Next up: DJ Gallo.
You are a smart guy. You scored 850 on your SAT. Please answer the following ... Tim Tebow : opposing defenses :: mohel : _______?
A: scalpels
B: hygiene
C: rabbi
D: the foreskin of newborn boys
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Media Day Questions for Tebow: DJ Gallo
Tomorrow morning, Tim Tebow will face the media crush as THE headliner of SEC Media Days. Clay Travis has already weighed in with his must-know question: "Tim, are you a virgin?" TimTeblog.com has reached out to notable folks throughout sports media for their own Media Day questions for Tim, which I will post throughout the day.
Next up: DJ Gallo.
Next up: DJ Gallo.
Newspaper Columnist in LSU Country Sides With Tebow over Tigers
The New Orleans Times-Picayune columnist Peter Finney ties into SEC Media Day today by offering up a particularly fawning honorarium to Tebow -- I'm sure local Tigers fans were thrilled.
I appreciate that Finney is a realist -- frankly, you don't find many "Tebow deniers" anyway. I think if I was an LSU fan, I'd prefer my columnists to have "begrudging respect" over "swooning."
I appreciate that Finney is a realist -- frankly, you don't find many "Tebow deniers" anyway. I think if I was an LSU fan, I'd prefer my columnists to have "begrudging respect" over "swooning."
Media Day Questions for Tebow: Dave Zirin
Tomorrow morning, Tim Tebow will face the media crush as THE headliner of SEC Media Days. Clay Travis has already weighed in with his must-know question: "Tim, are you a virgin?" TimTeblog.com has reached out to notable folks throughout sports media for their own Media Day questions for Tim, which I will post throughout the day.
Next up: Dave Zirin.
"Have you read any of the research about the harms of circumcision and if so does it ever give you pause when you go in for the snip?"
Next up: Dave Zirin.
"Have you read any of the research about the harms of circumcision and if so does it ever give you pause when you go in for the snip?"
SEC Media Day Questions for Tim Tebow
Tomorrow morning, Tim Tebow will face the media crush as THE headliner of SEC Media Days. Clay Travis has already weighed in with his must-know question: "Tim, are you a virgin?" TimTeblog.com has reached out to notable folks throughout sports media for their own Media Day questions for Tim, which I will post throughout the day.
First up: Jonah Keri.
"Going back to school to contend for another national championship puts you at risk of potentially losing out on tens of millions of dollars, if you suffer a major injury. Do you have an insurance policy on your major body parts? If so, how much did the coverage cost, and what is/are the payout(s)/body part(s) covered?"
First up: Jonah Keri.
"Going back to school to contend for another national championship puts you at risk of potentially losing out on tens of millions of dollars, if you suffer a major injury. Do you have an insurance policy on your major body parts? If so, how much did the coverage cost, and what is/are the payout(s)/body part(s) covered?"
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Sports Illustrated's Cover Story About Tim Tebow's Ministering: An Analysis
Couple of highlights from Austin Murphy's Sports Illustrated cover story on Tim Tebow's faith, headlined: "You Gotta Love Tim Tebow."
*Because the piece didn't have much to do with Tebow's on-field ability, the headline seems to connect Tebow's expression on behalf of his faith with the reason why fans should love him. We'll get to that at the end of the post.
*The story covers a couple of key pieces of what I label "mythic Tebow" -- most notably, his ministering at prisons (the focus of the piece, obviously) and leading with his "miracle" birth.
*Money quote 1, from Tebow: Inmates "respect the way I play the game, so they'll keep an open mind, give me a chance."
*Money quote 2, from Murphy: "But while Tebow will happily discuss his religion, he has no use for the hard sell. That's not his style."
This observation gibes with my longtime impression that Tebow is not -- contrary to the superficial images, like his eyeblack or media coverage of his ministering -- particularly pushy in his proseletyzing:
Tebow doesn't put God in fans' faces on the football field. More often than not after touchdowns, you'll see Tebow do the Gator Chomp or jump into his teammates arms, not clasp his palms together and look up, Wuerrfel-style. In fact, the heavy religious undertones of his 2007 Heisman speech felt odd coming from him in a strictly football moment, even though we all understand how devout he is.
*For Tebow fans well-versed in his ministering, the most remarkble detail in the story is an anecdote from just before the BCS title game, when coaches were concerned that 15 players were missing. The players were, in fact, freaking out a little bit about the game. But they were in Tebow's room, and he picked up a Bible and read a bit.
