Tebow Critics Get "Tebotomy." No Fair Praying?

JoeClarke.Net ^ | 1.8/2012 | JoeClarke.Net

[joeclarke]

I'm not a big time football fan, even though I played my fair share of football back in the day. What a thrilling end to the Denver - Pittsburgh game when Saint Tebow threw the game winning, overtime pass to the similarly remarkable Demaryius Thomas.

Just as interesting as the game itself has been the media's game of trashing Tim Tebow for his praying and showing "excessive celebration" on the field by kneeling on the turf, poining his fingers up to the Lord, and other Christian confessions.

The media has lightened up a bit after seeing and believing Tim's talent, but the agnostic jock wonks who hated Rush Limbaugh and Dennis Miller for their conservative stances seemed all too anxious to pile on Mr. Tebow.

Here are a few highlights of journalists and jocks who have gotten their heads handed to them (call it a Tebotomy) after another miraculous win by the Denver Broncos:

Rick Snyder, sports writer for the Washington Examiner "Tebow Time Is About To Expire"

Rabbi Joshua Hammerman in the Jewish Week "If Tebow wins you will see an emboldening to burn mosques and bash gays.

Bill Maher of HBO Real Time tweeted "Wow Jesus just f---d Tim Tebow real bad. . . " I faxed HBO on that one, and there has been a boycott of HBO initiated.

Keith Olbermann Countdown To No Ratings on the Al Gore cable channel defended Maher, of course.

Baltimore Ravens Linebacker Terrell Suggs suggests that Tebow prays too much, and "I don't feel comfortable I gotta pray "Oh God, please, save me again."

Detroit Linebacker Stephen Tulloch mocked Tebow in a tweet for his "Tebowing," and performed a mock Tebow during a Detroit Lion game recently. Note: the Lions just lost their chance to advance in the NFL playoffs.

Saturday Night Live mocked Christ (worse than mocking Tebow) last week when "Jesus" entered into the Bronco locker room and suggested that Tebow study the play book more, and pray less.

Sky Jethani, religious writer at the Huffington Post (Yes, they have a Religion section) accused Tebow of being a hypocrite for praying in public, referencing a piece by gay activist Andrew Sullivan.

Andrew Sullivan, flamboyant gay writer, at the Daily Beast accused Tebow of being a hypocrite because he prays in public, contrary to Jesus warnings to "pray in private" in the Sermon on the Mount. Note to Andrew Sullivan: Sodomy is not a Biblical blessing, contrary to what the Episcopalians and Methodists say, and the Book of Acts in the New Testament mentions public prayer 16 times. I think they understood the commands of Jesus a bit more accurately than Andrew Sullivan.

It really hit home when a former fellow Denver quarterback, Chris Plummer, advised Tebow not to be so flamboyant in expressing his faith

Amidst all this, Tim Tebow has never bashed his critics. In fact, Tim Tebow's response to Chris (named after somebody named Christ, maybe?) was this:

"If you're married, and you have a wife, and you really love your wife, is it good enough to only say to your wife 'I love her' the day you get married? Or should you tell her every single day when you wake up and every opportunity?

"And that's how I feel about my relationship with Jesus Christ is that it is the most important thing in my life. So any time I get an opportunity to tell him that I love him or given an opportunity to shout him out on national TV, I'm gonna take that opportunity. And so I look at it as a relationship that I have with him that I want to give him the honor and glory anytime I have the opportunity. And then right after I give him the honor and glory, I always try to give my teammates the honor and glory.

"And that's how it works because Christ comes first in my life, and then my family, and then my teammates. I respect Jake's opinion, and I really appreciate his compliment of calling me a winner. But I feel like anytime I get the opportunity to give the Lord some praise, he is due for it." Tim Tebow. Amen, brother!!

[brewguru]

I know the pass you mention. He didn’t step into it. He kind of stepped to the right and it went low.

I think they can get him throwing the ball well. You don’t always have to throw a pretty spiral. Look at Billy Kilmer. If you’re old enough, you remember he never threw a spiral but got the job done!

He’s not done yet this year and he’ll get a lot more preseason work before next season.

[Bellflower]

Thank you for the football lesson!

[driftless2]

I’m not saying Tebow can’t develop into a decent passing quarterback. I’m just saying, as countless others have pointed out, his mechanics need a lot of work. I’m sure there are people working with him, and he only has to look to John Elway for advice in that matter. The Broncos are winning, and that’s all that matters. If they can keep on winning with a poor to mediocre passing game, it won’t matter. I wish the best for Tebow, but as I’m a Packer fan, it’s no skin off my teeth if he doesn’t pan out.