Over the course of the 2008 football season, TV announcers and other media members fell all over themselves to anoint Florida quarterback Tim Tebow as not just a great football player, but a great human being who should make the rest of us bow down in humble adoration. That attitude reached a nauseating crescendo at the BCS National Championship Game, when Fox's Thom Brennaman informed us that Tebow was the world's greatest man -- even as Tebow was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.If you were hoping we had put the media sucking up to Tebow behind us after the 2008 season, I have some bad news for you: It's going to continue in 2009.
We still have six weeks to go before college football starts, but ESPN's Colleen Dominguez gave us a taste of things to come on the red carpet at the ESPY Awards Wednesday night. Here's how Dominguez opened her brief interview with Tebow:
"Tim, you're nominated for a couple things tonight. Best Moment: When I think that you said, uh, you promised some things were going to be different the second half of the season. So that's pretty, uh, bold move that really paid off for you."Yes, Tebow delivered a fiery speech after a Florida loss. I'm not sure how "bold" it is for a quarterback to say the team has to play better after a loss, and I'm not sure how much it paid off (I think the fact that Florida was the most talented team in the country probably had a little more to do with the Gators winning the national championship), but if it wins the ESPY for Best Moment, well, OK, fine.
But then Dominguez got really ridiculous, asking Tebow about his decision to return to Florida for his senior season.
"Did you listen to any of the critics who said, 'Why is he staying? It's time for him to go?' " Dominguez asked. "Did that play into your thoughts at all?"
Dominguez doesn't name any of those "critics." Probably because there were none. Look, Tebow is a great college football player, but no one considers him a sure-thing first-round draft pick, and I don't recall anyone in the know saying it was time for him to turn pro after his junior season. If you want to paint a college quarterback as doing a noble thing by turning down millions of dollars to stay in school, Sam Bradford is your man, not Tim Tebow.
Dominguez also told Tebow, "The season hasn't even started, and all I read is that you're the clear-cut favorite for the Heisman." Overall, she did her best impression of Brennaman, and that gave me a sick feeling about what autumn Saturdays are going to be like this year.
None of this is a criticism of Tebow, who is, to repeat, a great college football player -- not to mention a young man who's unfailingly polite around fans and the media. The criticism is leveled at Brennaman, Dominguez, and the countless other TV talking heads who can't stop treating Tebow like he walks on water. It gets really tiring, and it's only going to get worse.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
How can you say anything bad about the kid....
tebow is an amazing kid how could u say anything bad bout him?
i know you gators are capable of actually reading this article, and not simply coming to the defense of your messiah without any comprehension of the discussion.
the article says nothing bad about tebow, but about the media, and is completely justified.
You know it would be a sad day if Tebow was killed in a accident. It may be as big as Jackson's death in the media. We all would be sad, what a waste. So Media, lay off of Tebow and treat him like anyone else.
Another douchebag writer. he says to make his point something taken out of context: even as Tebow was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.
I think he made the gator chomp and it was after all the taunting and trash talking that the other side and their fans had been doing.
If I remember Right the MEDIA was sayig before that FLORIDA was going to get smoked in much of the Country you arrogant little pr1ck.
Actually Ryan you are an idiot as I already pointed out where the writer tried to make out a simple gator chomp as though Tebow killed the virgin mary. OMG they said he was a good player even after he commited a hugeee foul!! Those MEDIA guys suck up to him too much and he is just over rated...That is the whole tone of it and has been by this guy before so stick it Ryan.
YEAH RYAN this is a lot of sucking up that the writer is pointing out ..... Wednesday night. Here's how Dominguez opened her brief interview with Tebow:
"Tim, you're nominated for a couple things tonight. Best Moment: When I think that you said, uh, you promised some things were going to be different the second half of the season. So that's pretty, uh, bold move that really paid off for you."
OK if that is sucking up,You must be kissing the writers A SS ight now. Since your backing up his idiotic statements and all.
None of this is a criticism of Tebow, who is, to repeat, a great college football player -- not to mention a young man who's unfailingly polite around fans and the media. The criticism is leveled at Brennaman, Dominguez, and the countless other TV talking heads who can't stop treating Tebow like he walks on water. It gets really tiring, and it's only going to get worse.
Umm yeah it was plenty of criticism of him in what you wrote you downed him every chance you got including the dig about Bradford who mind you lost more games but was given the Heisman.. Oh is the MEDIA treating Tim too much like OBAMA? oh you must HATE that it gets really tedious doesn't it? WELL you MEDIA clowns think OBAMA can wak on WATER and he is not exactly a nice polite guy sooo why can't others like Tebow when he is a far nicer and much more poite and listen to this actually did things for the Community and Aborad helping orphans hmm similar to how McCain and family did btw...neither of them just HAD your help in he MEDIA fawnng al over a fake that never helped a community in his life. That is ike the cheerleader padding her community service by visiting the old folks homes a few minutes f a fw days and saying she helped put together and outreach program in her community LMAO What a crock!!!
this writer is very correct! all I ever heard about all football season long was how tim goes and volunteers in 3rd world countries and he is the best kid ever and "has never done a thing wrong in his life". that's not people talking about his football skills- they are idolizing him! while that all may be noble stuff, guess what? I know of many football players who volunteer their time but they don't get that same recognition
did anyone even know that sam bradford has a 4.0 with a finance major? why does that not give him national attention?... most football players barely pass their sociology major classes
my point is, this guy is right. tim tebow is a good football player but not THAT good. he's just being worshipped - yes worshipped - because he does things that people do everyday. and happens to be a QB. he'll be forgotten in 10 years.
For all you Teblow man-crushers: He contraditcs himself all of the time. Won't sign autographs for little kids...hmmm they might be making money off him. That must be another way to promote "his religion." Taunting call in championship game-very religious like. John 3:16 or any other biblical reference on his eye black...he's saying to the world: "look at me I'm marketable". He gets his panties in a bunch when Mel Kiper or anyone else criticizes his QB abilities at the next level. Quite a humble religious young man, he's not egotistical at all. Finally the reporter that asked him if he was a virgin should have asked him if he ever ejaculated. Then should have followed up with: "Into an orifice, or just on your girlfriends face". I get the feeling we'll soon find out about TBow smokin pot, getting DUI's, and raping some lowly employee at a hotel.
are you repressing homosexual thoughts about Mr Tebow? anyway-the guy is the most exciting player in college footfall and plays with alot of guts. Better more guys like hin in FB than that scumbag Vick
What an idiot this writer is. Someone of character comes across our path and he puts out crap like this. He should get paid to do something else. I'm a Tennessee fan yet have respect for a winner inspite of sorry attitudes like this.