Tim Tebow, Robert Jeffress and the Media Who Hates Them

I don’t usually mix religion with sports, but I’m a member of First Baptist Church of Dallas and think I can create a logical article regarding Tim Tebow and his speaking engagement in Dallas, Texas in April. 

Tim Tebow is the most polarizing sports figure today. People either love him or hate him. There’s no in between. His supporters will continue to love him if he fails to complete a pass on the field and when others knock him for standing up for his Christian beliefs. His haters will find ways to put him down, even if what Tebow is doing seems right. 

Robert Jeffress is also a polarizing figure. He is the lead pastor of one of the largest Southern Baptist churches and leads a congregation of 11,000 members in Dallas, as well as listeners on television and radio worldwide. Thousands of people support Jeffress’ uber-conservative views on things from Islam to homosexuality, but there are thousands more who compare him to the works and hate of Westboro Church. 

Over the past few days, the media has learned of Tim Tebow’s speaking engagement at First Baptist Dallas in late April and completely condemned him and his future because of it. Reporters are saying he must be on a “money-hungry power trip that is blinding his logic” for him to knowingly speak at a church that is so filled with hatred, rather than Christ’s love. Media companies from CBS to ESPN are throwing Tebow under the bus, saying his career will be over and his reputation ruined over this one speaking engagement. These are the same companies who were singing his praises in 2011 when he took the Denver Broncos on a crazy ride to the playoffs, started the Tebow-ing trend and threw him a birthday party. 

It’s crazy how Tim Tebow can go from on top of the sports world to the end of his career in two short years. (Cue the sports angle of this article.)

Now, let’s be honest. Tim Tebow is not the greatest football player. He was a marvelous college quarterback, but that didn’t translate to the NFL. His arm mechanics don’t fit with the NFL style offense and he has refused to play any position other than quarterback (with the exception of a few plays with the Jets). Although he took my Denver Broncos on a miracle ride in 2011, his world came crashing down when they sent him to New Jersey. Tebow didn’t have a chance to make an impact in New Jersey and now is the least wanted quarterback in the NFL. It’s not just because of his on the field production. It’s also because of the attention he gets and his outspokenness about his faith. 

Honestly, Tim Tebow wasn’t meant to be a quarterback. Football is just his platform. Tim Tebow is a minister, a missionary. His faith is the most important thing to him, and so is serving others. Tebow is known for coming early or staying after games to toss the football around with fans and serving at charity events and mission trips. You can see Christ in Tim Tebow through his actions and I think that scares the liberal media. It’s only fitting that Tebow travels the country in the offseason, speaking about his faith. 

What is shocking to me is the attention he is getting over this particular visit. Yes, Robert Jeffress says some controversial things, but it’s Bible based. I fall under the “moderate to liberal” umbrella, love gay people and enjoy learning about Islam/other religions so I don’t always agree with what is said, but this church is NOT full of hate or what the media is making it out to be. Robert Jeffress and the members of First Baptist Church follow the teachings of the Bible, even the teachings that today’s society tries to make acceptable. And guess what?! Despite some of my shortcomings and what I think on issues, I feel like I belong there. I had to laugh when I read where some reporters said Jeffress could be compared to the “pastor” of Westboro Church. Seriously?! This man would never spew that type of hatred. Jeffress speaks the truth, and sometimes the BIBLICAL truth hurts! 

We as Christians are supposed to be the light of the world. Robert Jeffress and Tim Tebow are two of the brightest lights to shine for Christianity in their respective industries. Tim Tebow was in Dallas Monday and refused to speak with the media about this. I don’t think it’s because he doesn’t want to talk about it. I think it’s because he doesn’t care. 

Tim Tebow doesn’t care what the media thinks about him or his faith. He doesn’t care if this speaking engagement will ruin his NFL career. He knows that his life has more purpose than football or a squeaky clean public image. 

