The Back Alley Archives

But there have already been a ton of questions about Tebow and his game, enough concerns in some observers’ minds to think he’ll never be much of an NFL quarterback. While he worked hard in the spring to correct the hitch in his delivery, he reverted to the old habit in the preseason game against Cincinnati. He seemed to be thinking too much instead of throwing and the Bengals defenders seized upon his hesitation, hitting him several times. And then on his one heroic, old college play (with the Broncos trailing by 16 points at the time), the very thing that’s supposed to make him a “winner” in the NFL has put his second exhibition game in doubt.

Not to get too hot, but I read an article about how the sports media is not much different than the regular media and there may be some animosity around his faith...being a Christian these days is like being some sort of a freak in the journalistic elite circles...and sports writers are often like the little brothers who want to be just as respected as their big brothers in the "real news".

With rare exception (Denver Post columnist Woody Paige predicted stardom, maintaining that murder and mayhem are not the only qualifications for NFL success), the journalists have delighted in disparaging the Tebows as too "Christiany," a journalistic synonym for "fascist." You know, the kind of people whose vocal love for Jesus conjures up thoughts of a "Nazi rally," as the largest Boston sports radio station described a family gathering.

Tebow and his family are disliked because they are emphatically traditional, loving, and Christian. One Slate writer admitted to "queasiness on the part of media elites (me included) over the idea that the family really believes what it says it believes."