The odds vary wildly these days as to whether former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow will ever play in the NFL again, but Tebow’s popularity in the media continues to grow with each passing season. Just what it is about the young man is difficult to pin down but that doesn’t seem to stop the media onslaught.
Tim Tebow still has an army of supporters and fans out there. Many are just ordinary fans but there are some famous folks backing Tebow these days.
Chuck Norris has come to be somewhat of a cult hero or perhaps ‘American Folk Hero’ would be a better way to put it. His portrayal of Walker, the karate chopping Texas Ranger is familiar to anyone with a TV. In fact, down in Latin America, old episodes of ‘Walker, Ranger de Texas’ are still broadcast five days a week.
Now Norris has come out in support of Tim Tebow with an online essay calling him “the ultimate clutch player.” Chuck goes on to say, “I’ve heard the so-called critics say Tebow has poor technical skills, but the truth is that Tim is a natural-born leader, an amazingly gifted football player, an inspiration to his team and the possessor of intense determination and strategy to bring any team to victory….no matter what the odds. One can improve technique, but leadership is innate. That’s why I believe Tebow could be a super star and legend in the NFL.”
That’s an accolade hard to top, but then Forbes Magazine comes out and calls Tim Tebow the ‘Most Influential Athlete in America’….really. He doesn’t even have a job at this point. In fact, the top four athletes on the ‘most influential’ list are currently not active….not as athletes anyway.
Joining Tebow on the list are multiple Olympic Gold Medal winner Michael Phelps, Jamaican speedster Usain Bolt and Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees. Stephen Master of Nielson Sports polling which conducted the surveys on which the Forbes article was based, says, “For a backup quarterback to be talked about so much is incredible. But it is the biggest market.”
Other top athletes on the Forbes ‘most influential’ list include Drew Brees, Aaron Rogers and LeBron James.
So, ‘Tebowmania’ is alive and well in America. Odds are good that his religious affiliations, his generous charities and his engaging personality will keep Tim Tebow in the media spotlight for sometime to come…..whether he plays football again or not.
