God, save us from conservative political columnists who write stupid, jock-fawning columns about sports. And save us from conservative political columnists who write columns claiming that they understand what motivates people they don’t agree with.
I’m a bit late to the party, but over the weekend Russ Douthat managed to do both in one wankerific contemplation of Tim Tebow’s future in New York:
Why is Tim Tebow such a fascinating and polarizing figure? Not just because he claims to be religious; that claim is commonplace among football stars and ordinary Americans alike. Rather, it’s because his conduct — kind, charitable, chaste, guileless — seems to actually vindicate his claim to be in possession of a life-altering truth.
Uh, no. Tebow is a polarizing (and repellent) figure because, unlike almost every single one of the literally thousands of other Christian professional athletes in North America, he constantly and ostentatiously draws attention to himself and his faith on the playing field. And because doing so has made him one of his sport’s biggest celebrities by appealing to other evangelical Christians, completely independent of his ability (or lack of it) on the playing field.
Tebow has become one of the game’s biggest stars – despite being so limited in his quarterback play that Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway got rid of him at the first opportunity – specifically because he rubs other people’s noses in his faith, and because his co-religionists love it. Douthat managed 800 words or so of chin-stoking about faith and virtue and scripture and how Tebow will thrive in New York, without ever mentioning any of these rather central facts.
Next fall, Tebow will be in competition for playing time with Mark Sanchez, a playboyish (and also flawed) quarterback, and there will be endless wanking about the contrast in the personal lives of the two of them. Luckily these will be mitigated by all the sober, thoughtful contemplations of the Mormon Romney and the secret Muslim Obama.
I miss journalism.
You were too kind to us. You didn’t post the obnoxious crap you have to wade through before you get to that paragraph. The third paragraph alone made me want to vomit.
Oh, and Douthat’s misunderstanding of LeBron’s motivation for going to Miami indicates he clearly doesn’t follow sports that closely but can’t resist reading profound metaphors into what little he picks up.
I thought about fisking the whole thing, but really, what would be the point?
New York loves Joe Namath.
Will they love a sanctimonious wildcat quarterback who makes Mark Sanchez look like he can play?
No. No, they will not.
The Tebow press conference has to be one of the dumbest things ever shown on ESPN. Not because of Tebow, but because we’re talking about a second string quarterback. They were taking live reports from the press conference an hour before it even started. If anything could make me hate the stupefying levels of inane chatter that pro football generates even more, this is it.
Frankly, the best reason to love Tim Tebow is the frothing hatred he generates. Its more entertaining than any football game.
Aw, leave Tebow alone. He grew up in a family of evangelical missionaries. He’s just being who he is.
If he had grown up in a family of circus acrobats, no one would be surprised to see him doing back flips on the sidelines.
When athletes who grew up in the ‘hood are “being who they are,” we expect that they’ll act more professionally. Why shouldn’t we expect the same from Tebow?
When athletes who grew up in the ‘hood are “being who they are,” we expect that they’ll act more professionally.
What on earth are you talking about?
Do evangelicals ever read Matthew 6:5? (“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.”) If so, what do they make of it? I’ve always wondered about that.
Oh, wait. Better yet:
Douthat:
Matthew 6:1-2:
Why are we on the left so outraged by public professions of faith? The Civil Rights Movement was rooted in faith. I think we were more effective then. I’d like to see a recognition that faith cuts across party lines.
As for evangelical delight in Tebow, I’m fine with it. As Douthat points out, here’s a guy who unlike so many others appears to walk his walk. No wonder they get excited by him. So many supposed Christians give lip service to the teachings of their churches while Tebow, a guy who could get laid three ways from Sunday, is open about his virginity. They’re getting completely clobbered on culture war issues, even amongst their own, so no wonder they love this guy.
Faith should not come into it at all. It is not a prerequisite for anything good or useful. If it’s meaningful to you and helps you in your life, that’s great, but it doesn’t make you a better person than anyone for whom it is not relevant.
Who said it does?
Small point, maybe, but his name is Ross not Russ.
Perhaps I’m just sensitive because the latter is my name… 🙂