Murphy: "The verses had the desired effect, relaxing the assembled Gators so much that a kind of impromptu revival meeting broke out. Soon, the entire group had broken into song."
That's the first I had ever heard of that story, and it instantly is filed away under the Tebow myth. (By "myth," I don't mean to suggest that these things -- that story, the "miracle" birth, the circumcision stuff, the "jump-pass" are not real. I mean that they combine to help the player reach literally mythic status -- having the NATURE of myth, but in fact, very real.)
*To Murphy's credit, he points out the apparent contradiction between Tebow's God-fearing faith and his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Oklahoma in the BCS national title game (which is, actually, my favorite moment of Tebow's career, because it presented this incredibly likeable and relatable humanity).
Instead of the Spirit, Tebow told Murphy: "I let the Gator speak for me." (I'm sorry, that is an awesome quote. BTW: You can see the moment captured on an SI cover, found at the top right of this site.)
*In the end, Tebow's trip to Lawtey Correctional Institution is measured in numbers: 14 salvations. (Take that, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy.)
*Murphy's piece includes a phrase that feels like the epicenter of Tebow's standard speech to prisoners -- perhaps every group: "Finish Strong."
It is hard to tell if, by finish, Tebow means coming back from a stumbling 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarter to reclaim your life -- more Tony Robbins than Joel Osteen -- or whether "finish" implies that when they finish their lives, they'd be better off having accepted Tebow's faith.
I actually think that "Finish Strong" -- originally a Florida coaches' mantra -- is a pretty good catch-all for Tebow's life: The football or the ministering. The competitiveness -- whether he is saving the game against Alabama or doing what he thinks is best to save souls.
Most fans already knew about Tebow's ministering -- I mean, his eye-black is pretty obvious (remember, his "John 3:16" eye-black in the title game -- switched from "Phil 4:13" that he sported the rest of the season -- was so intriguing that it sent the phrase to No. 1 on Google Trends the day after the game) -- so I'm not sure that this will make fans love Tebow more.
In fact, I'm sure more than a few fans may be turned off by his evangelical efforts. But my takeaway is that the details about his NOT being particularly pushy make him that much more likable.
If I had any criticism, it would be that the piece was missing putting athletes' evangelical ministering efforts into some larger context; and there was no critical analysis of Tebow's own ministering (is it ALL positive?), beyond the very brief aside about his unsportsmanlike penalty (which itself was explained away endearingly).
And for a piece about Tebow's off-field ministering, a cover image of him in uniform seemed gratuitous (ed: this, from a guy who writes a blog entirely about Tim Tebow!) -- I think there was room for a dramatic photo of him ministering to convicts as the cover image, a photo you wouldn't normally see. (I understand why they went with the in-uniform pic -- although editors made sure the eye-black Bible verse "popped," which I think oversimplifies the important point about his NOT-pushiness made in the piece.)
Obviously, for Florida fans -- and for Tebow fans -- the story might not be entirely new, but it is a must-read, with the hallmark of a great SI piece: Unusually good access and details not reported anywhere else.
*******
Haven't seen the piece posted online, but I'll be sure to drop in a link as soon as it's available.
*Because the piece didn't have much to do with Tebow's on-field ability, the headline seems to connect Tebow's expression on behalf of his faith with the reason why fans should love him. We'll get to that at the end of the post.
*The story covers a couple of key pieces of what I label "mythic Tebow" -- most notably, his ministering at prisons (the focus of the piece, obviously) and leading with his "miracle" birth.
*Money quote 1, from Tebow: Inmates "respect the way I play the game, so they'll keep an open mind, give me a chance."
*Money quote 2, from Murphy: "But while Tebow will happily discuss his religion, he has no use for the hard sell. That's not his style."
This observation gibes with my longtime impression that Tebow is not -- contrary to the superficial images, like his eyeblack or media coverage of his ministering -- particularly pushy in his proseletyzing:
Tebow doesn't put God in fans' faces on the football field. More often than not after touchdowns, you'll see Tebow do the Gator Chomp or jump into his teammates arms, not clasp his palms together and look up, Wuerrfel-style. In fact, the heavy religious undertones of his 2007 Heisman speech felt odd coming from him in a strictly football moment, even though we all understand how devout he is.
