Editor
Whether you love him or hate him, Tim Tebow (starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos) has become a national icon and quickly is becoming the most recognizable face in all of pro sports. But it’s not because of his record-breaking passing numbers, or his God-given physical attributes, it’s because of who he is off the field. And the National Football League wouldn’t have it any other way.
In a day and age where most athletes make national headlines for their various court appearances, Tebow appears to be a God-fearing, God-loving man who would rather read his Bible than go out for a night on the town. The NFL has seen a major hit to its public image because of numerous, highly publicized run-ins with the law. But with Tebow, those concerns are almost non-existent, and the American people love that.
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It’s evident in the television ratings for his two playoff games. When Tebow and the Denver Broncos faced off against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 8, a reported 42.4 million people tuned in, earning a 24.0 rating. It was the highest-rated wild-card game in 17 years. Tebow’s jersey is rated as the second most popular jersey sold on NFL.com (Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is first). You cannot turn on ESPN or any NFL-related program and not hear about Tebow.
All of this means one thing: more money for the NFL. And at the end of the day, that is all that matters to the NFL and the owners. Thanks to revenue sharing, every team in the NFL will benefit from the record ratings that Tebow is pulling in.
Even though Tebow is barely a top-20 quarterback, even though he looks atrociously awkward on the field, and even though he has yet to win anything of substance, Tebow is the NFL’s golden boy, and it’s not going to change until his popularity drops. That doesn’t seem likely, because Tebow-mania is running wild.
And that’s the sad part about what sports are becoming. The bottom line is always more important than the product. That’s why small-market teams rarely compete for championships, even in leagues with a salary cap. That’s why Division II college teams will take automatic losses to play teams like Michigan because of the huge payday that is attached. And why guys like LeBron James leave cities like Cleveland for bigger markets.
What used to be about athleticism and getting away from reality has become a way for rich people to deepen their pockets even more. No longer are athletes and teams looked at based solely on their abilities. These days it’s more about marketability. Athletes can frequently make more from endorsement deals than their actual contracts for playing their sports, and that is ridiculous.
Get ready to see the righteous face of Tim Tebow on your screen for a long time to come. And not just on the football field. Companies like McDonalds and Coca-Cola will be lining up to have him shill their products to the masses.
Tim Tebow isn’t the best player in the NFL, not even close, but in one season he is already standing on top of the NFL mountain, or should I say kneeling…
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