Let's talk College Football!

[SCFinfan]

It's not like the reporter was out of line.  Tebow wears his morality on his sleeve.  He openly talks about it, and wears bible verses on its eye-black.  He also mentions that kind of stuff in his interviews all the time.  It's not like he's private about his belief system.

Edited to add: Good for Tebow, in this regard.  While I don't share the same beliefs about sex and marriage, I totally respect his beliefs and think that he's doing nobody any harm by keeping it in his pants, and am happy that he can live the way he chooses and feel good about it.

There have been plenty of religious athletes who've not been put on the spot like Tebow was though. For example, T.O. is religious, but no one's ever posed the question to him. Reggie White was never asked that question. I believe Michael Chang was asked, but not in a live interview. There are plenty of others. Likewise, if an athlete professes no religious beliefs, it's a little out-of-bounds for a reporter to say to him, "Mr. X, do you believe people of faith are completely delusional morons?" He very well might, but it's not something that he may want to express in public. The question isn't a fair one, because it sets up an inescapable dilemma for the individual asked: either you're dishonest or you get to look really awkward. I don't think anyone needs to be put in those type situations when the only reason they're famous is because they throw a ball. Now if they're famous for their beliefs, or have written about them, sure. But otherwise, leave it alone.




P.S. How 'bout them Gamecocks?

[DolFan619]

  Jahvid Best will win the Heisman.

[Sunstroke]

^^^ Yep...but I already called shotgun on that bandwagon.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

  Jahvid Best will win the Heisman.

It's only three games into the season.  While I tend to agree with your prediction based on those three games, this could very well change should he have a bad game.

[JVides]

^^^I think Best will win it, too.  But, Lord, let Jacory Harris be invited to the presentation so he can show up in the pink suit with the pimp goblet.  I don't ask for much...

[StL FinFan]

Why is it wrong to ask someone if they are saving themselves for marriage? 
Why is it considered  "abnormal" if the answer is yes? 
What is the BFD about this?
I don't think he was trying to hide that he is saving himself for marriage.

You guys are reading way to much into this.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Why is it wrong to ask someone if they are saving themselves for marriage? 
Why is it considered  "abnormal" if the answer is yes? 
What is the BFD about this?
I don't think he was trying to hide that he is saving himself for marriage.

You guys are reading way to much into this.

OK.  Let me clarify what I said earlier.  I applaud Tebow for saving himself for marriage, and it is not abnormal at all.  Matter of fact, according to the Bible, it is the right thing to do. 

The BFD I have is with the reporter who asked that question.  I do not want my love life choices making national news and I'm sure Tebow doesn't either.  IMO, love lives are private issues that should be shared voluntarily, not under questioning and media spotlight.  That reporter had no business asking that question. 

[Dave Gray]

I think that Tebow openly preaches his religious views and is vocal with his missionary duties and stuff like that.  Add to that that he's the most popular player in the country and this stuff is bound to come up.  It's not that he's religious...I'm sure there are plenty of religious players.  ...but Tebow is preachy.  There's a difference.  He clearly wants to be recognized in that respect.

If he didn't want to answer the question, he wouldn't have to.  I don't anyone would fault him for not openly talking about sex with reporters.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

If he didn't want to answer the question, he wouldn't have to.  I don't anyone would fault him for not openly talking about sex with reporters.

I'm sorry Dave but I disagree there.  If he refused to answer the question or uttered the famous line, "No comment", people would have speculated that he was having sex outside of marriage and would have labelled him a hypocrite. 

[Gabriel]

I agree with Dave. Tebow's faith is big part of his public persona. It seems natural that reporters might ask him questions about his personal morality and religious beliefs.

[Tenshot13]

USF -17  FSU - 7.  Is this where I tell all of you fuckers, "I told you so?"  MMMMMMMMMM...FSU tears taste so good!

[SCFinfan]

I agree with Dave. Tebow's faith is big part of his public persona. It seems natural that reporters might ask him questions about his personal morality and religious beliefs.

If he were a politician, whose views would affect a wide swath of individuals, then I may agree with you. But he's a football player. He throws a ball. That's it. It's not natural just in the way that this is not natural: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xokthY5zuPU

What Jim Calhoun makes, or what Tim Tebow does with his spare time, is immaterial to a sports interview.

If he were a politician, whose views would affect a wide swath of individuals, then I may agree with you. But he's a football player. He throws a ball. That's it. It's not natural just in the way that this is not natural: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xokthY5zuPU

What Jim Calhoun makes, or what Tim Tebow does with his spare time, is immaterial to a sports interview.

IIt's not that he's religious...I'm sure there are plenty of religious players.  ...but Tebow is preachy.  There's a difference.  He clearly wants to be recognized in that respect.

If he didn't want to answer the question, he wouldn't have to.  I don't anyone would fault him for not openly talking about sex with reporters.

Total crap. John Beck went on a 2 year mission before going to college. Do reporters ask him about sex? No. And they shouldn't. Why not? It... doesn't... matter... at... all.

And saying he could just duck the question is ludicrous. Imagine being in front of those cameras, and that pressure you'd feel when you were put on the spot like that. It's like saying people don't feel pressure when asked to prove their sobriety by the police. With the police at least, there's a 4th amendment that reigns them in. With reporters, only their consciences can do that task. Unfortunately, it seems, those have become as worthless as the 4th amendment these days.

There are plenty of "preachy" Christian athletes (and athlete-related individuals) out there. Joe Gibbs, for example. But no reporter ought to be stupid enough to pop off a totally irrelevant question about their personal life. What's next? Bloody sheets to prove virginity after the first night of marriage? 

[Gabriel]

I think all of this belongs in the Tebow thread, but anyway...

SC: Presumably Tebow sites bible verses in his eye black because people are watching and might notice. His religious beliefs are evangelical. He actively wants to convert others to Christianity. I don't think any of that is debatable. Given that he's made his religion a prominent part of his public persona, why is it so crazy that a reporter would want to ask questions related to his religious beliefs? He should welcome the questions as they give him an opportunity to be a "good" example for others. Has Tebow complained?

[BingeBag]

Man, I figured Tenshot would be all over this. I didn't see the game, but everyone I was with fell out of their chair when they heard the score.

[JoblessJayFiedler]

Man, I figured Tenshot would be all over this. I didn't see the game, but everyone I was with fell out of their chair when they heard the score.

Everybody seems to count us out whenever we play ranked opponents. Refer to USF vs Auburn    .