Forbes: The most influential athlete in American sport is...

[Spider-Dan]

Tim Tebow.

"Idle NFL quarterback Tim Tebow has been back in the news, but not for any heroics: he was recently cut loose by the New York Jets after a one-year experiment as a part-time QB behind Mark Sanchez failed to yield results. The “Tebowmania” days in Denver are only 15 months old, but it seems like 15 years. And yet, when Americans are asked which pro athletes they believe carry the most influence with the public, Tebow’s name tops the list."

As I said in the other thread, I find it hilarious when people talk of the terrible persecution Tebow has suffered on account of his faith, and claim that if he were gay or had some other Politically Correct attribute, he would be much better off.

He's a unemployed backup quarterback who has never started a full season.  And yet, for some supposedly unknown reason, he is the most influential athlete in America.

Any person that thinks highly of Tim Tebow should think even more highly of Mark Sanchez; Sanchez has accomplished far more in the NFL than Tebow has, in a similar fashion.  And yet Sanchez, who should ostensibly be shoved down our throats as a Latino QB (according to the "Politically Correct" theory), has never gotten anywhere near the kind of epic hype that Tebow continues to enjoy.

Gee, I wonder what the other difference between them could be?

[Landshark]

Maybe the fact that he holds steadfast to his beliefs in the face of a lot of controversy.

[CF DolFan]

As I said in the other thread, I find it hilarious when people talk of the terrible persecution Tebow has suffered on account of his faith, and claim that if he were gay or had some other Politically Correct attribute, he would be much better off.

To address the first thing.AM I to understand that you are saying it's ok to attack and be prejudiced towards Tebow's religion because he is successful?

Secondly, who ever said he would be better off (I assume you are speaking in football terms)? Mentally I'm sue he would be better off if so many people weren't constantly attacking him for his religion. I'm not sure how that would translate to football.

He's a unemployed backup quarterback who has never started a full season.  And yet, for some supposedly unknown reason, he is the most influential athlete in America.

There is no mysterious unknown reason. He's the guy most men would want their daughter to date and most girls would want to date.

Any person that thinks highly of Tim Tebow should think even more highly of Mark Sanchez; Sanchez has accomplished far more in the NFL than Tebow has, in a similar fashion.  And yet Sanchez, who should ostensibly be shoved down our throats as a Latino QB (according to the "Politically Correct" theory), has never gotten anywhere near the kind of epic hype that Tebow continues to enjoy.

Gee, I wonder what the other difference between them could be?

Again ... who would you rather date Dan? 

[Phishfan]

Spider you are way off base. I actually agree with this assessment of Tebow being the most influential. You seem to focus this vote on field performance which should have absolutely nothing to do with the vote. People should not be influenced by sports skill. People should be influenced by their off the field actions.

I think Tebow is crap on the field as well but bashing him here is just off base.Sit back and think about the Tebowmaiacs for a minute. Is there any other group like them? I don't think so. Therefore Tebow is far and away one of, if not the most influential sports figures.

[Brian Fein]

Who attacks Tebow for his religion?

People attack him because he's a terrible quarterback.  Why does every Tim Tebow conversation go back to religion?  If anything, the only reason he's still relevant is because of his clean cut, super hero, good Christian image.

There are thousands of out-of-work QB's out there, and no one cares about them.  Why Tebow?  What makes him so appealing to the media and others?

[masterfins]

Spider you are way off base. I actually agree with this assessment of Tebow being the most influential. You seem to focus this vote on field performance which should have absolutely nothing to do with the vote. People should not be influenced by sports skill. People should be influenced by their off the field actions.

I think Tebow is crap on the field as well but bashing him here is just off base.Sit back and think about the Tebowmaiacs for a minute. Is there any other group like them? I don't think so. Therefore Tebow is far and away one of, if not the most influential sports figures.

I agree Phish, Tebow's on field accomplishments, or lack thereof, have nothing to do with how "influential" he is.  However, I'm not sure he is the most influential, seems like he is just preaching to the choir.  Tebow is defineately one of the most talked about athletes, but that doesn't make him influential.   Prior to recent developments I would have said Lance Armstrong with his cancer awareness and Livestrong campaign was the most influential, and may still be.

