Should We Cheer on Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow?

Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow have captivated the heart of people in the United States and abroad.

Tebow started the craze with his miraculous year as the Denver Broncos quarterback. Tim went from being the back-up quarterback's back-up to leading his team to six straight victories, and earned a playoff spot for a team headed toward disaster.

However, it wasn't just the wins that stole people's heart. It was the story behind Tebow and the manner in which he won the games.

Whether you love or hate Tim Tebow, you have to agree that his comebacks against the Dolphins, Chargers and Bears were nothing short of miraculous. His year was indeed a fairy tale.

Just when we thought "Tebow Mania" was unstoppable, here comes Jeremy Lin to share the spotlight.

Not to be outdone, Lin has his own story.

Lin was an undrafted free agent who played on non-guaranteed contracts. He was waived earlier in the year by two teams, and found himself as a bench warmer on the New York Knicks. The Knicks were soon to cut ties with Lin like his previous teams, but Lin got a rare opportunity to showcase his talent because of other players' injuries. The night in question against the New Jersey Nets,  Lin dropped 25 points and 7 assists.

After the breakout performance from Lin, the Knicks knew they might want to hang on to the point guard out of Harvard.

Lin and Tebow are great athletes, although there is one common theme among their detractors—their faith.

Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin have come under scrutiny because some say their faith has no place in sports.

Tebow and Lin could seem to care less about the criticism, and each continues to acknowledge Jesus Christ after every game.

Tebow and Lin have actually been a breath of fresh air for a sports world bent on controversy.

The NFL has seen an upswing in arrests and mindless off-field behavior lately. The NBA has never been the same since the "Jail-Blazers" stunts and the brawl at The Palace during the last decade.

People often criticize athletes for their behavior, but when a Lin or Tebow expresses moral decency and religion, the world condemns their actions.

We can't have it both ways.

Either we're going to cheer for the good guys or continue to jeer them.

But we can no longer complain about the negativity in sports when the positive athletes are never appreciated.

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