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

[Phishfan]

He wasn't an influential person when he was in jail.  He became an influential person later.

Really, he was arrested damn near 30 times in his life. Mostly because of the influence he had over people.

[Sunstroke]

Mandela most definitely did have influence in jail... 

I can certainly understand jail lessening the influential impact of people whose influence is based on physical acts, but those whose influence comes from the intangible - ideas, concepts, beliefs - can actually have their influence increase by being jailed.

If I can quote from the Peter Gabriel song, "Biko" (which seems fitting, given the Mandela example)...

"You can blow out a candle,
But you can't blow out a fire.
Once the flames begin to catch,
The wind will blow it higher..."

[Spider-Dan]

You're right: I don't mean to say that Mandela and MLK had zero influence when incarcerated.  But their influence was very minor compared to their level of persecution (and in Mandela's case, "political prisoner for multiple decades" is one rung down from "executed by the government" at the top of the persecution scale).

So then, to bring this back full circle: Tebow's influence is apparently incredibly great, and his level of persecution pretty much stops at "some people on the Internet say mean things about him" (note: media criticism of the football skills of a professional football player is not persecution).

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

So then, to bring this back full circle: Tebow's influence is apparently incredibly great, and his level of persecution pretty much stops at "some people on the InternetSpider-Dan daily assault on everything Tebow say mean things about him"

Corrected for accuracy. 

[SCFinfan]

Ray Lewis has been mic'ed up more than any player in the history of the NFL, based on the number of clips they run on NFL Network, and I have never ever heard that man sing any song, much less a gospel number.

Reggie White?

[Spider-Dan]

What I don't get is if everyone really doesn't care about them and their morals why do those same people get so uncomfortable with them?

I imagine it's for the same reason that people who are supposedly against excessive political correctness are incredibly quick to spring into action the moment they feel they can claim they are the victim of politically incorrect speech.

Furthermore, I don't know if I'd say that people don't care about Tebow's beliefs; it's more like they don't care to hear about them.

I mean, just as has been mentioned many people have an easier time accepting known felons and inarticulate athletes than seeing someone give thanks to God and doing good deeds.

Of course, by "easier time accepting," I presume that you aren't referring to quantifiable metrics like, say, number of jerseys sold.

There is also something to be said for the fact that when it comes to sports, people have an easier time accepting good players than bad players, regardless of their actions off of the field.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

There is also something to be said for the fact that when it comes to sports, people have an easier time accepting good players than bad players, regardless of their actions off of the field.

The converse is also true.  Which seems to drive Spider-Dan mad.

Some fans are more accepting of players that are good people even if they are not great players. 

Spider Dan seems to be on a crusade to convince the rest of us that we should hate/like players solely on their on field performance.  And ridicule anyone who would root for Tebow over Vick, because they consider Tebow a nicer person.   

[Dave Gray]

I don't have a beef with anyone who roots for Tebow.  Shit...I root for Tebow.  I think he's a good teammate and a nice guy, from what I can tell.  However, I don't like when people re-write history or over-inflate his abilities as an athlete, when it comes to a sports discussion.

[Sunstroke]

Reggie White?  

I actually have seen Reggie White singing a gospel tune on TV, but he was in a church at the time, not when he was mic'ed up on the football field.

[Spider-Dan]

The converse is also true.  Which seems to drive Spider-Dan mad.

Some fans are more accepting of players that are good people even if they are not great players.

That might be true, but in the case of Tebow, his popularity is not primarily because of his charitable work; it's because of his outspoken religious beliefs (which is not nearly the same thing as "being a good person.")  To wit, if Tebow were instead an openly devout Muslim, most of this talk about how he's such an outstanding citizen would be non-existent.

[bsmooth]

Exactly how is he persecuted? He is rich. He is famous, with tens of thousands or more fans. He gets to play his favorite sport for a job. He gets a national stage to espouse his beliefs.
Where is the punishment? Where is the injury or being afflicted?
He gets made fun of for his playing as much or more than his actual beliefs. Making fun of his abilities as a QB is not persecution.
He is not being persecuted because NFL teams want him as a glorified RB or TE.
The term persecution is being bandied about entirely too much with Tebow, as it is not all about his beliefs.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

That might be true, but in the case of Tebow, his popularity is not primarily because of his charitable work; it's because of his outspoken religious beliefs (which is not nearly the same thing as "being a good person.") 

I disagree.  1) He is not particularly outspoken.  If asked he certainly will talk about Jesus, but he is hardly one of those who seeks those who would rather not hear is views.  2) He is very charitable. 

The problem *I have* with many christians is they do a lot of preaching but then don't actually follow the scripture regarding the way they treat the poor, sick etc.  Jesus didn't preach in opposition to feeding the poor or providing medical care to the masses the unlike the religious.

Tebow not actually spends his time, effort, money and compassion on the poor and sick. 

That is why *I* like him.       

[bsmooth]

I disagree.  1) He is not particularly outspoken.  If asked he certainly will talk about Jesus, but he is hardly one of those who seeks those who would rather not hear is views.  2) He is very charitable. 

The problem *I have* with many christians is they do a lot of preaching but then don't actually follow the scripture regarding the way they treat the poor, sick etc.  Jesus didn't preach in opposition to feeding the poor or providing medical care to the masses the unlike the religious.

Tebow not actually spends his time, effort, money and compassion on the poor and sick. 

That is why *I* like him.       

Fine. So do other NFL players. There are other NFL players who are devout. They just keep their beliefs private. Why are they not as popular? Is Tebow any more of a Christian than Reggie White was?
What does this have to do with his ability to be an NFL QB?
Where is the persecution that keeps getting mentioned?

[Spider-Dan]

1) He is not particularly outspoken.

Name any player that is more outspoken about his religious beliefs.  Keep in mind that this is the same player who regularly wore bible verses on his eyeblack.

2) He is very charitable.

Are you saying he is one of the most charitable players?  I doubt that.

[Dave Gray]

1) He is not particularly outspoken.  If asked he certainly will talk about Jesus, but he is hardly one of those who seeks those who would rather not hear is views. 

Pa-lease.   He gained popularity by wearing bible quotes on his face on national TV.  That is as outspoken as you come.  You know how inappropriate it would be if I started wearing "There in no God" on my face?