We are in an unprecedented time in sports mania. Linsanity has replaced Tebowing as the “flavor of the month.” ESPN has transformed from the Tebow and Sports Programming network to ESP-LiN network, and my guess is that Tim Tebow has become Jeremy Lin’s biggest fan.
Tebow has and continues to face tremendous media pressure. A new rumor seems to pop up everyday. Recently, the media reported that Tebow and singer Katy Perry may be an item.
Before Kim Kardashian was rumored to have a double date set up with her, Carmelo Anthony and his wife with Jeremy Lin, it was falsely reported that she wanted to date Tim Tebow.
And before Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian, Tebow was linked to having a romantic interest with Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn and a slew of other women. So within a few months, the media has published unsubstantiated stories about his personal life that were not true. I am sure this has been a challenge for him to deal with.
In addition to having to deal with his personal/romantic life, Tebow has also had to deal with his critics ever since his playing days in Florida. Draft experts, like ESPN’s Mel Kiper, have routinely criticized Tebow stating that he cannot play quarterback in the NFL. Even though he led his team to a 6-4 record and a playoff win, critics are still not convinced that Tebow is the man at QB for next season.
Has there ever been a person more scrutinized than Tebow? One would never think there would be any phenomena like Tebow-mania but one has come. People are dubbing it Lin-sanity. I will refer to it as Jeremania but there does appear to be a new flavor in sports.
Lin’s story is well documented. From a basketball player who did not receive a college basketball scholarship, undrafted, sleeping on his brother’s couch and almost released due to the Knicks having to guarantee a contract then rising to an international superstar beloved by millions, Jeremania has overtaken Tebowing.
Both of these men are so young, 23 and 24 years old, yet they have had the weight of their teams, the criticism from the experts, their faith and in Lin’s case, ethnicity, scrutinized accompanied by rumors galore thrown at them. That is a lot for someone who has yet to be alive for a quarter of a century to handle.
Both are outspoken about their faith and both are actively involved in using their fame, resources and time to help people, especially children. Unfortunately, with such a strong disclosure of faith comes the tabloid pariah wishing and hoping for these young heroes to fall.
Jeremy Lin has begun to absorb the media attention that Tebow garnered. Already the target of insensitive racial slurs by Jason Whitlock, boxer Floyd Mayweather, his face between a fortune cookie by MSG Network and a tactless ESPN headline “Chink in The Armor,” Lin is experiencing firsthand the stress Tebow felt.
With all the pressure heaped on them, they can use a prayer or two. Tim Tebow’s season is over and with it came a lessening of his media coverage. Still, with Jeremania hitting society, Tim Tebow has to welcome a fellow professional athlete and professing Christian to shoulder the burden.
They say it is lonely at the top but Tebow must feel he has a fellow pilgrim to navigate through the world of professional athletics and outspoken Christian faith.