Tebow's pre-Wonderlic prayer request falls flat

[Alo]

Maybe this is why he didn't do all that well on the test...

Tebow's pre-Wonderlic prayer request falls flat

Posted by Mike Florio on March 23, 2010 7:20 PM ET

As we've mentioned once or twice, quarterback Tim Tebow's habit of openly expressing his religious beliefs could potentially rub folks the wrong way, especially in a locker room of grown men who choose to keep their beliefs to themselves, who don't share his beliefs at all, and/or who only want to hear "God bless" after they have sneezed.

We're told that Tebow already has gotten a taste of the resistance he might face at the next level.

At the Scouting Combine, the Wonderlic exam is administered to players in groups. The 12-minute test is preceded by some brief instructions and comments from the person administering the test.

Per a league source, after the person administering the test to Tebow's group had finished, Tebow made a request that the players bow their heads in prayer before taking the 50-question exam.

Said one of the other players in response: "Shut the f--k up." Others players in the room then laughed.

We're not passing judgment on this one; we're just passing along what we've heard. And it illustrates the type of challenges that could be faced by the team that drafts Tebow.

That said, some teams might embrace those challenges. The final decision will depend largely on the composition of the team, and the personalities of the coach, the G.M., and the owner.

[Crow]

Must...resist...urge...to...comment...

...flame...war...would...ensue...

[PB&J]

Locker room problems aren't always caused by running backs with steak knives sticking out of them.

[Vegasdogg]

IF this is true, what makes him think it would be okay to mention something like that? Mike Florio is not someone I take seriously 1/2 the time so it could be a false rumor. But IF true, Tebow needs to stop being a Pastor and concentrate of football. Nobody likes to be told to pray in that setting.

[Inspecta]

Eh.....Timmy is starting to remind me of a young Ned Flanders. I really believe that he's so wrapped up in his faith that he honestly has no clue how these types of things affect people.

Not that it's a bad thing, I certainly admire him. I haven't heard any stories of him judging others, or condemning them to hell, or being really in your face with it. He's just super open about his faith, and our society has moved so far to the secular side that when you come across somebody who is on fire for Jesus it's extremely abrasive to those around them.

[grimmreaper3]

Originally Posted by Vegasdogg

IF this is true, what makes him think it would be okay to mention something like that? Mike Florio is not someone I take seriously 1/2 the time so it could be a false rumor. But IF true, Tebow needs to stop being a Pastor and concentrate of football. Nobody likes to be told to pray in that setting.

Eh. He can handle stuff like this. Moreover, I think he realizes that it's probably not socially viable. However, I'm going to hand over an excerpt from The Unlikely Disciple:

The first 40 times someone blows you off, it feels awful. The second 40 times, you start reassuring yourself that all of this must serve a higher purpose. By the end of the week, you get the point -- you are going to be mocked and scorned for your faith, and this is the way it's supposed to be.

Really, given Tebow's faith and belief system, he's doing what's right. And there's really not much that could dissuade him. Not a prospect of a fitting in better in the NFL, not even the threat of an endangered career. He's not going to learn from this. He believes it with all his heart and there is not a damn thing anyone can do about it. It's what I would do I if I were not a hardcore atheist.

So I respect the guy. As far as I'm concerned, he's utterly wrong. But there is an amount of respect I have for a person who is perfectly consistent in his application of his moral code.

How's that for 'hating on Tebow because of his religion?'

[Crow]

Originally Posted by PB&J

Locker room problems aren't always caused by running backs with steak knives sticking out of them.

Pretty much. Whether one agrees or disagrees with Tim's beliefs, pitching them out in the open to that level in that kind of a setting is going to cause irritation and resentment. That's just our culture today.

It reminds me of when Quinn came out in favor of McCain.

