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Tebowing 101: Everything You Need To Know Behind Tim Tebow Phenomenon (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

The Huffington Post   First Posted: 11/03/11 02:54 PM ET Updated: 11/05/11 11:37 PM ET

In the frenzied, euphoric moments immediately following the Denver Broncos' stirring comeback win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 7, quarterback Tim Tebow enjoyed a quiet moment of reflection. After leading the Broncos back from a 15-point deficit in the final five minutes, the former Heisman Trophy winner took a knee and started to pray.

Amidst the post-game confusion, an internet phenomenon was born: Tebowing.

After the dramatic win, Denver native Jared Kleinstein and several friends snapped a picture of themselves in the same pose that Tebow took after the game. They dubbed the action "Tebowing" and posted their picture on Facebook. After the pic generated an unexpected number of likes and comments, the 24-year-old Kleinstein launching a website dedicated to Tebowing.

At Tebowing.com, Kleinstein and his cohort defined Tebowing:

To get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different.

Once the Tebowing.com was launched, others began submitting photos of themselves Tebowing all over the place. Believe it or not, the first photo they received (that wasn't from a friend of Jared's) came from Occupy Chicago

Within 48 hours of launching the site, Jared received a text message that read, "Tebowing on CNN." Kleinstein and his colleagues at StreetEasy.com began celebrating the news, but that was only the beginning of a full-on Tebowing blitz. All of the sudden, Tebowing was on ESPN, Fox Sports, The Huffington Post, CBS and any other media outlet covering sports news.

A week after that meme-inspiring Broncos' comeback, the Detroit Lions pummeled Denver, sacking Tebow seven times in the process. After linebacker Stephen Tulloch dragged him down for one of those sacks, he brought the Internet sensation onto the gridiron.

Some, like ESPN's Tony Kornheiser and Jamelle Hill, thought Tulloch "Tebowing" over Tebow went too far. Some believe that Tulloch was making fun of the religious aspect surrounding Tebow. But according to Kleinstein, Tulloch didn't go too far.

"I can't say it went too far, strictly because we didn't put a religious affiliation on it," Kleinstein said. "We allowed the public to make their own interpretation of it, but based on Tulloch's reputation as a stand-up guy we can safely assume he had the right intentions."

With talking heads debating the morality of Tebowing over Tebow on ESPN, there was little doubt that this act had reached the big time. Across the country, Tebowing was the new planking.

Nevertheless, it is still the second-most popular football celebration in Denver, where the Mile-High Salute still dominates.

"Both gave a way for Denver fans worldwide to unite using a single gesture, but Tebowing allows a non sports fan to identify with a cause," he said. "Whether you're going into surgery and want to unite with people praying around the world or you're just a Broncos fan excited about the game, you have something in common. Also, I haven't seen Terrell Davis Tebowing, which would be awesome."

The legendary Broncos running back isn't the only one he would like to see Tebowing. Kleinstein says he would love to see Diana Agron from "Glee" do the pose. Or Tim himself Tebowing.. next to president Barack Obama. For a historical figure, Kleinstein said he would like to see Moses Tebowing, "because then it would've been added into the bible, meaning it probably would be published in Websters dictionary rather than just Urban Dictionary."

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In the frenzied, euphoric moments immediately following the Denver Broncos' stirring comeback win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 7, quarterback Tim Tebow enjoyed a quiet moment of reflection. After l...
In the frenzied, euphoric moments immediately following the Denver Broncos' stirring comeback win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 7, quarterback Tim Tebow enjoyed a quiet moment of reflection. After l...
 
 
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Raccoon1
These are the times that try men's souls........
07:30 AM on 12/17/2011
So if a Muslim player was to face Mecca and thank Allah, that would be OK?
10:40 AM on 11/10/2011
We have thoughts on Tebowing! See here: http://www.singleforareason.com/tebowing-sweeps-the-nation/
10:18 PM on 11/09/2011
Sheesh you guys are petty.

In an emotional moment, he drops down a says a little prayer. As a non-religious person, sometimes I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths.

No big deal.

Between the "Jesus doesn't want you to do it that way" and the "quit ramming religion down my throat", you guys are taking things way too far.
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Raccoon1
These are the times that try men's souls........
07:28 AM on 12/17/2011
Somehow it's OK for students to block others from going to class, etc. by Tebowing, but it's not OK for 99%ers to be in a park expressing themselves for their Constitutional rights?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
curiousdwk
Global Citizen. Not Democratic, not Republican, n
11:01 PM on 11/08/2011
Ostentatious to the n'th degree. Look how righteous I am compared to everyone else. Please. Give me a break. Even Jesus said you should not pray in public but rather in your own space. But I realize that these people care not what Jesus said. Look at all Jesus said about the Pharisees and the Saducees and their praying in public and being ostentatious. WWJD? Definetely not this.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Olaugh
If you are sure, you've stopped listening.
09:25 PM on 11/08/2011
"When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." --Matthew 6:5-6 NASB Maybe Tebow should spend more time reading the Bible and less time writing verses on his face.
ThinkCreeps
Seriously, it's time.
06:24 PM on 11/08/2011
It's another great irregular verb

