I Believe in Tebow by Sam Brauer

He is one of the most talked about people in the national media today. He receives more commentary, both positive and negative, than seemingly any other sports star playing at any level. If you turn the channel to a talk show or read the sports page, his name turns up. Many people support him, but just as many, if not more, discredit him. Honestly, for the past five years since he has become a household name across the United States, I have criticized him. I thought he was a phony. I thought he was an ego-maniac. My perception of this man, as well as thousands of other people's, has changed though. I no longer doubt this man. I believe in Tim Tebow.

Tim Tebow burst onto the national scene when he helped the University of Florida win the National Championship during his freshman year. He became a celebrity the next year, when he became the first sophomore in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy, which is presented to the best player in the country. He failed to win the Heisman his junior year, but made up for it by leading his team to a second National Championship. Naturally, I hated this guy. I was born and raised in Nebraska; I'm not supposed to like the quarterback for any Florida school. Not only was he a great player for Florida, but he was also the nicest guy in the world it seemed. He was so friendly and likeable in his post game interviews, I couldn't believe it. I would think to myself, "How is this guy so nice?" I couldn't believe that this superstar could be so darn perfect. So naturally, I assumed he was a phony. I'm sure there were many people who thought like I did.

I was sure he would never make it in the NFL. No team would want this guy, his throwing mechanics needed too much work. Tebow then proved me wrong by being drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the NFL draft. Analysts everywhere gave Tebow no shot to ever be a starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos, but in his second year he proved them wrong and become the starter for the team and now has a record of 7-1 as a starting quarterback. I, along with thousands of others, were wrong.

No matter how much success on the field he had, I still thought he wasn't all he says he is. Then I saw a Sportscenter special on how Tebow reaches out to children with disabilities. He spent the whole day with a young Broncos fan who is suffering with cancer. Tebow played games with the kid, gave him gear from the Broncos, and gave his family free tickets to the next Broncos game. After the game, where Tebow led the Broncos to a come from behind victory, he found his new friend and decided to spend the rest of the day with him. I realized then that Tim Tebow is as real as it gets. He is a superstar athlete, who happens to be a great person. I know that many people still doubt this man, but from what I now know about Tim Tebow, I will never will again.