Back in July, in a ballroom in a Birmingham, Ala., hotel during Southeastern Conference media days, a reporter asked Tim Tebow the following question:
“I don’t mean to sound cynical, but between winning the national championship and winning the Heisman, saving the world in the Philippines and all, did you ever, like, sneak a cigarette when you were in high school? Do you ever do anything wrong? Do you feel like everything off the field is sort of on cruise control for you?”
Come on, now, you know you want to see how Mr. Tebow responded. Read it all.
What a fine comment. He recognizes that the football achievement gives him a certain leadership role, and he’s consciously trying to use it well. Good for him.
Don’t you hope people are listening? As a regular visitor to St. Augustine, Fla., I’ve followed, perforce, Tebow’s career for a long time. It’s hard for a Bulldog to admire a Gator, but …
Tebow is magnificent!
“Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest, lend less than thou owest.” – [i]King Lear[/i]
Wise beyond his years is Tim Tebow. It will be hard to root for Oklahoma tomorrow.
Tim Tebow is an admirable man, and I predict a Florida win. Of course, his answer, while true enough, has nothing to do with the Gospel.
Luke 18; 9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10″Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13″But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14″I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.
What I appreciate so much about this story is the impact a great role model can have
He was 9 years old when the devoutly Christian Wuerffel led Florida to the 1996 national title, becoming Tebow’s role model. He was 15 years old when he stood up and preached in front of 10,000 high school students.
Tebow was exposed to Wuerffel when he was *9* years old. Now, that’s a great justification for staying focused on the deliberate Christian formation of children and teens.
Kendall, thanks for posting this. I have never been a fan of UF particularly, but you have to stand in utter amazement at the witness who is Tim Tebow. #6 there are a lot of 9 year olds who were exposed to Danny Wuerffel, it’s just that most knew him just as the UF QB rather than a Christian athlete. Thankfully at least one saw the latter….
I LOVE Tebow and the Gators – big fan!! He really is the real deal, and it is fun to have such a cool dude to point to while watching endless hours of sports center and college ball – with my 16 year old and 8 year old sons. AND, it is also such a bonus to expose my 12 yo daughter to the kind of man she might want to hang out with some day!!
And, remember…. he is a young man – a college kid. Not a trained theologian. Cut him a break – and watch him play tonight!!
I can’t help but think that #5’s response is quite uncharitable towards Tim Tebow. Being in Jacksonville, it has been fun to watch Tebow’s illustrious football career. When he arrived at Florida, he was treated at the the Third Coming (Steve Spurrier in the 90’s was the Second Coming 🙂 ). Suprisingly, he has met or exceed all of the expectations placed on him in terms of football. I, being a follower of Jesus, can only hope that his character and faith remain as strong as his current football abilities. Go Gators!!