[Inspecta]

Originally Posted by grimmreaper3

Eh. He can handle stuff like this. Moreover, I think he realizes that it's probably not socially viable. However, I'm going to hand over an excerpt from The Unlikely Disciple:

Thanks for posting that Grimm, I really found that article fascinating. Even though I'm a Christian I've never evangelized like that. Much like the author's conclusions I don't find that method the least bit effective. Also, at least to me, sharing Christ is something deeply personal, and I believe you have to develop somewhat of a personal relationship with the person with whom you're sharing this news. Yes, every now and then you meet somebody, and in the course of that first conversation the topic moves to religion. If I feel a nudge, I'll share my views. But I never try and shove it down their throats, and I NEVER use the threat of hell as a tool. Conversion out of fear is not entirely genuine in my book, it's an act of self preservation.

He believes it with all his heart and there is not a damn thing anyone can do about it. It's what I would do I if I were not a hardcore atheist.

Ok, humor me. What differentiates an atheist from a "hardcore" atheist? Do you attend atheist rallys? Where atheistic T-shirts? Donate money to the church of atheism?

You always struck me as an agnostic.

So I respect the guy. As far as I'm concerned, he's utterly wrong. But there is an amount of respect I have for a person who is perfectly consistent in his application of his moral code.
'

Please elaborate. He's utterly wrong because you believe there's no god, or because of his methods of conveying his faith?

[Crow]

Originally Posted by Inspecta

Ok, humor me. What differentiates an atheist from a "hardcore" atheist? Do you attend atheist rallys? Where atheistic T-shirts? Donate money to the church of atheism?

No, us hardcore atheists throw babies into fires and actively try to destroy the economy.

You always struck me as an agnostic.

Not really a huge difference.

[Inspecta]

Originally Posted by Crow

Pretty much. Whether one agrees or disagrees with Tim's beliefs, pitching them out in the open to that level in that kind of a setting is going to cause irritation and resentment. That's just our culture today.

It reminds me of when Quinn came out in favor of McCain.

It's funny how Jesus predicts this exact type of behavior. Did he know how annoying and condescending his children were going to act while preaching the gospel?


I like it when the Jehovah's witnesses come around. Those fellas are a hoot!

I always entertain them and speak with them for a while. After all, theology is one of my passions, so I like to debate a little bit.

I got a funny story relating to this. My kids, God bless em.

So one saturday my wife goes out shopping and I'm home with the kids. I realize that I'm outta smokes, so I need to go up to the store to get them. The boys are still in their PJ's and I didn't feel like having them get dressed, plus I didn't have the car seats. So I tell the boys I'm running up to the store (they are 6 and 7). Not really an age where they can stay home by themselves, but it was a 5 min trip up the street and back. So just to make sure there are safeguards I set the kitchen timer to 15 minutes, and I tell them, if daddy isn't home by the time this alarm goes off you call mommy and tell her to come home.

So anyway I go up and get my smokes and come back. As I'm pulling into the driveway I see two dudes standing at my door, they are dressed in suits. My first thought was "holy shit DSS got here fast, how the hell did they know?"

So I get out of the van and walk up to them to introduce myself. They give me the pamphlet, and I tell them I'm saved, but thank you very much. And while I'm talking to them I notice an unusually loud boost of music coming from my house. It's Outkast "Bombs over Baghdad"

When they came to the door, my son saw it wasn't me, and ran to my computer to play MP3's so they would go away. My computer has a kick ass speaker system, so it was thumping. Too funny, I'm sure those JW's thought I was a pure heathen.

[Crow]

Originally Posted by Inspecta

It's funny how Jesus predicts this exact type of behavior. Did he know how annoying and condescending his children were going to act while preaching the gospel?

As an ex-Christian from an extremely conservative school background (more religious than probably even Tim), I can definitely tell you I was annoying and condescending.

I can also tell you "Christian" is a extremely broad term that doesn't even come close to adequately identifying multiple social groups with different beliefs.

(P.S. If He was really divine/existed, it would make sense for him to know that, but then again, he was limited as a man. So meh.)

[Crow]

This thread is gonna go places.