Each and every week for the last eight weeks I have watched this young man Tim Tebow exemplify what being a winner is all about. It’s about focusing on the task, giving credit where credit is due, understanding there is no “I” in team, making those around you better and embracing the concept of competitive greatness.
The short and skinny is that against all odds, critics and naysayers the Tim Tebow led Denver Broncos keep getting it done. The Mile High team is 7-1 since Tebow took the helm as the starting quarterback and continues to leave many scratching their head and others becoming believers by the week. It’s not simply that the Broncos are winning it’s the fashion in which the victories are happening.
Tim Tebow has led more 4th quarter comebacks than any other QB this season besides Eli Manning. Yesterday’s win over the Chicago Bears was probably the most improbable as the Bears led 10-0 with 2:08 left in the game. Let me repeat that, the Broncos beat the Chicago Bears in overtime after trailing 10-0 with 2:08 in regulation.
The story continues to be written about Tim Tebow and there couldn’t be no more magical ending to this season than for Tebow to rally the Broncos to a 4th quarter Super Bowl victory against the undefeated and Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers. At this juncture, I’m not going to say that it’s a stretch.
The sign of a great leader is they inspire those around them to greatness. Tim Tebow has inspired the Broncos defense to be one of the best in the league. You are kidding yourself if you don’t think the Broncos defense gets fired up to know if they can just keep their team close, they have a chance to win. Not only do they have a chance to win, they will win.
You are kidding yourself if you don’t think that Broncos hall of famer and Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway is learning a thing or two about leadership and faith from Tebow. Elway is doing somewhat of a side step from his early thoughts of still drafting a QB in the 1st round of the 2012 NFL draft.
You are kidding yourself if you don’t think that Broncos kicker Matt Prater doesn’t sit on the sidelines knowing his young QB is going to make just enough plays to get him into field goal range. That range comes pretty easy for prater as he kicked a 59-yard field goal that could have been good from 69 yards. Prater also kicked a 51 yarder to clinch the overtime victory for the Broncos.
We are seeing an amazing story unfold each and every Sunday. Not only is the Tebow/Broncos story unfolding in front of the television and in stadiums around the country, but it’s unfolding by the minute in the world of social media. I love watching the trends on twitter during and after a Broncos game. I simply do a twitter search for “Tim Tebow” and read what people are saying. Not everyone is a fan; however in the 8 weeks I have conducted this twitter search I see another trend and story that’s unfolding.
Not only am I seeing more and more people becoming a believer in Tim Tebow’s abilities as a QB, I’m seeing more and more people who appear to have no belief in God beginning to have some belief or at least questions. The miraculous nature of Tebow’s play and Broncos comebacks has people in the world of Twitter making statements like: “Tim Tebow makes me want to believe what he believes,” “Tim Tebow is proof that God is real,” “Not gonna lie I don’t believe most preachers, but this Tim Tebow kid makes me want 2 go back 2 church,” “Tim Tebow = Touchdown Jesus.” Many more which are too inappropriate to share, nonetheless pointing towards questions of God, Faith and Football.
You can take what people on twitter are saying with a grain of salt; however you can’t take away from the fact that Tebow is making a Kingdom of God impact. Tebow started his post game press conference with his usual, “First and foremost I’d like to thank my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, and after that I just want to thank my teammates and coaches.” Tebow went on to say, “If you believe, unbelievable things can sometimes be possible.”
The one thing we can all learn from Tebow is something that he learned from his College Coach at Florida, Urban Meyer and from Broncos coach John Fox. Meyer calls it “Competitive Excellence” and Fox calls it “Competitive Greatness.” No matter what you call it, Tebow and the Broncos exemplify it. In Tebow’s words competitive greatness means: “When you’re number’s called in the clutch time you better step up and make the play.” You have to be willing, able and ready for competitive greatness to happen.
No matter how much the media or any of us try to make it all about Tim Tebow, Tim Tebow never makes it about Tim Tebow. The guys in the locker room know it, the coaches know it, they all believe it and that’s why they are winning. A recent New York Times article calls it The Gospel Of Optimism, others call it lucky and many are coming to know it as Faith coupled with Supernatural Favor.
Share your thoughts on Tim Tebow, Competitive Greatness and The Kingdom of God.
