Praying, the Gravest Offense?
Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has managed to achieve fame (or infamy) across leagues. Yesterday, during Toronto Maple Leafs Fan Night, winger Colton Orr celebrated his shootout goal during a scrimmage by mimicking Tebow’s pre-game praying. I don’t mind Orr’s Tebowing. In my opinion, the most important part of the Tebow phenomenon is the harsh criticism Tebow’s religious expression has drawn from former players and many in the media. Former Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer instructed Tebow to “Shut up” about his religious faith. Former CNN host Bill Press exhibited his intellectual nuance and left wing tolerance of dissenting views when he told Tebow to “Shut the [deleted] up.” The negative attention paid to Tebow seems particularly odd considering the ongoing problems with NFL player conduct. Even if Tebow’s worse detractors are right, all Tebow has done is pray too much. He hasn’t shot himself in the leg with an illegal firearm like Plaxico Burress. Tebow has received vicious criticism and mockery for praying, Plaxico Burress has managed to return to the NFL without attracting a fraction of the controversy of Tim Tebow’s pre-game prayers. Donte Stallworth, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson have served significant stretches in prison (Stallworth missed an entire season due to his jail sentence for DUI Manslaughter) without spending weeks being kicked around by the media. I am unaware of any criticisms Jake Plummer lobbed towards former teammate Travis Henry when Henry was sentenced to three years in prison for cocaine trafficking. As far as I know, Bill Maher has yet to refer to Pacman Jones as a “[Deleted] bag” for Jones’ role in a Las Vegas strip club shooting that paralyzed a man. What does it say about the culture of the American media at large that Tim Tebow draws more fire for praying than numerous other players have for committing serious crimes?
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Comments:
May '10
Re: Praying, the Gravest Offense?
Hey, God just ain't popular. :-\
Aug '11
Re: Praying, the Gravest Offense?
I think the above comment may be true. Or maybe it's just that there is a belief that God shouldn't be introduced in sports? I've heard some people argue, regarding the Tebow pro-life commercial, that sports was the last "safe place" from politics and religion. Maybe people see Tebow as ending that, so they are made uncomfortable?
I'm just putting that out there. And I had no idea about some of the things going on in the NFL mentioned in the opening post. I was aware of the controversy regarding Tebow though. To me it all seems silly. People comment on Tebow's "Tebowing," but I also wonder if the sports world is doing so because it's something new to talk about.
But then again, I'm not someone who cares about sports so it isn't really on my radar screen.
Feb '11
Re: Praying, the Gravest Offense?
The attacks on Tebow are just part of the media assault on Christianity and morality. The idea that there is a God, good and evil, right and wrong is so passé and interferes with their promotion of anything goes in human behavior and programming.
Dec '11
Re: Praying, the Gravest Offense?
Frankly, real sports fans don't focus on a player's religious beliefs. Umm... stats, anyone?!