*For Tebow fans well-versed in his ministering, the most remarkble detail in the story is an anecdote from just before the BCS title game, when coaches were concerned that 15 players were missing. The players were, in fact, freaking out a little bit about the game. But they were in Tebow's room, and he picked up a Bible and read a bit.
Murphy: "The verses had the desired effect, relaxing the assembled Gators so much that a kind of impromptu revival meeting broke out. Soon, the entire group had broken into song."
That's the first I had ever heard of that story, and it instantly is filed away under the Tebow myth. (By "myth," I don't mean to suggest that these things -- that story, the "miracle" birth, the circumcision stuff, the "jump-pass" are not real. I mean that they combine to help the player reach literally mythic status -- having the NATURE of myth, but in fact, very real.)
*To Murphy's credit, he points out the apparent contradiction between Tebow's God-fearing faith and his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Oklahoma in the BCS national title game (which is, actually, my favorite moment of Tebow's career, because it presented this incredibly likeable and relatable humanity).
Instead of the Spirit, Tebow told Murphy: "I let the Gator speak for me." (I'm sorry, that is an awesome quote. BTW: You can see the moment captured on an SI cover, found at the top right of this site.)
*In the end, Tebow's trip to Lawtey Correctional Institution is measured in numbers: 14 salvations. (Take that, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy.)
*Murphy's piece includes a phrase that feels like the epicenter of Tebow's standard speech to prisoners -- perhaps every group: "Finish Strong."
It is hard to tell if, by finish, Tebow means coming back from a stumbling 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarter to reclaim your life -- more Tony Robbins than Joel Osteen -- or whether "finish" implies that when they finish their lives, they'd be better off having accepted Tebow's faith.
I actually think that "Finish Strong" -- originally a Florida coaches' mantra -- is a pretty good catch-all for Tebow's life: The football or the ministering. The competitiveness -- whether he is saving the game against Alabama or doing what he thinks is best to save souls.
Most fans already knew about Tebow's ministering -- I mean, his eye-black is pretty obvious (remember, his "John 3:16" eye-black in the title game -- switched from "Phil 4:13" that he sported the rest of the season -- was so intriguing that it sent the phrase to No. 1 on Google Trends the day after the game) -- so I'm not sure that this will make fans love Tebow more.
In fact, I'm sure more than a few fans may be turned off by his evangelical efforts. But my takeaway is that the details about his NOT being particularly pushy make him that much more likable.
If I had any criticism, it would be that the piece was missing putting athletes' evangelical ministering efforts into some larger context; and there was no critical analysis of Tebow's own ministering (is it ALL positive?), beyond the very brief aside about his unsportsmanlike penalty (which itself was explained away endearingly).
And for a piece about Tebow's off-field ministering, a cover image of him in uniform seemed gratuitous (ed: this, from a guy who writes a blog entirely about Tim Tebow!) -- I think there was room for a dramatic photo of him ministering to convicts as the cover image, a photo you wouldn't normally see. (I understand why they went with the in-uniform pic -- although editors made sure the eye-black Bible verse "popped," which I think oversimplifies the important point about his NOT-pushiness made in the piece.)
Obviously, for Florida fans -- and for Tebow fans -- the story might not be entirely new, but it is a must-read, with the hallmark of a great SI piece: Unusually good access and details not reported anywhere else.
*******
Haven't seen the piece posted online, but I'll be sure to drop in a link as soon as it's available.
Best Ever: Tim Tebow vs. Herschel Walker
The AJC's Mark Bradley says Herschel Walker was a better college football player than Tim Tebow, but he leaves open that Tebow could vault Walker after this upcoming season.
In fact, he already puts Tebow in his all-time Top 5 -- just not ahead of Herschel.
In all this "Greatest Ever" talk, that "already" point often gets lost: The only comparison you can make is Tebow's career thus far (three years) versus everyone else's complete career.
Even by that metric, Tebow is in the Top 10 -- probably the Top 5, as Bradley agrees. (That's greatest college football player ever, not just greatest college QB ever.)
Then consider that -- if everything breaks right this season -- he will, additionally:
(1)Win a 3rd national title (while going unbeaten).
(2) Win a 2nd Heisman (or at least finish in the Top 3 for the 3rd straight season)
(3) Set or extend a slew of statistical records.
(4) Create more "Promise"-like mythology creation.
That would clearly put him over the top as the greatest college football player ever. (Make no mistake: The "GOAT" debate will be HUGE over the next 5 months -- it is one of the reasons that this blog was created; how often do we get to watch Greatest of All Time in real-time?)
