How the Media Will Force Fans to Rebel Against Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow

When something unexpected or unusual happens in the world of sports, the media tends to go overboard in its coverage of that person or event. That is exactly what has happened with Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow, and it will ultimately cause both athletes to become universally hated.

"Tebowmania" took flight this past season as the polarizing Denver Broncos quarterback took over the starting reins from Kyle Orton in Week 7. The Broncos were 1-4 when Tebow was given the starting job and looked to be well on their way to a Top-Five draft pick. Tebow found ways to win, however, as he led them to seven victories in their next eight games and an eventual playoff berth.

Had Tebow stepped in and fizzled, it probably would have developed into a non-story. However, because he went on such a miraculous run, it became the most talked about story in all of sports, and there wasn't even a close second.

The legend of Tebow only grew when he and the Broncos upset the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the postseason. Tebow had the best game of his career, throwing for 316 yards and two touchdowns, and the Tebow media blitz reached a fever pitch.

Tebow certainly did some good things, but his completion percentage of 46.5 percent suggests that he was by and large a sub-par signal-caller. However, because of his success at the University of Florida, his well-documented religious fervor and unorthodox style of play, he became a media darling.

The same can be said for Lin, who became a sudden star just a couple of weeks ago. The New York Knicks point guard was given increased playing time by head coach Mike D'Antoni due to a suggestion from Carmelo Anthony and it has certainly paid off. The Knicks have a 9-3 record since Lin became the go-to guy at the point.

While Lin's ability and success seem more genuine than Tebow's, they are similar in a lot of ways. Tebow is an attention grabber because of his religious beliefs, while it's fair to say that Lin interests people because he is an Asian American in the NBA, which is incredibly rare.

"Linsanity" has developed into a sensation much like Tebowmania, and that is a product of the media covering it ad nauseum. I understand that it's tough not to cover a player who went from riding the pine to putting up All-Star-caliber numbers at the drop of a hat, but people are eventually going to say that enough is enough.

The general public already seems to have turned its back on Tebow. While the vast majority of Broncos fans seem to love him and he has a legion of adoring fans across the nation, the average fan despises him. While some of that may be because they aren't a big fan of his purity, having him rammed down their throats by the media is the biggest culprit.

It seems like the general consensus is that almost everyone likes Lin for the time being, but that could change very quickly. The honeymoon is still in effect since Linsanity is a fairly new phenomenon, but his coverage is surpassing Tebow levels right now. It's only a matter of time before non-Knicks fans revolt.

There's nothing wrong with covering an intriguing story from all angles, and both Tebow and Lin are unquestionably great stories. However, when it becomes the focus of nearly every sports media outlet on a daily basis, it is bound to burn people out and make them resent those athletes.

Perhaps March Madness is precisely the type of big event that is needed to pump the brakes on the coverage of both athletes. That being said, if the market continues to flood with stories on those two players, they could soon become the most hated athletes in sports.