Tim Tebow Named One of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People

TIME magazine has issued its annual list of what it considers to be The 100 Most Influential People In the World. 

There is one NFL player on the list and his name is Tim Tebow. 

While it comes as no surprise to see Tebow's name on a list dedicated to influence — whatever your thoughts on Tebow as a football player, his influence on fans and detractors alike is undeniable— it is a bit surprising to see him included here if only because of the international scope of TIME's undertaking.

While I completely understand Jeremy Lin's inclusion on the list (did you know BBC Radio led with Lin stories over little things like the Syrian uprising and events in Afghanistan when Linsanity was in full swing?) Tebow seems to be a much more American-specific phenomenon, though perhaps that's due to some willful blindness on my part. 

Lin actually writes on Tebow in the TIME piece accompanying the list:

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Watching Tim Tebow play football, you can observe many things about his character. You see his fierce competitiveness, his strong work ethic and how he is a leader that his teammates trust and respect.

But it is the qualities that Tim, 24, embodies in his life off the field that truly set him apart. He is unashamed of his convictions and faith, and he lives a life that consistently reflects his values, day in and day out. Through his foundation, he constantly reaches out to people and communities in need of hope. He realizes what he has been blessed with and seeks to help those who are worse off. As athletes, we pour our hearts into winning games. Tim is a reminder

 

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The other athletes who appear TIME's list are all non-American and include tennis star Novak Djokovic, the great soccer player Lionel Messi, golfer Yani Tseng and inspirational sprinter Oscar Pistorius.