That said: Through THREE years? Sure: I will absolutely agree that Herschel Walker is on a VERY short list in the "GOAT" conversation, along with -- I would argue -- Vince Young.
While Tebow enjoys some 21st century myth-making advantages, like ESPN and the Internet and YouTube and HD, Herschel has that way-early-80s, "Whoa, Nellie" factor in strong support of his myth.
If you're under 40, you WANT to love Herschel Walker -- you WISH you had the chance to remember seeing him play live, probably more than any other college football player.
Tim Tebow is college football history in progress; there's something awesome about that. Herschel Walker IS college football history.
In fact, he already puts Tebow in his all-time Top 5 -- just not ahead of Herschel.
In all this "Greatest Ever" talk, that "already" point often gets lost: The only comparison you can make is Tebow's career thus far (three years) versus everyone else's complete career.
Even by that metric, Tebow is in the Top 10 -- probably the Top 5, as Bradley agrees. (That's greatest college football player ever, not just greatest college QB ever.)
Then consider that -- if everything breaks right this season -- he will, additionally:
(1)Win a 3rd national title (while going unbeaten).
(2) Win a 2nd Heisman (or at least finish in the Top 3 for the 3rd straight season)
(3) Set or extend a slew of statistical records.
(4) Create more "Promise"-like mythology creation.
That would clearly put him over the top as the greatest college football player ever. (Make no mistake: The "GOAT" debate will be HUGE over the next 5 months -- it is one of the reasons that this blog was created; how often do we get to watch Greatest of All Time in real-time?)
That said: Through THREE years? Sure: I will absolutely agree that Herschel Walker is on a VERY short list in the "GOAT" conversation, along with -- I would argue -- Vince Young.
While Tebow enjoys some 21st century myth-making advantages, like ESPN and the Internet and YouTube and HD, Herschel has that way-early-80s, "Whoa, Nellie" factor in strong support of his myth.
If you're under 40, you WANT to love Herschel Walker -- you WISH you had the chance to remember seeing him play live, probably more than any other college football player.
Tim Tebow is college football history in progress; there's something awesome about that. Herschel Walker IS college football history.
VoteGate: Kiffin Says He Voted for Tebow
Perhaps pre-empting a major storyline that would have hounded him at SEC Media Days, Lane Kiffin says he, in fact, DID vote for Tim Tebow as preseason 1st-team All-SEC QB. The mystery continues. (But don't worry: It WILL come out. It always comes out.)
Tebow NFL Draft Status Throwdown
Per Ben Volin's must-read Gator Bytes blog, he breaks down -- "Daily Show"-style -- the competing theories about Tim Tebow's NFL Draft stock.
On one end, Gil Brandt of NFL.com. Brandt pegs Tebow as a Top 10 pick.
On the other end, there is the Todd McShay (and Mel Kiper) wing, which -- at best -- has Tebow as a 2nd- or 3rd-round QB and -- at worst -- has him playing H-back in the NFL.
I think Brandt will end up being more correct, if not entirely correct. Think back to that recent Sporting News mock draft: They had Tebow going No. 13 to the Redskins.
Here is my upshot: Tebow's draft stock will only go up, for a few reasons:
(1) Full season of Scott Loeffler's tutelage, with at least partial emphasis on NFL preparation;
(2) Jon Gruden's promotion on Monday Night Football (don't discount!);
(3) NFL teams WANT to want him -- he'll get the benefit of the doubt;
(4) Drumbeat for Tebow's hometown Jaguars to take him, which -- based on the Jags' season a year ago -- could be Top 10, but will likely be in the teens.
(5) The Shanoff "Tebelichick Theory" that there is no way he slips past the Patriots -- if the Pats don't go so far as to trade UP through the 1st round to get him.
Once it is obvious that Bill Belichick is dying to figure out how to unleash him on the NFL -- even in a limited, Wildcattish role -- the copycat effect will send a dozen teams scrambling for him.
Mel Kiper and Todd McShay may not THINK that Tebow will be an NFL QB, but if they want their mock drafts to reflect market realities, they will have him in their 1st round soon enough.
Winner: Gil Brandt. (I actually worked with Gil briefly while I was at NFL.com in the late-90s, and he is one of the nicest guys I've ever met.)
On one end, Gil Brandt of NFL.com. Brandt pegs Tebow as a Top 10 pick.
