Touchy subject

[j7]

Originally Posted by atlantagator86

I think some people mischaracterize why some people have a problem with Tebow. I don't think it's his religion itself.

Personally, it never bothered me when Tebow would pray after a TD. I don't think that bothered most people in and of itself. I also really had no issue with what Lewis did last night either. Lot's of players have done a little public display or religion after a TD or home run.

I think the 2 things that rubbed people the wrong way with Tebow was the overt displays of his religion. Particularly when he was being interviewed after a game and his answer to every question practically went into a sermon. I don't think most people like feeling they are being preached to. And of course the other was the non-stop media attention Tebow got from that, like they eye paint and Tebowing.

To me and I assume other Christians, there's the rub. Say/do less (i.e. point to the heavens after a score, pray on the field or mention "blessed" or "God" in some context during an interview) and you risk the message not getting through. Say/do too much (being "preachy") and risk turning people off.

It's probably safe to say that Tim can go over the top compared to others in most things he does; football, charity, his non-sex life, the way he treats others, etc. Assuming that to him his true charge is to save people's souls from damnation and it's understandable to me why he goes as far as he does with the message.

[geauxgator1]

Originally Posted by j7

To me and I assume other Christians, there's the rub. Say/do less (i.e. point to the heavens after a score, pray on the field or mention "blessed" or "God" in some context during an interview) and you risk the message not getting through. Say/do too much (being "preachy") and risk turning people off.

It's probably safe to say that Tim can go over the top compared to others in most things he does; football, charity, his non-sex life, the way he treats others, etc. Assuming that to him his true charge is to save people's souls from damnation and it's understandable to me why he goes as far as he does with the message.

I think TT tries not to make himself the focus, as do most of the Christian athletes. TT is not preachy or in your face, he just lets you know where he stands gives credit to God, and tries to live a life guided by his values. I think he has done that, but it still can rub some people the wrong way. As long as you take a stand for a belief, you will encounter some criticism along the way. It just goes with the territory.

[msa3]

Tim did/does his thing REGARDLESS of the presence of cameras.

RL does his thing BECAUSE of the presence of cameras.

You don't know that to be the truth in either case. I would imagine Ray Lewis fans feel EXACTLY the same way, just the other way around.

[GatorAvatar]

People who claim their victory was due to God's blessing confuse me. Does that mean God was rooting against the opposing team?

[j7]

Originally Posted by GatorAvatar

Does that mean God was rooting against the opposing team?

God only knows

[g8rboy]

Usually, the claim is thanking God for the abilities bestowed upon the player, not for actual game results

[gator85jd]

Originally Posted by g8rboy

Usually, the claim is thanking God for the abilities bestowed upon the player, not for actual game results

Ray has plenty to be thankful for . . . . like beating a double murder rap. His public display is par for his personality and far from humble. Does Ray do mission work in underdeveloped areas of the world, work in a prison ministry or do any other type of service when the cameras aren't running?

[AFCyberGator]

Judging Ray Lewis or Tim Tebow only tells something about those who judge, not who is being judged...and how the media shapes what is considered acceptable behavior. It matters not what we think of their motivations when praying on the field. What does matter is that the media and social networking worlds are shaping what you think of either situation. Neither Ray Lewis nor Tim Tebow is the first athlete to express religious beliefs on the field or show emotion on TV. Ray Lewis is not the first athlete to get a bye in playing to the media, and he will not be the last. He gets a bye because the media has shaped the story of his impending retirement and innocence in the murder trial. Tim Tebow does not get the bye because the media has made the public sick of hearing his name and supposedly forcing religion, even though he has not "earned the right" to do so.

In summary: I blame the media and social networking.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Originally Posted by AFCyberGator

Judging Ray Lewis or Tim Tebow only tells something about those who judge, not who is being judged

All that needs to be said, really.

[atlantagator86]

Originally Posted by j7

To me and I assume other Christians, there's the rub. Say/do less (i.e. point to the heavens after a score, pray on the field or mention "blessed" or "God" in some context during an interview) and you risk the message not getting through. Say/do too much (being "preachy") and risk turning people off.

