Tebow

[ledzepp8]

His point is Tebow prays in a less demonstrative fashion than probably 50% of the players in the league, therefore he isn't humble? I agree with you that he isn't the one who should be making it, but I don't think he really even has a point. Hate on Tebow's skills all you want, but to say he's not humble just seems like sour grapes to me.

This is exactly right. I don't get all of the Tebow hate. He goes to a knee and bows his head to God. The majority of athletes and celebrities praise God at some point. I think the only reason Tebow gets crap is because people know it's not just lip service...he actually means what he says.

[ccbird]

Jeez do I hate to admit this but Steven A Smith had a point today on First Take. The thing with Tebow is isn't that his praying isn't genuine in any way. However, I absolutely believe it's calculated that he prays so much in public. They were talking about how Tebow is an evangelic christian. So he's going to be over the top in a lot of the things he does with his faith. I believe everytime he gets down on a knee he knows the cameras are on and he is attempting to bring some people out there closer to Jesus.

[BaltimoreTerp]

This is exactly right. I don't get all of the Tebow hate. He goes to a knee and bows his head to God. The majority of athletes and celebrities praise God at some point. I think the only reason Tebow gets crap is because people know it's not just lip service...he actually means what he says.

That's not it.

[Spoonless]

Tebow gets crap because of how much (perceived) unearned hype there is surrounding him. The hate on one side grows directly proportionally to the growth of the hype machine. If he was going out there and playing like Aaron Rodgers, nobody would really think twice about the religious aspects he brings to the table.

[ledzepp8]

That's not it.

Well that post isn't at all ambiguous...

[BaltimoreTerp]

Tebow gets crap because of how much (perceived) unearned hype there is surrounding him. The hate on one side grows directly proportionally to the growth of the hype machine. If he was going out there and playing like Aaron Rodgers, nobody would really think twice about the religious aspects he brings to the table.

That's it.

[Dr. FLK]

Tebow gets crap because of how much (perceived) unearned hype there is surrounding him. The hate on one side grows directly proportionally to the growth of the hype machine. If he was going out there and playing like Aaron Rodgers, nobody would really think twice about the religious aspects he brings to the table.

So you hate him because he's hyped by other people, which ultimately is beyond his control? I'm all for irrational hatreds, don't get me wrong (just ask Beaner)...but no one really seems willing to admit to it in this case.

[glenn__davis]

Tebow gets crap because of how much (perceived) unearned hype there is surrounding him. The hate on one side grows directly proportionally to the growth of the hype machine. If he was going out there and playing like Aaron Rodgers, nobody would really think twice about the religious aspects he brings to the table.

I don't agree with this.

It is both.

He is hyped more because of his religious beliefs which cause him to be a sort of cult hero among the Christian community. Of course, he is also an extremely talented athlete, regardless of what you (universal) think of him as an NFL QB, who has already achieved much.

And let's be honest, there are plenty of people out there who just don't like religious people.

So I don't think he would be as accepted as you do if he were Aaron Rodgers in terms of skill level. But he also wouldn't be as hyped positively or criticized negatively if it weren't for the religious aspect.

It is a combination.

[Spoonless]

So you hate him because he's hyped by other people, which ultimately is beyond his control? I'm all for irrational hatreds, don't get me wrong (just ask Beaner)...but no one really seems willing to admit to it in this case.

I personally don't hate Tebow at all. This is just what I've seen. It seems most of the hate on him is because he's not really a very good QB, but is getting all this attention and all these accolades. I don't think the religious stuff is really a cause of the hate against him, it's just something that people who already dislike him pick on. They'd dislike him regardless of it.

[square634]

I personally don't hate Tebow at all. This is just what I've seen. It seems most of the hate on him is because he's not really a very good QB, but is getting all this attention and all these accolades. I don't think the religious stuff is really a cause of the hate against him, it's just something that people who already dislike him pick on. They'd dislike him regardless of it.

I think the religious part definitely plays a factor for me, so I agree with Glenn__Davis that it is a combination. For me, Tebow inspires the same general distaste as the people who knock on my door proselytizing because I think that's essentially what he is doing.

Also I can't stand the hypocrisy of the way certain religious groups attack anyone who doesn't worship Tebow as a cult hero, when many of those same groups would be extremely bigoted towards, say, a Muslim player who bowed towards Mecca after every touchdown.

[glenn__davis]

Also I can't stand the hypocrisy of the way certain religious groups attack anyone who doesn't worship Tebow as a cult hero, when many of those same groups would be extremely bigoted towards, say, a Muslim player who bowed towards Mecca after every touchdown.