On the other end, there is the Todd McShay (and Mel Kiper) wing, which -- at best -- has Tebow as a 2nd- or 3rd-round QB and -- at worst -- has him playing H-back in the NFL.
I think Brandt will end up being more correct, if not entirely correct. Think back to that recent Sporting News mock draft: They had Tebow going No. 13 to the Redskins.
Here is my upshot: Tebow's draft stock will only go up, for a few reasons:
(1) Full season of Scott Loeffler's tutelage, with at least partial emphasis on NFL preparation;
(2) Jon Gruden's promotion on Monday Night Football (don't discount!);
(3) NFL teams WANT to want him -- he'll get the benefit of the doubt;
(4) Drumbeat for Tebow's hometown Jaguars to take him, which -- based on the Jags' season a year ago -- could be Top 10, but will likely be in the teens.
(5) The Shanoff "Tebelichick Theory" that there is no way he slips past the Patriots -- if the Pats don't go so far as to trade UP through the 1st round to get him.
Once it is obvious that Bill Belichick is dying to figure out how to unleash him on the NFL -- even in a limited, Wildcattish role -- the copycat effect will send a dozen teams scrambling for him.
Mel Kiper and Todd McShay may not THINK that Tebow will be an NFL QB, but if they want their mock drafts to reflect market realities, they will have him in their 1st round soon enough.
Winner: Gil Brandt. (I actually worked with Gil briefly while I was at NFL.com in the late-90s, and he is one of the nicest guys I've ever met.)
SEC Media Day: "Is Tim Tebow A Virgin?"
"Is Tim Tebow a virgin?" That's not my question -- it's from Fanhouse's Clay Travis, who gets a jump on SEC Media Day by offering up 10 intriguing questions for the event (which has 800 credentialed media folks attending. 800.) I do think he missed the biggest mystery of the offseason: "Who didn't vote for Tim Tebow for 1st-team all-SEC QB?"
More questions that should be asked, entirely framed around Tim Tebow, naturally, listed in order of scheduled appearances:
Wednesday July 22
Arkansas' Bobby Petrino (8:30 a.m.): "Coach, you know QBs as well as any coach. What kind of offense could you run if you had Tebow?"
Vanderbilt's Bobby Johnson (9:30): "You're a pretty good defensive coach. What's the best way to defend Tim Tebow?"
Mississippi State's Dan Mullen (10:30): "Coach, you used to coach Tim Tebow. How would YOU stop him?"
Kentucky's Rich Brooks (11:30): "You get the Gators in their first road SEC game of the season. Got any clever sign ideas or chants for your fans to get in Tebow's head?"
Thursday July 23
Alabama's Nick Saban (8:30): "Admit it coach: You didn't vote Tim Tebow as 1st-team all-SEC QB this season, did you? Is it because of the whole 4th quarter of the SEC Championship Game thing?"
Georgia's Mark Richt (9:30): "Ooh, Coach Saban, I take it back. It was YOU, Richt, wasn't it?"
Ole Miss' Houston Nutt (10:30): "Yeah, yeah, keep smiling."
Florida's Urban Meyer (11:30): "Greatest college QB of all time... or greatest college PLAYER of all time?"
Friday July 24
Auburn's Gene Chizik (8:30): "Isn't it true that your biggest win of your season is that Florida is off your schedule?"
South Carolina's Steve Spurrier (9:30): "Your protege Danny Wuerffel already surpassed you as the greatest QB in Florida history. Does it irk you at all that Tebow has passed Danny?"
LSU's Les Miles (10:30): "Florida-LSU is going to be the biggest game of the college football season. Think your student section will give out Tebow's home phone number again this year?"
Tennessee's Lane Kiffin (11:30): "Is there a reason that the SEC saved you for last? No, no: That's not my question. The question is: Anything to say about Tim Tebow? There's not much room left on the bulletin board, but we can always squeeze in another quote."
More questions that should be asked, entirely framed around Tim Tebow, naturally, listed in order of scheduled appearances:
Wednesday July 22
Arkansas' Bobby Petrino (8:30 a.m.): "Coach, you know QBs as well as any coach. What kind of offense could you run if you had Tebow?"
Vanderbilt's Bobby Johnson (9:30): "You're a pretty good defensive coach. What's the best way to defend Tim Tebow?"
Mississippi State's Dan Mullen (10:30): "Coach, you used to coach Tim Tebow. How would YOU stop him?"
