Much has been made of Tim Tebow weeping on the sidelines as his Florida Gators lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Most of it is schadenfruede, people enjoying the fact that a man so esteemed has come tumbling back to earth. The attribution could be that he is a sore loser, but I had the opposite analysis.
I was most impressed by Tebow’s grace during his post game interview. His eyes still red from crying, he didn’t back down from the interview, and he didn’t get short with the interviewer. Part of the reason we look down upon some of the other premier athletes and coaches is because of the way they respond in there press conferences. They are testy or solemn and difficult to deal with when they lose, and sometimes even when they win. Tebow sees dealing with the media as part of his job, and he does it enthusiastically and respectfully.
Not only was his willingness to address the media refreshing, it was what he said. Instead of even over-analyzing the game or talking about the failings he and his team experienced. He instead talked about how proud he was of the way Alabama performed, what a great team, program and univeristy it was, and how happy he was for their fans. Not even the Mormons at BYU can be that gracious in defeat.
Tebow was obviously upset about the way the game ended, to be sure, but I think most of the distress he was feeling was that it was the way his college career is ending. Isn’t this what we want out of our college athletes? To enjoy the college experience, to stay the full four years, and to keep out of trouble? If you hate him, you do so simply because Florida is better than your team. Don’t fault the media for getting giddy over someone who is actually a joy to cover.
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