It's probably safe to say that Tim can go over the top compared to others in most things he does; football, charity, his non-sex life, the way he treats others, etc. Assuming that to him his true charge is to save people's souls from damnation and it's understandable to me why he goes as far as he does with the message.

I completely agree with your second paragraph. I think that for Tebow, "spreading the word" is much more important than football.

That was a conscious choice that Tebow made early on. Tebow put the eye paint out there for everyone to see. Does anyone honestly think Tebow did the eye paint without the intention of it being on TV?! He knew exactly what he was doing. And Tebow is the one who during interviews consciously puts God before his team. And Tebow is the one who does the "Tebowing" pose after a score. I don't think he expected it to become a fad though. And he is the one who announced his celibacy to the world.

Tebow made a very conscious choice to become a somewhat controversial figure. He knew all along that some people would be completely turned off by it while others would embrace it. But he felt like it was more important to spread his message than be liked by everyone.

Anyone who thinks Tebow hasn't exploited the media in trying to get his message out is a little naive. There is really little difference between what Tebow has done and what Lewis did, except that Tebow tries to put the attention on God while Lewis and other players may try to use religion to bring attention to themselves.

Personally, I'm not bothered by either.

[Colin]

Ray Lewis = going to the Super Bowl, again.

Tim Tebow = sitting on the bench, maybe going to the Canadian Football League.

Someone explain to me the power of prayer, please.

[gatorchamp27]

I could care less about all of the antics RL does whether they be genuine or not. All I want to know is if he is truly a changed man and now a man of God then he should have no problem professing the truth as to what happened the night two men were murdered and his role in it. Until then to me he is just a guy who beat a charge and got close to losing it all in his mind and no longer wants to have a negative image. All the good he claims and others claims he does is all for nothing if it is based solely initially on falsehoods and self preservation. It is truly hard to live a righteous life, which is why the phenomenon that is TT is such a spectacular story. I like the way Ray Lewis plays football and his passion for it, I even enjoy some of his speeches but there will always be some form of reservation for what he says, because of what he has done.

[Bushmaster]

Ray Lewis is an attention whore.

[samit23]

Originally Posted by orangeblueorangeblue

Really, though, who blasted Tebow for praying on the field?

Nobody did. Maybe a few critics, but this is more revisionist history than anything.

[g8rfan22]

I think this forum needs one more I hate Ray Lewis thread...

[g8rboy]

Originally Posted by Colin

Ray Lewis = going to the Super Bowl, again.

Tim Tebow = sitting on the bench, maybe going to the Canadian Football League.

Someone explain to me the power of prayer, please.

i think you may not understand how prayer works

[GATORQUEDOG]

Originally Posted by sparksel

He is an absolute fantastic player. I am not taking a single thing away from him. He is probably the best MLB of all time. He gets his team fired up and I respect the heck out of him. I was just imagining in my head what if Tim had went to the middle of the field to drop down with 50 cameras around him, how would it be received?

Tim does and has used his "fame", the media et all, to spread his message of Christianity.
He had openly and directly said that his "position" allows him to reach masses of people that under normal circumstances would not necessarily be reached.
In that sense, really no different than what Lewis is doing--praising his God and utilizing his fame and the media as a resource to be an evangelist for his faith.

[GrubGator]

Maybe god is leading Tebow to go to Canada where he can become to Canada what Hasselhoff is to Germany! Or maybe God has absolutely nothing to do with football or attention mongers

[g8rfan22]

Originally Posted by GATORQUEDOG

Tim does and has used his "fame", the media et all, to spread his message of Christianity.
He had openly and directly said that his "position" allows him to reach masses of people that under normal circumstances would not necessarily be reached.
In that sense, really no different than what Lewis is doing--praising his God and utilizing his fame and the media as a resource to be an evangelist for his faith.

I agree and have no problem with what either of them do. It's a matter of using your platform. If either of them reach one person by doing so, it's a success. JMO

[rpmGator]

Many of us watched Denver last season and enjoyed the hell out of it.

I didn't watch a single Denver game this season. Tim is fun to watch for me and I will always tune into his games no matter what you think of him.

You can credit his wins to others, you can blame the losses on him alone, yet people love to watch him play.

The great hope against Tim is he doesn't get on the field so he can prove himself. Keep hoping.