Kentucky's Rich Brooks (11:30): "You get the Gators in their first road SEC game of the season. Got any clever sign ideas or chants for your fans to get in Tebow's head?"
Thursday July 23
Alabama's Nick Saban (8:30): "Admit it coach: You didn't vote Tim Tebow as 1st-team all-SEC QB this season, did you? Is it because of the whole 4th quarter of the SEC Championship Game thing?"
Georgia's Mark Richt (9:30): "Ooh, Coach Saban, I take it back. It was YOU, Richt, wasn't it?"
Ole Miss' Houston Nutt (10:30): "Yeah, yeah, keep smiling."
Florida's Urban Meyer (11:30): "Greatest college QB of all time... or greatest college PLAYER of all time?"
Friday July 24
Auburn's Gene Chizik (8:30): "Isn't it true that your biggest win of your season is that Florida is off your schedule?"
South Carolina's Steve Spurrier (9:30): "Your protege Danny Wuerffel already surpassed you as the greatest QB in Florida history. Does it irk you at all that Tebow has passed Danny?"
LSU's Les Miles (10:30): "Florida-LSU is going to be the biggest game of the college football season. Think your student section will give out Tebow's home phone number again this year?"
Tennessee's Lane Kiffin (11:30): "Is there a reason that the SEC saved you for last? No, no: That's not my question. The question is: Anything to say about Tim Tebow? There's not much room left on the bulletin board, but we can always squeeze in another quote."
Monday, July 20, 2009
Tim Tebow at the 2009 ESPYs
If Sarah Palin and Jim Tressel had a love-child...
(I've seen the tweets and the posts from the haters, but I think he actually pulls it off. Glasses: Who knew?)
(I've seen the tweets and the posts from the haters, but I think he actually pulls it off. Glasses: Who knew?)
Book Your Lunch Plan Now: SEC Media Day
The Gators reps -- including Tim Tebow -- are scheduled to appear for media interviews on Thursday, July 23 between 10:30 and 12:30 p.m. Book your lunch "meeting" now, appropriately.
(Cool helmet-graphic scheduling info courtesy of the SEC.)
(Cool helmet-graphic scheduling info courtesy of the SEC.)
What Does ESPN's Push Into Local Online Media Have To Do With Tim Tebow?
Sorry for the navel-gazing, but the answer is here, toward the bottom. (Heads-up: Only of interest if you like this sort of inside-baseball media-wonky stuff. Promise it's then back to strict TT analysis.)
Gainesville Sun: Tebow No. 1 Player in SEC
This is not surprising, on any number of levels: The Gainesville Sun, counting down the Top 25 players in the SEC this season, has tabbed Tim Tebow as No. 1.
That the hometown paper puts Tebow at the top is obvious; what is less obvious is how anyone across the country could put anyone BUT Tebow as the No. 1 player in the SEC.
(Yes, you can make the case for Eric Berry, but Berry doesn't have nearly the direct impact that Tebow has. I would also argue that Julio Jones -- the Sun's No. 3 talent -- is ridiculously good.)
The larger question, of course, is where Tebow should rank among ALL players in the country, not just the Ess-Eee-See. Let's leave it here for now: He is on the short-list discussion for No. 1.
That the hometown paper puts Tebow at the top is obvious; what is less obvious is how anyone across the country could put anyone BUT Tebow as the No. 1 player in the SEC.
(Yes, you can make the case for Eric Berry, but Berry doesn't have nearly the direct impact that Tebow has. I would also argue that Julio Jones -- the Sun's No. 3 talent -- is ridiculously good.)
The larger question, of course, is where Tebow should rank among ALL players in the country, not just the Ess-Eee-See. Let's leave it here for now: He is on the short-list discussion for No. 1.
Quote of the Day: Arnold Tucker
"He's a horse. He would have done great back when I was playing, too."
-- Newly enshrined College Football Hall of Famer Arnold Tucker (Army '46) on Tim Tebow.
-- Newly enshrined College Football Hall of Famer Arnold Tucker (Army '46) on Tim Tebow.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Blutarsky's Sunday Tebow Matinee
This, from one of the best college football bloggers out there, the venerable Blutarsky of Get the Picture:
Blutarsky doubles down with this, from Meyer's Huntsville talk:
If the GPOOE™ has to use not being a unanimous pick in the SEC preseason coaches’ vote to motivate himself, Florida’s in worse shape than I thought.(GPOOE -- Trademarked to Blutarsky -- stands for "Greatest Player Of Our Era," a mocking reference to the description Urban Meyer, among others, have bestowed on Tebow.)
