(above : rare recent image of Tim Tebow, neither on his back or one knee).
The “Tebowing” craze/meme was noted in this space last week, and during Detroit’s thorough humiliation of Denver QB Tim Tebow last Sunday, some of the Lions couldn’t resist jumping on the bandwagon. For ESPN.com’s Jemele Hill, such parodies of the 24-year-old virgin are tantamount to religious persecution (“I don’t care if Tebow is cemented as a NFL failure, that doesn’t give people license to mock his faith”).
Detroit’s Stephen Tulloch and Tony Scheffler probably didn’t intend to disrespect Tebow’s faith with their celebrations. But if Tebow were Muslim or Jewish, would Tulloch and Scheffler have been so quick to execute a prayer parody? Would columnists, such as my friend Dan Wetzel — whom I respect a great deal — encourage those who were offended by Tulloch’s and Scheffler’s Tebowing to just lighten up?
“I think the linebacker for the Lions was attempting to not mock God, but to mock Tebow and have fun with it,” said Gordon Thiessen, the director for training and resources for the Nebraska Fellowship of Christian Athletes, “but it was still in bad taste and inappropriate, at best.”
Tulloch’s and Scheffler’s actions represent an undercurrent of jealousy that some NFL players feel toward Tebow because of the publicity he receives. Several of ESPN’s NFL analysts have been quick to point out the other successful college quarterbacks with Tebow’s limitations who never received an NFL start and certainly weren’t drafted in the first round.
Tebow is a juicy target because he receives so much media coverage and he’s often depicted as a Goody Two-Shoes. It’s not Tebow’s fault, but it makes it that much easier for his critics to revel in his failures and give extra motivation to his opponents.
At least Hill took the time in her ESPN piece — unlike Darren Rovell — to acknowledge those who dislike Tebow might have a reason beyond jealousy. But as for the question, “what if Tebow were Muslim or Jewish?”, I’m gonna take a wild guess that he’d not find nearly as much acceptance for public demonstrations of his faith — assuming they were taking place on an NFL sideline. Tebow’s ability to worship freely has not, to my knowledge, been threatened by anyone. By contrast, how tolerant were fans or media when Mahmoud Abdul- Rauf wore his religious beliefs on his sleeve?
Sure, I’ll take the bait. Timmy is the sports Twitterati’s own version of Sarah Palin, i.e. probably will be found only in a trivia question 5 years from now so don’t let a “controversy” go to waste. Since TT Boy is obviously no Steve Young (the latter of whom was robbed of AVN Male Performer of the Year 1993) the tendency for one faction in the “debate” to go full reptilian every week on Pardon The 2 Minutes Hate is greatly enhanced.
On the priapism side of it, what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL, as Walt Disney might put it. I doubt if the majority of Timmy’s disciples care which sky god he’s communing with lately, but as the most intense debates always revolve around the least consequential subjects, this displays the all-American style of knee-jerk bitching in its most refined form. Also, it’s hard to come up with a subject for this ESPN column you’ve got to write, so why not scold Tulloch, who was under the mistaken impression that TD celebrations were done for entertainment value.
The 9th-place 1995-96 Nuggets are just a red herring, since that was a pure political semi-statement, devoid of religious content (though more coherent than whatever the Dixie Chicks said)
“The 9th-place 1995-96 Nuggets are just a red herring, since that was a pure political semi-statement, devoid of religious content ”
Not so devoid, I’d argue.
“Arguing that the practice (of standing for the National Anthem) conflicted with his Muslim beliefs, Abdul-Rauf referenced the Koran forbidding participation in any “nationalistic ritualism.” The NBA stepped in and suspended Abdul-Rauf for one game for refusing to abide by a league mandate that requires “players to line up in a dignified posture for the anthem.” The two sides made amends and Abdul-Rauf was forced to stand, but he did so with his head down and buried in his hands in prayer. ”
http://www.toonaripost.com/2011/04/sports/revisiting-protest-mahmoud-abdul-rauf/
re: National Anthem
If Rauf is forbidden ‘nationalistic ritualism’, maybe he’s in the wrong country and should look into a shariah country a la Islam/State is one.
He should check his allegiance. This country is good enough for him to get paid, but not to respect. There are plenty of players that have allegiance to this country that would love that spot.
No one living or working in the US is obliged to check their allegiances. No one’s rights were violated by Mahmoud Abdul- Rauf refusing to observe the national anthem. His refusal to participate was fully protected by the constitution. If we’re more hung up on grand gestures like the anthem than we’re concerned about the right to worship freely, what precisely are we honoring?
Your argument essentially comes down to “love it or leave it”. But you’re supposed to be allowed to live and work here with meeting a shifting standard of how much you’re supposed to love it.