I tebow
You need to get a grip
He is a narcissist with a major cognitive dysfunction.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Vikingdave
Treat friend like it's your last time together.
12:36 PM on 11/08/2011
Really. Who cares.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Alex Christie
r evolution is coming
05:23 AM on 11/08/2011
If there is a god, does he really care who wins a football game? Is he really going to make one team win over another because one player prayed before taking the field? To believe in such a god is to believe that life has no meaning and that god is fickle and flawed. Is that not then blasphemy?
07:46 AM on 11/08/2011
False correlation. Are you stating that being fickle is a flaw? Or being selective? So you are a very flawed individual and therefore your life has no meaning..
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Raccoon1
These are the times that try men's souls........
07:29 AM on 12/17/2011
How righteous of you.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
adgreener
02:46 AM on 11/08/2011
I'd like to know what Tebow, his fans and the NFL would say if a muslim player was to breakout in prayer publicly while on the football field. This guy is an overrated, self absorbed hypocrite. It's kinda sickening to watch.
02:57 PM on 11/08/2011
How is he a hypocrite?
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Olaugh
If you are sure, you've stopped listening.
09:26 PM on 11/08/2011
Read Matthew 6:5-6 and you will have all the evidence you need.
12:29 PM on 11/24/2011
jesus said if you pray in public for men to see you are a hypocrite. jesus said to pray in the closet in private. jesus called tim tebow a hypocrite.
09:35 PM on 11/07/2011
Where was the backlash against Kurt Warner? He did this sort of thing all the time.
08:37 PM on 11/07/2011
Palates
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jf12
Esta vez saldré como las otras y me escaparé.
04:53 PM on 11/07/2011
FTTI (for Tim Tebow's information) the actual Biblical generic prayer posture is standing upright with the hands upraised in the orans posture.
07:48 AM on 11/08/2011
Precisely, because kneeling or hands clasped is heathen, straight from the Germanic tribes.
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jf12
Esta vez saldré como las otras y me escaparé.
08:09 AM on 11/08/2011
And head bowed is opposite of open face and uncovered head.
02:20 PM on 11/07/2011
................................................."The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18
06:57 PM on 11/07/2011
Psalm 137:9
"Happy and blessed shall he be who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock!"
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Olaugh
If you are sure, you've stopped listening.
09:29 PM on 11/08/2011
ooooooo... You beat me to it. I just love (read as hate) it when people use Biblical verses out of context as if they have some awesome meaning.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Olaugh
If you are sure, you've stopped listening.
09:30 PM on 11/08/2011
What do you mean by this? Do you understand the meaning of the passage or are these just some ritual words you use to defeat those you see as your adversaries?
12:53 PM on 11/07/2011
I have always prefered ,for myself,silent prayer and thanks while I'm out in public.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Olaugh
If you are sure, you've stopped listening.
09:31 PM on 11/08/2011
Amen!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
John Camp
Husband/Pastor/Scholar
12:17 PM on 11/07/2011
As so often happens someone seeks to display his piety before men instead of to God Tebow has become a laughing stock and has dragged the reputation of Christ and his church through the mud. "Tebowing" is the exact kind of behavior that is taught against in Matthew 6:1-8.
09:19 PM on 11/07/2011
Jesus also said,

"Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33

I think the fact that most people openly mock Tebow's prayers...and he knows that they mock his prayers...seems to rule out the whole " I'm doing this to impress people" thing.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
John Camp
Husband/Pastor/Scholar
11:34 PM on 11/07/2011
Look at the context of Matthew 10. It is about following Jesus even when it results in the shattering of familial relationships, it has absolutely nothing to do with public professions. It is about valuing Christ more highly than maintaining family relationships. Mathew 6 on the other hand is very clearly about doing things to be noticed by men. I don't know the condition of Tebow's heart but I am certain that no one does what he does in the places he does it not seeking to make a public statement and to be noticed by men. And he seems to have impresses you, maybe you represent his target audience.
09:27 AM on 11/08/2011
Hes not a laughing stock to me. I rather see someone that is trying to be a good Christian than pull for Ben or Vick. Hes just doing the best he can. That's all any of us are doing.
John if you are/were a Pastor than you should see this. Have a great day.
12:35 PM on 11/24/2011
...being a good christian by praying that god will let your team win just because you're on it. if i was god, these types of prayers would be the ones that annoy me the most. i would rather hear the prayers for the sick and the poor. you know, real issues.