Blutarsky doubles down with this, from Meyer's Huntsville talk:
Speaking of Tebow, how’s this for a creepy comment from his head coach? “He’s my Vitamin B-12. If I’m not there with him, I call him every day.”Put Blutarsky's blog on your Reader list for terrific college football commentary -- and not just pro-Georgia stuff, either.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Countdown: Practice Starts August 6
Per Joe Goodman at the Herald, Gators practice starts August 6. Around here, expect a ton of fun lead-up/countdown-type stuff between the end of SEC Media Days and 8/6.
TimTeblog.com on GatorEnvy.com Boards
Thanks to whomever started this TimTeblog thread on the Gator Envy message boards. (What: No comments yet? Come on!)
For the record, I'm a longtime reader -- though not a participant -- on GatorsSports, GatorBait and GatorCountry's message boards. Maybe I'll have to change that...
For the record, I'm a longtime reader -- though not a participant -- on GatorsSports, GatorBait and GatorCountry's message boards. Maybe I'll have to change that...
Quote of the Day: Meyer on Tebow
"I get to be known as Tim Tebow's coach for four more months. And I'm going to enjoy every freakin' minute of it."
-- Urban Meyer on Tim Tebow, from Meyer's trip to Huntsville, Alabama earlier this week for a clinic:
-- Urban Meyer on Tim Tebow, from Meyer's trip to Huntsville, Alabama earlier this week for a clinic:
Gator Report on Why TimTeblog.com?
With the launch of the blog last week, several local and national college football writers have picked up on it, including Holly Anderson from Yahoo's must-read Dr. Saturday, ESPN's terrific Bruce Feldman and the PB Post's sharp Gators beat reporter Ben Volin.
You can find the links collected on the right side under "Coverage of TimTeblog."
The St. Pete Times' Antonya English had a post about the blog right out of the gate -- framed interestingly around the potential for the "Tebacklash" (per AOL Fanhouse's MDS, covered here earlier this week).
She circled back with me to get a little more context for why I started the blog -- the launch post of the site on Wednesday said a lot, but I elaborate on it for her here.
This gist, and it's not like you haven't seen it before:
There is no bigger story in sports this fall than Tim Tebow and Florida, and I think that kind of interesting story merits my (mostly) journalistic coverage as a stand-alone "beat."
You can find the links collected on the right side under "Coverage of TimTeblog."
The St. Pete Times' Antonya English had a post about the blog right out of the gate -- framed interestingly around the potential for the "Tebacklash" (per AOL Fanhouse's MDS, covered here earlier this week).
She circled back with me to get a little more context for why I started the blog -- the launch post of the site on Wednesday said a lot, but I elaborate on it for her here.
This gist, and it's not like you haven't seen it before:
There is no bigger story in sports this fall than Tim Tebow and Florida, and I think that kind of interesting story merits my (mostly) journalistic coverage as a stand-alone "beat."
Friday, July 17, 2009
Role Model Showdown: Tim Tebow vs Myron Rolle
I was going to put together this really fun post comparing and contrasting Tim Tebow and Myron Rolle -- not the least of which is the Florida-Florida State rivalry.
A lot of people hold up Tebow as an ultimate role model. Myron Rolle is his equal, if not superior -- it's stupid to compare. It's simply worth marveling at the absoluteness of Rolle's awesomeness.
Read this post from Yahoo's "Dr. Saturday," Matt Hinton, and you'll see why.
While I'm no FSU fan, I couldn't admire Rolle more* -- his biggest claim to fame is the Rhodes Scholarship, but his life seems destined for astonishing greatness, especially off the field.
(* - Like many Gator fans, I was stunned when Rolle -- a fantastic student -- picked FSU over Florida "for the academics." I am thrilled that Rolle's life has worked out so well.)
A lot of people hold up Tebow as an ultimate role model. Myron Rolle is his equal, if not superior -- it's stupid to compare. It's simply worth marveling at the absoluteness of Rolle's awesomeness.
Read this post from Yahoo's "Dr. Saturday," Matt Hinton, and you'll see why.
While I'm no FSU fan, I couldn't admire Rolle more* -- his biggest claim to fame is the Rhodes Scholarship, but his life seems destined for astonishing greatness, especially off the field.