[Spider-Dan]

To address the first thing.AM I to understand that you are saying it's ok to attack and be prejudiced towards Tebow's religion because he is successful?

No, I'm saying it's OK to criticize him for constantly turning football into a platform for him to advocate his off-the-field interests.  Particularly since he's not very good.

He's the guy most men would want their daughter to date and most girls would want to date.

If you think I would want my daughter to date a pro athlete (any pro athlete), you're sadly mistaken.

And I think more girls would want to date Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers than Tim Tebow.

[CF DolFan]

I agree Phish, Tebow's on field accomplishments, or lack thereof, have nothing to do with how "influential" he is.  However, I'm not sure he is the most influential, seems like he is just preaching to the choir.  Tebow is defineately one of the most talked about athletes, but that doesn't make him influential.   Prior to recent developments I would have said Lance Armstrong with his cancer awareness and Livestrong campaign was the most influential, and may still be.

Influential. I see this as which athlete would you want to endorse your product to the masses?

[Spider-Dan]

Why does every Tim Tebow conversation go back to religion?  If anything, the only reason he's still relevant is because of his clean cut, super hero, good Christian image.

You just answered your own question.

Take his religion out of the picture and he's just another bench warmer on his way out of the league.  Do you think anyone cares how clean-cut Drew Stanton is?  Or how much community work Chase Daniel does?  Of course not.

The common claim is that Tebow is just this great citizen, but there are plenty of great citizens in the NFL.  The NFL gives out an annual Man of the Year award to recognize a player for their humanitarian work; I'm sure all of the people who supposedly praise Tebow for his "charitable ethic" are equally devoted to players like Madieu Williams, Matt Birk, and Brian Waters.  I'm sure those charitable players are also near the top of the league in jersey sales, right?

Oh, wait... those players are more concerned with helping people than using their job to promote their religion, so they don't really have a dedicated following.  Funny, that.

[Dave Gray]

I think it's perfectly acceptable to mock or judge someone based on their beliefs.

[CF DolFan]

I think it's perfectly acceptable to mock or judge someone based on their beliefs.

I'm confused at what's acceptable. 
So it is perfectly acceptable to mock blacks that believe it's ok to speak in Ebonics and Muslims who believe they need to pray 5 times a day but it isn't acceptable to question why a guy would want to suck penises and believes everyone has to know that he is proud about it? 

[Spider-Dan]

CF,

Has Tom Brady "made sure that everyone knows that he is proud" to perform oral sex on his wife?
How is this any different than what you just said about Jason Collins?

Do you think that if Jason Collins had simply gotten gay married (in a manner no more or less private than any other athlete's marriage) that this would be a non-story?

[Sunstroke]

... why a guy would want to suck penises and believes everyone has to know that he is proud about it? 

If a man is good at something, he should naturally show pride in that ability, even if it's just gargling another man's junk.

[CF DolFan]

CF,

Has Tom Brady "made sure that everyone knows that he is proud" to perform oral sex on his wife?
How is this any different than what you just said about Jason Collins?

Do you think that if Jason Collins had simply gotten gay married (in a manner no more or less private than any other athlete's marriage) that this would be a non-story?

Yes. I've never seen anyone stand up and say I'm proud to be hetero and I will flaunt my heterosexuality in front of you and you must like it. Snap!!

But I digress. For the point of this conversation I'm just saying it's funny to me that you should be able to make fun of something as deeply personal as religion but you can't make fun of a person who flaunts their gay sexuality.

[Sunstroke]

For the point of this conversation I'm just saying it's funny to me that you should be able to make fun of something as deeply personal as religion but you can't make fun of a person who flaunts their gay sexuality. 

Who says you can't make fun of him? As long as you accept that a gay man has a right to that lifestyle, no matter how ridiculous that lifestyle may be to you, feel free to have all the fun you want at his expense.  I accept that some people (including you) are religious, and that they have the right to worship any fictitious deity they choose. It certainly doesn't stop me from poking fun at them for what I perceive as their misguided belief system.

It's important to note that, despite my belief that your pursuit of religion is equal parts ridiculous and delusional, I have no intention of pressuring my government representatives, now or in the future, to take away your right to basic social institutions...you know, like marriage.