Love him or hate him, Tim Tebow has exploded into the national spotlight, which is really saying something when you've already won the Heisman Trophy.
With Tebow and the Denver Broncos heading East to take on Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in a prime time game Saturday, Jan. 14 after defeating Pittsburgh in overtime last week, Tebow-fever has reached at an all-time high.
Few players are as polarizing as Tebow, voted recently as America's favorite athlete and also name the top influencer in America. After Sunday's the win against the Steelers, there were more than 1 million mentions of Tebow, Tebowing and Tebow Time on Twitter. This is also because of the ongoing debate about his flawed mechanics, his quarterback ability, and how good he really is, or isn't going to be in the NFL.
While the debate will continue well beyond this weekend's round of games about his quarterback skill set, and many fans and including the ever-outspoken Charles Barkley have already grown tired of all the Tebow talk, there are many reasons for fans to root for the quarterback.
1. He's talented: With all the talk of Tebow's flawed mechanics, it's easy to forget he's still a pretty good quarterback. Bottom line is, you don't get the starting job at the University of Florida as a freshman without some talent, you don't win the Heisman Trophy without some talent, and you don't get drafted in the first round without some talent.
2. He's a Role Model: Plenty of big-time athletes rise to popularity, but so many of them fall from grace in disgrace. I don't believe you'll ever see Tebow in the tabloids like Kobe Bryant or Tiger Woods, and I'd doubt there will be any breaking stories of a paternity suit in the future.
3. He's a winner: Tebow led Florida to two National Championships and went 48-7 as the starter in four years. This year he led Denver to six wins in a row, and yes they backed into the playoffs, but Tebow put his team into position to get there with a win or a loss in the final week and deserves some credit for doing so no matter how the Broncos go into the postseason.
4. He's True to His Convictions: Tebow seems to truly practice what he preaches about his religious beliefs. Like it or not, you have to admire his convictions.
5. He's An Underdog: Everybody loves an underdog.
Sources:
Football History, The Gator Zone.
"Charles Barkley says he's tired of Tebowmania," The Denver Post.
Cathy Lynn Grossman, "It's Tebow Time: Denver Quarterback Inspires Nation," USA Today.
"The Top Ten Best (and Worst) Influencers alive," PR Web.