15 Reasons Tim Tebow is the Best Thing to Ever Happen to Sports

15 Reasons Tim Tebow is the Best Thing to Ever Happen to Sports

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

There is no question Tim Tebow is one of the greatest quarterbacks in college football history. The passion, determination, heart, will to win and raw talent is everything anyone will ever need to know about Tebow and why he will forever be cemented in the hearts of Florida Gators nation. To say that he is good for sports is a huge understatement. The fact is Tebow may just be the greatest thing to ever happen to sports.

It is unfortunate that there is so much hate for Tebow. I’ll admit I wasn’t a huge fan of his when he played college ball, but that was more or less because I have some ties to the Florida State Seminoles. If Tebow played for any other school besides Florida, or the Ohio State Buckeyes, Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans for that matter, I would have been a huge fan.

In reality, I became a big fan of his. It wasn’t just because the way he played the game of football, but rather, because of how he went about his business. The way he cared so much about his teammates and people he didn’t even know. It was as if he wanted to be everyone’s friend, which is something that continues to this day.

Tebow’s time in the NFL may appear to be over. However, I’m still not ruling out a comeback in the near future.

Make sure to click through the slideshow to see the 15 reasons why Tebow is the best thing to ever happen to sports.

15. Tebowing

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

It’s nearly impossible to make a list of how influential Tebow has been regarding sports without a mention of Tebowing, which is the act of getting down on one knee and praying. It caught social media by storm, as fans all over the country would snap photos of themselves Tebowing and then posting it to Facebook and Twitter. Fan Jared Kleinstein is credited with coining the term Tebowing and even began a website dedicated to posting photograph submissions of people performing the act.

14. Religion Awareness

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Say what you want about the religious factor that comes along with any mention of Tebow, but there is no question his religion awareness has been good for a lot of people. In fact, it has brought several players closer to God, while also helping numerous people in and out of football find the light. Too bad none of that rubbed off on Aaron Hernandez during their Florida days.

13. Great to Debate

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

One of my favorite parts about sports is debating with family and friends. Everyone has an opinion on a player, coach or team, which results is some very friendly conversations and not so friendly arguments. The one thing Tebow did is create the biggest debate in sports since the Green Bay Packers decided to part ways with Brett Favre. In fact, whether or not Tebow is fit to play quarterback in the NFL might just be the biggest debate in the history of sports.

12. Incredibly Influential

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

I’ve already touched on this a bit with the religion, but Tebow is one of the most influential people to ever step onto a playing field. Others buy into what he’s selling not only based by what he does on the gridiron, but more importantly, what he accomplishes off the field.

11. Puts Fans in the Stands

Twitter

Believe it or not, sports are a business. Owners are in it to make money and win championships. The fact that Tebow puts fan in the stands is great for the team that employs him and for sports in general.

10. Ability to Inspire Team to Victory

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Say what you want about Tebow’s inability to play the quarterback position at a high-level. There is no doubt that he has the ability to inspire a team to victory. In 2011, the Denver Broncos had no business being in the playoffs. However, Tebow’s numerous fourth-quarter comebacks put the Broncos in a position to win the division. In fact, it was his resilience in the playoffs that inspired the team to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers.

9. Brings Passion to Sports

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Personally, I have never seen a player who was more passionate about the game of football than Tebow. The way he dedicated himself to the sport is something that is rarely seen. He has always been known to give great speeches before and after games, but it was his speech after a loss to Ole Miss in 2008 that is the stuff of legends.

“To the fans and everybody in Gator Nation, I’m sorry. I’m extremely sorry. We were hoping for an undefeated season. That was my goal, something Florida has never done here. I promise you one thing, a lot of good will come out of this. You will never see any player in the entire country play as hard as I will play the rest of the season. You will never see someone push the rest of the team as hard as I will push everybody the rest of the season. You will never see a team play harder than we will the rest of the season. God bless.”

The Gators would go on to win the National Championship later that season.

8. Increases Interest in Football

Michael Ivins-USA TODAY Sports

One of the biggest things Tebow ever did for football was increase the interest in the sport. So many people who had never watched sports before would tune in to see Tebow. Those same people would buy his jersey and attend games of the team he played for. Men everywhere who were hassled by their wife to stop sitting on the couch all day watching football owe a lot to Tebow because he was the reason those same men were able to take in a game without hearing it from their significant other.

7. Loyal Fan Base

Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Tebow’s loyal followers are so much more than just football fans. In fact, Tebowmaniacs do a lot of good for the community in and around football. It’s no secret Tebow gives back on a daily basis, but it’s the influence he has because of his good intentions that is the real winner. People see what he does for others, which inspires them to get out in the world and do some good. The loyal fan base also could be a huge reason why Tebow gets another shot in the NFL.

6. Pregame Routine

Twitter

One of Tebow’s pre-game routines is that he would find someone who is suffering from an injury, disease or is dying and would make them his guest at the game. Those guests would get flown in, put up in a nice hotel, get dinner with Tebow the night before the game and receive incredible tickets. On top of that, Tebow would hook them up with field passes so that he can be with them in the minutes leading up to kickoff. I’m talking about having a conversation one minute and joining his teammates in the huddle the next.

Regardless if his team wins or loses, Tebow then meets with the family after the game, prays and spends time with them. It goes without saying that several gifts are given throughout the visit, with the most important being his full attention despite the rest of the world trying to get his.

5. Refuses to Give Up

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

One of Tebow’s greatest qualities is his refusal to give up on anything, which is why I continue to believe he will play in the NFL again. What’s so great about this quality is how it affects others. When people who are struck with illness see Tebow refuse to give up, it gives them the power to do the same. The fact that Tebow won’t give up on himself or anyone else around him inspires people to overcome all adversity. This also goes along with how he played the quarterback position for so many years.

4. Charity

Twitter

One of the reasons Tebow worked so hard to be a great athlete was so that he could use his status symbol for good. More specifically, Tebow would use his name to help charities all around the world. Tebow founded “First and 15” with other students while he was at the University of Florida as a way to give back.

He also has worked with the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association, raised money for Shands Hospital and has organized trips for children to go to Disney. One of his biggest contributions is the Tim Tebow Foundation, which was started to help others in the United States and the Philippines. Not to mention, his continuous work with the Make A Wish Foundation.

3. Provides Hope

Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

I have already talked about how Tebow is incredibly influential, passionate and refuses to give up in football and in life. All of these qualities lead to how Tebow provides hope for every single person on this planet. There is clearly so much wrong in the world, but to know that someone as kind hearted as Tebow exists makes everything seem alright.

2. Outstanding Role Model

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Men want to be him and women want to be with him. He’s the son that every father wants and the man every father wants to marry his daughter. There is no athlete who is a greater role model than Tebow. In fact, it is his accomplishments and unselfishness that inspire other athletes to go the extra mile and get involved with their community. That means Tebow isn’t just a role model for children and adults everywhere but other professional athletes as well.

1. Makes Underdogs Everywhere Believe They Have a Shot

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The No. 1 reason Tebow is the greatest thing to ever happen to sports is that he gives underdogs everywhere the necessary motivation to believe they have a shot at going the distance. Anyone who has ever questioned if they had what it takes to be the best just had look to Tebow to know that greatness is achievable with just a little self-motivation.