Tim Tebow: Football and Christian Privilege
From BlagHag.com: http://www.blaghag.com/2009/11/tim-tebow-football-and-christian.html
One consequence of my being home for the holidays is watching a lot of football with my dad. I'm currently watching Florida destroy Florida State, but the conversation at the McCreight house isn't focused on football - it's on Tim Tebow.
Tebow is the senior quarterback for Florida. He's well known not only for his great football skills, but for his evangelical Christianity. He was home schooled by missionary parents and noticeably writes Bible verses across his face while playing. For example:
Personally, I have no idea why he's allowed to do this (and neither does my dad - yay ranting about religion with your family). I have a really hard time imagining a football player being able to write "Allahu akbar" across his face in Arabic, or even worse, "There is no God." Even if the NCAA would legally allow these other sayings, the fallback from fellow players, coaches, and fans would be so great that a Muslim or atheist player probably wouldn't even consider it. I don't know about you, but I feel uneasy enough labeling myself as an atheist on the internet - I'm not going to do it when 300 pound men are actually supposed to come tackling me.
But it's not just because of its religious. By writing anything distinctive on his face, he's drawing attention to himself. Showboating after touch downs is explicitly forbidden in college football, yet drawing attention to yourself with Bible verses is okay? I guess the news network is partially to blame for this. CBS is currently using every chance to zoom in on Tebow's face and use that as TV filler - would they be doing this without the Bible verse? No, at least no where near to this extent.
If that's not enough, the CBS announcers took the time to read the actual verse that Tebow was referencing today. It was Heb 12: 1-2, though they only read the first line:
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.Good call leaving off all the Jesus heavy part, at least. They claimed they should read it since it was obviously important enough for him to select and write on his face. So do I get to select passages I find meaningful and have them read on national television? Yes, if it's a Bible verse.
This isn't about censoring Christians so that they can never talk about their faith. There is a time and place for such discussions, and representing a public university in college football is not it. This is about illustrating that you're rewarded for expressing your Christianity, but everyone who disagrees better keep it to themselves. Christians are a privileged group, and crying "Oppression!" as loudly as they can doesn't change the facts.
Damnit! I already *did* this, Commish! (That's what my comment here was all about on the thread with Tebow carrying the cross.) I made this 'shop to point out the sheer hypocrisy of bragging about your religion to a few of my family and friends... you can see it here; http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/fark_raving_mad/TEBOW_akbar.jpg
As I stated previously, feel free to share it as you see fit. The more people that see it, the better.
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tebow is a undercover fag who likes sucking little boy dick 18 and older of course
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is tebows mommy going to hold him after his lost to bama we all know hes going to cry like a bitch
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Here's a new one in honor of today's game; http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/fark_raving_mad/Tebow_PWNED.jpg
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Even though I am a Christian, I can't stand Tim. I think the reason is that I feel he is exploiting his faith to gain attention. It has been a huge marketing ploy for him. There are dozens of star players that are believers. You may see a point to the man upstairs after a good play, but you don't see them shoving their "I'm so holy" attitude down people's throats. In reality, he isn't the only guy on the team that is a great athlete. I feel sorry for the other players who never get any media attention because of him.
And, his never lose again speech? He seems that he'd do anything to win. I bet we'll see something big come out about him down the road. Similar to Tiger Woods. He'll cheat with enhancing drugs, or something.
Although I am a Florida native, I am happy to see that Tim will not be playing in the title game. I am ready for new faces and more humble stars.
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Most athletes appear on a box of Wheaties, not Tim Tebow. He'll be the first to appear on a box of Kleenex. He's gonna win the Criesman Trophy for sure.
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Came across this via Facebook. There's a Tide fan out there who deserves a big high five. http://redlabelsports.com/
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I agree with you 100%. He should not be allowed to wear Bible versus on his face paint. Remember Jim McMahon wanting to wear some guys name on his headband, a friend of his...and he got fined for it? If he'd have worn a Bible verse on his headband would it have made a difference? If so...that's bad. I find it offensive and a little weird to be honest.
Don't worry though, his time is coming. Those like him always get it in the end. He's going to be one of those Christian holy roller Bible beaters who fall so hard that it'll feel like an earthquake when he hits the ground. Remember Jimmy Swaggert? Tebow already knows how to cry good for TV viewing...he'll be balling his eyes out just like good old Jimmy was when he's caught with a stripper or a prostitute or some trampy girl...it's bound to happen. You can see it coming for him like an out of control freight train.
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I laugh at all of you people. If Tebow played on your team you wouldn't feel the same way. Derek Jeter has/had been treated the same way. Clean cut, class act, winner...just too good to be true and all people could ever say was how much sucked.
People hate a winner...well...that is if it's not a member of the team they follow. Get over your jealous selves, the kid is a breath of fresh air.
He's not getting arrested for stealing, robbing, doing drugs, carrying guns, running an illegal dog fighting operation or getting in a brawl in a strip club at 4:00am.
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This site is great! So here's my take: Yes, Tebow is probably a pretty good guy. Yes, I would have loved to have him on my college team, as they currently suck (CU Buffs). BUT...the media is the reason for the backlash on him. Americans like an underdog. We also like people who have overcome personal failures and bettered themselves; even hard luck cases where people keep trying and failing, but get back up. That's why we like guys like John Daily. What we don't like is to be repeatedly hit over the head with how "perfect" someone is. I don't remember the announcers name, but when I heard, on national TV, the quote: "Anyone who meets Tim Tebow is a better person for it..", I pretty much wanted to puke. During the bowl game against Cincinnati, one of the announcers went on and on about how appalling it is that there are people out there cynical about Tebow. The more the media preached to us what an amazing person Tebow is, the more the backlash grew....and grew. He's also not doing himself any favors with the bible verses on his face; I thought that was reserved for the freaks in the end-zone that hold up the John 3:16 sign during x-tra points.
But, thankfully, the media circus is all but over on this "uber-mench", because his college career is over, and his chances of making an NFL team are slim to none. We'll just have to wait for the next Mr. Perfect. Maybe this one will be Jewish...or Hindu....or atheist....
If the media weren't
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This site is great! So here's my take: Yes, Tebow is probably a pretty good guy. Yes, I would have loved to have him on my college team, as they currently suck (CU Buffs). BUT...the media is the reason for the backlash on him. Americans like an underdog. We also like people who have overcome personal failures and bettered themselves; even hard luck cases where people keep trying and failing, but get back up. That's why we like guys like John Daily. What we don't like is to be repeatedly hit over the head with how "perfect" someone is. I don't remember the announcers name, but when I heard, on national TV, the quote: "Anyone who meets Tim Tebow is a better person for it..", I pretty much wanted to puke. During the bowl game against Cincinnati, one of the announcers went on and on about how appalling it is that there are people out there cynical about Tebow. The more the media preached to us what an amazing person Tebow is, the more the backlash grew....and grew. He's also not doing himself any favors with the bible verses on his face; I thought that was reserved for the freaks in the end-zone that hold up the John 3:16 sign during x-tra points.
But, thankfully, the media circus is all but over on this "uber-mench", because his college career is over, and his chances of making an NFL team are slim to none. We'll just have to wait for the next Mr. Perfect. Maybe this one will be Jewish...or Hindu....or atheist....
If the media weren't
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