The Patriot/Bronco Game

So last night one of the most watched NFL games of the 2011 season was played. It was between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos. While the game was between two teams, it was also a face-off between Tom Brady (QB for the Patriots) and Tim Tebow (QB for the Broncos)....two very different men.

It was interesting listening to the commentators leading up to the game. The main focus of their conversation was Tim Tebow. They did a spiel on his interaction and impact on others' lives. They talked about his football career, and they talked about what he stood for. And they mentioned the fact that Brady was annoyed that all he had heard about in the week prior to this game was Tebow, Tebow, Tebow.

As a Broncos fan, it was a very hard game to watch. Brady was on fire, and Tebow had been doused. The final score was 45-10. The game reminded me of high-school games I have watched where the two teams are incredibly outmatched. The Patriots stomped all over the Broncos, and there wasn't much they could do about it. After the four quarters were over, the Patriots moved one step closer to the Superbowl, and the Broncos were done for the season.

It was very interesting to watch what took place after the game. Tom Brady walked off the field alone, with only one camera guy chasing after him. Tim Tebow could hardly move because he was surrounded several layers deep by people with cameras, microphones, and notepads. This was so backwards from what I had expected. You would think that the winner would be more popular than the loser, but it was the exact opposite!

I have been pondering why this is, and I think it comes down to this. Tebow has taken a stand and has been outspoken about two things:
1) Football is just a game
2) There is something far more important than football, and that is Jesus

It is easy to speak these things when one has won, but it can be very difficult to also speak these when one has lost. I think the media (and the rest of America) are looking to Tim Tebow for inspiration. I think a lot of people want to believe that the general suppositions about Christianity are wrong. So when Tebow steps forward and is open, honest, humble, and firm in his beliefs, people want to rally toward him. I am sure some are watching him, waiting for him to fall. But others are watching him, hoping he doesn't!

Tebow is known for his integrity. Brady is known for the opposite. I was talking to some of the other people who had watched the game with us, and one of them spoke about how Brady had gotten a girl pregnant, then left her to be with some model. While I really don't know the accuracy of that, the point was made that Brady is NOT known for his integrity, but instead, he's known for the opposite. Everyone I've talked to acknowledges he's a great quarterback, but no one has really liked Brady.

Anyway, it's an interesting comparison between two men. If I had to look at the two of them and choose who to model my life after, it would definitely be Tebow. My prayer is that he goes into the 2012 season just as vocal and just as firm in his beliefs as he left this season. Go Tebow!