Allow me to make myself clear. I despise Florida football. Not just Florida University’s football program. The whole state. Any football team that takes on a Florida team is my favorite team that day. When two Florida teams take one another on, I’m rooting for some kind of natural disaster.
However. This kid Tim Tebow, who may be the best college quarterback in decades, is impossible not to like. And now this? Tim Tebow doesn’t know this but he’s making my life a bit more difficult. Why can’t he get thrown in prison or violate some NCAA rules like all the other kids in Florida schools.
Anyway, Tim Tebow, is asked if he’s saving himself for marriage and the answer surprised the reporters a bit. Check it out, if only for the reporters’ reaction.
And it gets better from there. Lifesite News reports:
It wasn’t the only controversial remark that Tebow made that day. In response to another question about whether or not people may be tired of the volume of coverage devoted to the young football star, Tebow, a devout Christian, said that the level of exposure he receives is a mixed blessing. However, he said, he looks at the positive side that, thanks to his fame, he has been able to share his Christian faith with so many people.
In addition, the football star told the reporters that he believes that the publicity given to his mother’s story has helped other women choose not to abort their unborn children. Tebow’s mother, who serves as a Christian missionary together with her husband, was pressured to abort Tebow following a life-threatening infection she suffered while pregnant with him. Doctors pressured her to abort her son to save her own life, but she ultimately resisted the pressure and both mother and child survived the birth.
“There has been a lot of people that have been encouraged not to have an abortion because they heard the story of my mom, or they have been encouraged because they have heard me give my faith on TV or in a report or something,” said Tebow.
“You know what, although there has been a backlash, oh, well. You know what, I’ll deal with it if I have to. It’s not a big deal to me because of the kids and people that have been encouraged by the stories we have tried to tell and by the life that I’ve tried to live.”
Growing up Tebow would often help his parents with their Christian mission work in the Philippines. He was homeschooled by his mother, who instilled in her children strong Christian values.
Tebow was the first home-schooled athlete to be nominated for the Heisman Trophy. “That’s really cool,” he said at the time. “A lot of times people have this stereotype of homeschoolers as not very athletic – it’s like, go win a spelling bee or something like that – it’s an honor for me to be the first one to do that.”
How do you not like this kid? I’ll find a way. Oh yes. I’ll find a way.
August 2, 2009 at 1:14 am
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August 2, 2009 at 1:14 am
Matthew, Matthew, Matthew, and to think I had respect for you…! LOL(my son is Thomas URBAN MEYER, by the way). You gotta love Tebow…and Urban too. You must have gone to college up north!
August 2, 2009 at 1:17 am
During the BCS championship game, I couldn't help but like him, too. Instead of the typical black marks under his eyes that many football players had, he had John 3:16 boldy printed, as shown here:
http://www.news.lalate.com/pictures/john3162.html
August 2, 2009 at 1:19 am
Tim…never give up on your team! We used to say, "wait til next year" (for about 10 years or so)
August 2, 2009 at 2:22 am
Gooooooooo Gators.
We have definitely been blessed the past decade at UF with high quality quarterbacks with high quality morals. In a day and age when football players are often thugs, gang members, and criminals, it is a pleasure to root for a man with such clear, strong faith as Mr. Tebow.
August 2, 2009 at 3:44 am
In Defense of The Children of Light gives a big shout out to the Gators!!!! My Alma Mater… 🙂
August 2, 2009 at 4:22 am
I just showed my 19 and 17 year old daughters this video and read the other statements from Tim Tebow. They already liked him (I think because I do so much) but they were so impressed. They like him even more now. Imagine how the pressure would be off if more guys like Tim Tebow (smart, athletic, very attractive, articulate) said, "Yes, I'm waiting." What a gift to the world that would be.
I'm most impressed with Tim Tebow because he is a young man who takes responsibility. They lost a major game, he gets up in front of the press/Nation and takes responsibility, he makes a promise and through hard work and sheer will we comes through. Imagine the pressure.
A young man who takes responsibility, that's rare and impressive. Well, I hope it's not as rare as it appears to be.
August 2, 2009 at 5:33 am
Meet the anti-Joe Namath!
August 2, 2009 at 5:57 am
Reason #1 – He didn't go to Penn State….
I'm with you Matthew, I'm also trying hard not to like him…
August 2, 2009 at 7:29 am
I keep trying to register on this site so as not to be anonymous, but have never succeeded. Apparently a PhD in Engineering is insufficient training to deal with these technocrats!
Be that as it may, Tim Tebow is one of the finest people alive. Bu it is "great to be a gator hater!"
Roll Tide!
August 2, 2009 at 8:37 am
Also, did you notice how the press (?) and others present laughed, a lot, at the thought of someone "saving themselves?"
Listen to it again.
They don't even think it's possible? Reasonable? Desirable?
August 2, 2009 at 9:27 am
Good for Tim. God bless him and we pray God helps him make good his vow of chastity until marriage.
Now, as for Mr Archbold, I'm clueless about the nearly pathological hatred of anything Florida. Couldn't pick up anything from the entry. At the same time, maybe I don't want to know. Never mind.
Matt (not an Archbold)
August 2, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Tim is a man of highest virtue. I once saw him walking by on campus and asked him to autograph my Latin homework. I saw him a few weeks later walking outside my department when two girls came by and asked him to sign….a part of themselves, and he outright refused. Not only a chaste man but possibly a secret papist.
August 2, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Googled around a bit and there's pictures of him and his lady-friend– both of whom look classy *and* attractive.
(This matters because the #1 response of folks to "so and so is a virgin" is "they're ugly." Clearly ain't so with this kid, so they'd try to attack his girlfriend– nope, not gonna work.)
August 2, 2009 at 7:14 pm
We're big Husker fans. But, you got to love Tebow! His parents did a great job raising him:)
August 3, 2009 at 5:26 am
Tebow is a great example for young people.
I wish there were more players like him in the spotlight.
Mr. H
http://www.allhands-ondeck.blogspot.com/
August 3, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Matt, I too am an avid gator hater. But I can say, that I am a big fan of this kid. I even find myself rooting for the Gators so that he can win. When he leaves, I will go back to my avid status.
Personally, I would like to see a Catholic player or two step up and witness like this. Sometimes or Protestant brothers and sisters put us to shame. This is one of those times.
August 3, 2009 at 2:50 pm
To anonymous- why are you gators so proud of yourselves? Please read what Holy Scripture says about pride. You could get another Charley Pell for your efforts.
August 3, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Riley, Yes, I am proud. I'm proud that our team has a God-fearing Coach and quarterback (and I'm sure others on the team too) who love Jesus. If they happen to be excellent on top that, why that's even better :). (Holy Scripture has alot to say about judging, too)
August 4, 2009 at 2:16 am
Okay, I have a reason to possibly not like Tim Tebow. Or maybe it's his parents.
Why were his parents doing "Christian mission work" in the Philippines? Isn't that a majority-Catholic country? Were they out to bring Jesus to Catholics? Ouch.
Maybe it wasn't when he was growing up; my history isn't what it should be.