(* - Like many Gator fans, I was stunned when Rolle -- a fantastic student -- picked FSU over Florida "for the academics." I am thrilled that Rolle's life has worked out so well.)
Weekly Wrap (Next Week: SEC Media Days)
For a slow week in sports, it was plenty busy around here. This week's Top 5 Tebow storylines:
(5) Season Preview Magazine mania
(4) TMZ confirms that Tebow is single.
(3) Tebow wins ESPY for "Best Male College Athlete"
(2) Preseason all-SEC mini-drama
(1) Launch of TimTeblog.com (naturally)
If you haven't looked at the right side of the site yet, there is plenty of extra coverage, including links to the Top 10 most important Tebow videos, a list of places that have covered the launch of this blog and a preseason ranking of the Top 10 "Poor Man's Tim Tebow" contenders.
More posts this weekend, with a ton to come next week as the Tebow hysteria comes to SEC Media Days, which has become sort of like ComiCon for SEC football junkies.
Thanks very much for your time, attention and instant approval this week. Please don't hesitate to leave a comment or drop an email if you have any feedback.
(5) Season Preview Magazine mania
(4) TMZ confirms that Tebow is single.
(3) Tebow wins ESPY for "Best Male College Athlete"
(2) Preseason all-SEC mini-drama
(1) Launch of TimTeblog.com (naturally)
If you haven't looked at the right side of the site yet, there is plenty of extra coverage, including links to the Top 10 most important Tebow videos, a list of places that have covered the launch of this blog and a preseason ranking of the Top 10 "Poor Man's Tim Tebow" contenders.
More posts this weekend, with a ton to come next week as the Tebow hysteria comes to SEC Media Days, which has become sort of like ComiCon for SEC football junkies.
Thanks very much for your time, attention and instant approval this week. Please don't hesitate to leave a comment or drop an email if you have any feedback.
"My Life As A Kid" Meets Tebow? Almost.
This is really cute (particularly if you have kids who own their own Tebow jerseys). I especially like the part where the cameraman actually catches Tebow on tape, then... well, you'll see:
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Update: SEC Coach Mystery Dis of Tebow
Saturday (07/18) Update: The New York Times' excellent "Quad" blog weighs in. (If you don't have the Quad bookmarked or in your RSS Reader, you're missing out.)
Updating: Clay Travis has a terrific analysis of the insanity that is the notion that an SEC coach would not -- DID not -- put Tim Tebow as his 1st-team preseason all-SEC QB. (via AOL FanHouse)
Updating: Clay Travis has a terrific analysis of the insanity that is the notion that an SEC coach would not -- DID not -- put Tim Tebow as his 1st-team preseason all-SEC QB. (via AOL FanHouse)
Mystery: Which Coach Dissed Tebow?
The SEC coaches' preseason all-conference teams came out today. Unsurprisingly, Tim Tebow was the 1st-team QB. Very surprisingly, he was not a unanimous selection.
Any guesses as to which coach (or, I guess, coaches) left Tebow off their ballot?
I would have guessed Houston Nutt, but coaches can't pick their own players, so it's not like he could have picked Jevan Snead.
I am going to go out on a limb and say it was Lane Kiffin. His reasoning? Just because. Extra points for the first media type at Media Day to ask him directly which QB he voted for.
Here's the thing: These things will come out. They always do. A good beat reporter will ask his SEC coach if he did/didn't vote for Tebow. Coach better hope he's not on Florida's schedule.
All of this could be avoided if the SEC actually made their coaches' ballots public, right from the start. Why the secrecy? What's the point?
(FWIW: Unanimous 1st-teamers: Ciron Black, Eric Berry, Julio Jones.)
Any guesses as to which coach (or, I guess, coaches) left Tebow off their ballot?
I would have guessed Houston Nutt, but coaches can't pick their own players, so it's not like he could have picked Jevan Snead.
I am going to go out on a limb and say it was Lane Kiffin. His reasoning? Just because. Extra points for the first media type at Media Day to ask him directly which QB he voted for.
Here's the thing: These things will come out. They always do. A good beat reporter will ask his SEC coach if he did/didn't vote for Tebow. Coach better hope he's not on Florida's schedule.
All of this could be avoided if the SEC actually made their coaches' ballots public, right from the start. Why the secrecy? What's the point?
(FWIW: Unanimous 1st-teamers: Ciron Black, Eric Berry, Julio Jones.)
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