Is Tim Tebow a great quarterback? I have no idea, but it sure looks like it.
There is a lot of controversy over Tebow's faith and whether a divine intervention is helping him win football games. But what I think is really happening is that, like every great leader, he has instilled in each teammate a faith in himself.
After watching my husband Phil shake his head when his beloved Chicago Bears became the latest victims of Tebow and the Broncos, what I do know is that Tim Tebow is one of those rare individuals who make everyone around him better, and who inspires his teammates and fans to dream big. Whether or not he ever wins another game, this is something to celebrate.
The last time I wrote about sports, it was with sadness about the misdeeds of Joe Paterno and the culture of football at any cost at Penn State, which led to the awful sex abuse scandal that is still playing out. Every day we read about the sports world's contract fights, the big salaries, the fistfights, suspensions and steroid abuse.
Well, for these last few Sundays, we have had something refreshing and uplifting. We have seen grit, determination, joy and the simple belief, that no matter what the score -- no matter how little time is left on the clock -- there is still hope if you dream big and believe in yourself.
As a country, we are facing some pretty tough times. The Tim Tebow story has captured our attention because it helps us remember that, like that favorite teacher told us when we were kids, we all have the power to reach our dreams and make the people around us better.
I can't say I am a big football fan, and I can certainly tell you that I have never rooted for the Denver Broncos. But you can bet that, like a lot of other people, I will be watching to see how this turns out!
At the final whistle, the score doesn't really matter. Tim Tebow and the Broncos are already winners.
Follow Marlo Thomas on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MarloThomas
By the way, is "God" the name of your "God?"
I prefer they understand that being great at something isn't magic, it's work.
Of course it doesn't help when people walk all over one's belief system with your "smarter than thou" attitude.
misapplied religion or misplaced zeal does muddy up the waters. i agree. but just wait until islam becomes a part of the political landscape. you haven't seen fanaticism yet. and it's coming.
Tebow isn't a saint. He's just a guy trying to do a good job and who also has a strong faith. I applaud Marlo Thomas for not being bigoted, biased and unfair.
How nice.
FTracy is correct, the hatred towards Tebow seems to be of the knee-jerk variety, built on an instant suspicion of anyone who expresses Christian/conservative beliefs. Personally, I'm a non-believing Libertarian, but I have no beef with Tebow because he doesn't judge people based on the fact that they may disagree with him.
Really?
Really???
Fanned and faved.
Is it that cut & dry that if you are pro-life you are in turn anti-women? That seems to be a pretty, er, rigid stance to have.
Religion is more about fear.
For those like Tebow to claim that his God looks down on him with favors in a football game, more than the next religious believer is why religion is a joke to the knowing..
Today millions on Planet Earth starve, Females are raped, tortured and killed, there are wars for profit, greed, Environmental degradation, yet God has time to watch Tebow play football?
You people who believe in religion will always believe in the Monsters under your bed!
Tim Tebow gets a lot of coverage of his beliefs for his public praying. Troy Palamalu prays just as much as Tebow and is at least equally strong in his beliefs but very little attention is given to Polamalu. Why? Is it that Polamalu is quieter about his praying? Troy Palamalu is a pro bowl, Super Bowl winning safety. The argument could be made that he is a better football player than Tebow. Where does that place each player along the strength of faith correlating to football ability continuum?
If we are going to continue covering professional athletes praying, why don't we see the photos or video of every NFL team praying together at the 50 yard line after every game?
As someone else put it, If God does exist he wouldn't care less about which athletes or teams win or play better.
And you're right...I've seen teams praying together...both teams hand in hand , praying after games , so why does Tebow garner such hate all of a sudden?