealed after the game that he broke two ribs in the Jets’ loss at Seattle two weeks ago.

“They need a little time to get better,” Tebow said, adding that his breathing has been affected by the injury.

He was listed as questionable for the game with a rib ailment, but fully practiced Wednesday. Coach Rex Ryan had reservations about making Tebow active, deciding to use him only “if we absolutely had to have him,” and leaving third-stringer Greg McElroy inactive.

“I appreciate his concern,” Tebow said. “I had to do a little bit of talking just to dress, but I just want to be there for my teammates in case they needed me in an emergency situation.”

Tebow has had a limited role in the Jets’ offense this season after being acquired from the Denver Broncos in March. He was expected to add a dynamic element to the offense, particularly in the wildcat package, but he is averaging only about seven plays on offense.

Can Tebow find salvation?

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:45:00 +0000

[UPDATED BELOW]

You don't need to be an evangelical Christian to care about the future of Tim Tebow. I’m a lapsed atheist myself. But with the resurrection of quarterback Peyton Manning in Denver, I wonder most about the future of the spiritual scrambler, who led the Broncos to the playoffs last year.

The Broncos signing Manning to replace Tebow is a no-brainer. He may be diminished by age and injury, but he is also the best quarterback of our time, not because he is a brilliant coach’s puppet (Tom Brady) or an on-field, off-field brute (Ben Roethlisberger) but by virtue of a fierce work ethic and a concentrated intelligence that is contagious and inspirational. Whatever is left at age 35 of him will make the Broncos better.

Through 14 years and two Super Bowls with the Indianapolis Colts, there was something reassuringly manly about Manning, his cool leadership, his laconic but friendly demeanor, his thoughtful professionalism, that evoked my role models on the Encore Westerns channel like Marshal Dillon and Wagonmaster Flint. (Something went out of American life when the legend of the western hero was replaced by the myth of the sports idol.)

NFL pre-game question: Does God exist?

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:00:00 +0000

For football fans, the playoffs are always momentous. But one of this weekend’s games, between the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots, is especially significant. For among the questions that will be answered will be one that has long puzzled mankind: Does God exist?

In an attempt to answer that question, the tortured French philosopher Blaise Pascal came up with something called “Pascal’s wager,” also known as “Bet on God.” Pascal’s argument went something like this: Man cannot know for sure whether or not God exists, but he has nothing to lose and everything to gain if God does exist, so he should “bet on God.”

It wasn’t exactly the most overpowering argument for the existence of a supreme being ever made, but it is one that millions of atheists, agnostics and other non-believers have been forced to take seriously since Tim Tebow pulled on a Denver Broncos’ uniform.

What if Tim Tebow were Muslim?

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Tim Tebow's profession of faith has thrust the mixture of sport and religion into the national spotlight in a way that few can remember.

Students have been suspended for "Tebowing" -- dropping to one knee to pray, even if you're the only one doing it -- in a school hallway in New York. Rick Perry claimed that he would be the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses. "Saturday Night Live" lampooned Tebow’s fan-boy love for Jesus. In response, Pat Robertson has claimed that the skit demonstrates “anti-Christian bigotry.” His supporters even called for a boycott of HBO after a Bill Maher tweet made fun of Tebow and his relationship to Jesus after his Denver Broncos lost to the Buffalo Bills.

After an overtime upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend, Tebow's Broncos play the top-seeded New England Patriots on Saturday. For at least one more media cycle, there will appear to be no way to separate Tim Tebow – the person, the quarterback, the Christian – from his religion.

Don’t fall for Tebow

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:45:00 +0000

For a guy who has only started 11 games as a pro, Tim Tebow has already touched off more sour, unwinnable arguments to last a career. Is the Denver Broncos quarterback a pro-life religious zealot who needs to keep his fervor off the football field and out of the locker room? Is he destroying smashmouth football with his cutesy option play? It's a debate that consumes both sports radio and even the "Today" show -- and with Gingrich-esque momentum, the argument is going Tebow's way.

On Fox News, Tebow's 7-1 record this year is just the latest reason to attack a liberal straw man. "Tim Tebow's success as the quarterback of the Denver Broncos has done little to silence his critics, who believe that his faith in Jesus Christ has no business on the football field," writes Todd Starnes. "It doesn't matter how many touchdown passes he throws or how many games he wins because Tebow will always be a lightning rod for anti-Christian bigots."

Hallelujah! The liberal case for Tim Tebow

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 20:00:00 +0000

In the third quarter of last Sunday's NFL game between the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings, Tim Tebow takes a snap while standing in the shotgun position. He fakes a handoff to the running back, and then looks downfield to pass. But his receivers are all covered. He starts rolling out to his left. Viking tacklers converge at him from every direction. All hope for a productive play seems lost -- his only obvious option is to tuck the ball in, put his head down and try to bull forward for a yard or two. Which is not an altogether unreasonable choice: At 6 foot 3, 240 pounds, Tim Tebow is a load. But this play is still going nowhere.

Cue the Hallelujah choir. At the last possible second, just before he is knocked out of bounds, Tebow spots a receiver hanging around just 10 yards away and dumps the ball to him The play-by-play announcer is suddenly hollering in excitement: TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS! A few minutes later, as the camera catches Tebow on the sideline, his eyes blazing with the righteous intensity of an Old Testament avenging angel, the color analyst, former Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick, finally surrenders.