Why Tim Tebow is the Biggest Sports Superstar of the New Millenium

The Tim Tebow phenomenon has grown to the point where sports are just the backdrop. He has transcended the NFL to become the biggest news story that just so happens to involve sports since a guy named Michael Jordan was patrolling the Windy City back in the 90s.

Yes that’s right, Tebow has turned into the biggest story of the decade, trumping the successful yet somewhat boring Kobe Bryant, the trials and tribulations of Tiger Woods, “The Decision” and all of the fallout that comes with it. Tom Brady is nothing more than a good lookin’ QB that is a smart and disciplined player that just so happened to have won three Super Bowls.

They’ve got nothing on Tebow.

Kobe got out of his rape charges to win two championships, Woods dominated the tour for most of the past 10 years before throwing it all away for some chicks in Vegas and LeBron James is just a big coddled baby that didn’t understand the significance of switching teams on a television show.  Brady is a boring winner that just so happens to be married to a supermodel.

Tebow is on a different level.

Tebow’s strong faith has divided the nation. When he thanks his lord and savior before every press conference, it makes plenty of people cringe. It angers people that don’t want to hear a word about religion when watching sports. He instantly divides the nation on that issue alone.

The whole “Tebowing” craze is the perfect example. Everybody is doing it, but half of the population is mocking him and the other half is honoring him.  Yet, regardless of the intentions, everybody is aware of this pose and has likely tried it themselves.

He is making non-religious folks believe with the way he continues to pull off miracle comeback after miracle comeback. Three overtime wins, one of the best fourth quarter QB ratings in the league, four straight fourth-quarter comebacks and six straight victories overall. It defies all logic.

People are in awe; they don’t know what they are viewing, can’t understand it. Just listen to Esquire’s Gary Andrew Poole’s account of watching Tebow’s comeback at San Diego:

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Everywhere around them, in every section of this old concrete monastery to sub-par football, the Tebow faithful held their arms out wider still and sniffed, as if breathing the same bratwurst-infused air as No. 15 was going to get them closer to Our Lord and Savior, or something. They were not visiting, the faithful. They were already home, looking for what they did not know. The Denver Broncos were in field-goal range, and one of them cried.

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His unorthodox throwing motion and lack of accuracy angers plenty of pundits that think he’s a “gimmick” that can’t last in the league. Others think he tucks the ball and runs too often. That’s why it’s so funny to watch ESPN on Mondays as they try and break down how in the world the Broncos won again.

The pop culture overload has been unprecedented.

He has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice in the last month and seven times in his career at the age of 24. Broncos legend John Elway has 14 covers in his career. Rumors are swirling about any little nugget of information people can find about a potential girlfriend, with Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn being the current target of the media. The Fray dedicated an entire song to No. 15.

When you become the top story on the Today Show with Matt Lauer and you didn’t commit a horrific crime, clearly, you are on an entirely different level.

The Tebow story has been going on since 2006. He won a championship in his first year of college and another in his third season with the Florida Gators. Yet his style of play was more common at the collegiate level so experts weren’t as befuddled over his success. He was still polarizing for things like the pro-life commercial he stared in with his mom during the 2010 Super Bowl. He already has written a bestselling autobiography. He goes to his native Philippines to help build houses in the summer.

One of the best traits of Tebow is his ability to brush off any and all of the criticism thrown in his direction. After Brian Urlacher and his Chicago Bears were “Tebowed," the veteran linebacker called him “a good running back," a clear diss of his QB skills. Tebow said he took it as a compliment and had a huge smile on his face while doing so. He is in a constant state of happiness. He is the definition of an optimist.

His fellow players have follow his lead because they believe in the natural-born leader. The defense has played incredible since Tebow has started, so why was it one of the worst in the league for two years before Week 6? What magically changed?

They finally had a leader to guide them and make them believe. Kyle Orton certainly failed in trying to do as much.  

From 1-4 without him to 8-5, the Broncos are now in position to win the AFC West. It’s unheard of for any young and inexperienced quarterback to completely change the fortunes of his team in the middle of the season. The ridiculous fourth-quarter magic is icing on the cake.

We are witnessing a historic stretch on the field that has completely turned the NFL upside down. The Green Bay Packers are chasing the historic undefeated season, and somehow, a 6'4", 240-pound quarterback that struggles to throw a 15-yard out route is putting the Pack on the backburner.

Regardless of your thoughts on Tebow, you have an opinion either way. Whether you love/hate him for his religious beliefs or odd style of play, you have a strong stance and will likely not budge. I’d guess millions of arguments on the subject of Tebow have erupted in the last month. Yours truly became so passionate that I found my body trembling with anger as I listened to what I thought was a weak counter-argument to my stance.

This isn’t just the best sports story of the year; it’s the best of the decade. The court system isn’t involved; there are no victims. Just miracle comebacks, smiles and a heavy dose of Jesus.

The Mile High Messiah has officially taken over the sports world.