Agree with this, however, do you think people would be mocking a Muslim doing that the way Tebow has been mocked? Would people be as open in their criticism of him?

No - it would be viewed as insensitive and intolerant. There would be outcries that that player should be allowed to worship in his own way and should not be made fun of.

[Dr. FLK]

Also I can't stand the hypocrisy of the way certain religious groups attack anyone who doesn't worship Tebow as a cult hero, when many of those same groups would be extremely bigoted towards, say, a Muslim player who bowed towards Mecca after every touchdown.

It goes both ways. Many of the people who hate him for displaying his faith would be praising his right to to do so if his faith was in the minority.

[square634]

Agree with this, however, do you think people would be mocking a Muslim doing that the way Tebow has been mocked? Would people be as open in their criticism of him?

No - it would be viewed as insensitive and intolerant. There would be outcries that that player should be allowed to worship in his own way and should not be made fun of.

Considering some of the things I have heard said even in the mainstream media about American Muslims, I honestly disagree with this. I think there would be a lot of current Tebow-fans who would feel uncomfortable, a small minority of whom would be vocally critical. Just look at Floyd Merriweather's comments about Jeremy Lin; just because it is insensitive and intolerant doesn't mean that people won't say it, or more importantly, believe it. Let's put it this way: Tebow can use football as a stage for his religious beliefs and faces mild criticism and backlash, while there are still no openly gay football players -- let alone gay players making gay pride symbols in the air or something equivalent -- because the prejudice and intolerance from fans and teammates would be too great.

I also disagree that many people who dislike Tebow would be praising his right to display his faith if it were in the minority. How often do you hear anyone praise Mitt Romney's right to be a Mormon? Honestly, everyone should agree that anyone has the right to free speech/religion, so it doesn't need to be explicitly praised/stated. If Tebow were Mormon, my distate would probably decrease to about half its current level, but only because he would invariably be less overhyped nationally. When someone comes to my door to proselytize, it is distasteful to me regardless of the particular specific religious affiliation, even though I acknowledge that they obviously have the right to proselytize. Do you think that the person on the other side of the door would be thinking "oh, you're an Evangelical Christian so I hate you, but if you were Muslim I would totally respect your right to preach to me."?

[ledzepp8]

It goes both ways. Many of the people who hate him for displaying his faith would be praising his right to to do so if his faith was in the minority.

Exactly.

[glenn__davis]

Considering some of the things I have heard said even in the mainstream media about American Muslims, I honestly disagree with this. I think there would be a lot of current Tebow-fans who would feel uncomfortable, a small minority of whom would be vocally critical. Just look at Floyd Merriweather's comments about Jeremy Lin; just because it is insensitive and intolerant doesn't mean that people won't say it, or more importantly, believe it. Let's put it this way: Tebow can use football as a stage for his religious beliefs and faces mild criticism and backlash, while there are still no openly gay football players -- let alone gay players making gay pride symbols in the air or something equivalent -- because the prejudice and intolerance from fans and teammates would be too great.

I agree whole-heartedly about the homosexuality issue, but I'm not sure what that has to do with the debate at hand. I mean I understand the point you're trying to make, but we're talking strictly religion here, not other forms of discrimination.

Regarding your first point, certainly there will always be knuckleheads that say dumb things on every issue. And I would say that the few who would criticize a Muslim would probably say more offensive things than those who criticize Tebow. But from a "quantity" standpoint, you would see far, far less of the mocking and derision that has been shown to Tebow.

I also disagree that many people who dislike Tebow would be praising his right to display his faith if it were in the minority. How often do you hear anyone praise Mitt Romney's right to be a Mormon? Honestly, everyone should agree that anyone has the right to free speech/religion, so it doesn't need to be explicitly praised/stated. If Tebow were Mormon, my distate would probably decrease to about half its current level, but only because he would invariably be less overhyped nationally. When someone comes to my door to proselytize, it is distasteful to me regardless of the particular specific religious affiliation, even though I acknowledge that they obviously have the right to proselytize. Do you think that the person on the other side of the door would be thinking "oh, you're an Evangelical Christian so I hate you, but if you were Muslim I would totally respect your right to preach to me."?

We are getting a little close to being political here - I could answer your first question, but don't really want to go down that road.

Regarding your last question, absolutely there are many people who think that. Many people. And there are many like yourself who don't care one way or the other which religion the person is as long as they leave you alone.