As for Robert Jeffress: I whole-heartedly believe this man has been ordained to spread the Gospel to countless numbers of people and will change the world. He warned the congregation that this hate would come around the time of the opening of the new building, but who would have thought it would come through Tim Tebow? Robert Jeffress is the definition of Romans 1:16. He is unashamed of the Gospel, no matter how the media portrays him. He will continue to speak the Truth. 

John 15:18 comes to my mind in this situation. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” The media, haters and unbelievers don’t hate Tim Tebow or Robert Jeffress, they hate what these men stand for. They hate the truth that could set them free. They hate the saving grace and good news these men are using their life to share. They hate Jesus. Woah!  

So to all the haters and reporters filling the media with hatred towards Tebow, Robert Jeffress and First Baptist Church of Dallas: What do you hate? Do you hate that Tebow is using his platform to speak on his beliefs, or do you hate the Word of God? Do you hate that Robert Jeffress is so passionate about speaking Truth even when it hurts, or would you rather ignore what is written? Leave these two Godly men alone! They are changing the world while you’re trying to tear them and their work down. But just like Jesus overcame the world, Tim Tebow and Robert Jeffress will overcome the hatred.

P.S. Tim Tebow, if you’re reading this, I’ll be the short blonde girl in the front row that morning at church and I’m really looking forward to hearing you speak 🙂

My 2012 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 3,100 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 5 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

Operation Denver in November

You might think I’m crazy, but I bought two tickets to a Denver Broncos game last Thursday. No, they don’t play the Dallas Cowboys this year. I’m going to Denver. For a football game. In November 😀 I don’t have a hotel reservation or a flight, but I have what’s most important: a ticket to see my team play at Mile High Stadium!

I’ve always dreamt of going to Denver for a Broncos game. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve watched them play on TV and desired to be at Mile High with some of the craziest NFL fans. It always looks like they have so much fun and watching my team play on TV just isn’t the same. Now that I have a good job, I’m single and have no other responsibilities besides myself, I decided now is the best time to go! So I’m calling this trip Operation Denver in November.

When I bought the two tickets, I didn’t have a 100% answer from the person who was expressing interest in going with me. After I bought the tickets and he saw how excited I was, he jumped on board and was ready to go (thank you, Justin!) Yes, I’m a little crazy….but I don’t care.

We’re leaving Friday after work on November 16 and taking a taxi to the airport immediately after the game on Sunday so we can get back to DFW in time for work Monday morning. Call me crazy, but I want it to snow so we can get the full effect of a Broncos football game! After hearing Denver gets its first snowfall on Halloween I realize this dream of a white football game could easily come true, which is why we have decided not to rent a car. lol Us Texans do NOT know how to drive in snow. The goal is to stay in a hotel in downtown Denver, preferably in the LoDo neighborhood. This is where all the young, hip bars, clubs and happenings are. Plus, there is free public transportation in this area! Can’t beat that.

Our tickets are in the 500 section of the stadium, three rows from the very top, to be exact. EXTREME nosebleed! But it’s the game against the San Diego Chargers, our biggest rival, and it’s a sold out game. We got the last of the tickets available. I can picture Justin and I way up there in our Broncos gear with pink noses and cheeks and a light snow falling on the field. The fans are all decked out in orange and the Denver skyline is in the background. The stadium is shaking from the cheers as Peyton Manning throws a 60-yard TD pass and I give a high five to the fan next to me. Seriously, I CANNOT WAIT!

I cannot tell you how excited I am about this trip. I’m absolutely giddy. Watching the Broncos play on TV and writing about them for Bleacher Report just isn’t satisfying my love for them. I have to be there and witness it for myself. And guess what? If I absolutely love the experience, I plan on making it a yearly trip! I’m prepared for this trip to take a chunk out of my paycheck, but if it’s only once a year, then so be it. It’s what I want to do and what I’m incredibly passionate about.

Why I love the Denver Broncos

I get these questions all the time: “How did you become a Denver Broncos fan?” or “Why are you a Denver Broncos fan when you live in Dallas?”

No, I’ve never lived in Denver, but I had the chance to watch one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time. This man provided me with my first sports memory. Oh, and he was my first crush (lol). An eight-year-old me was glued to the TV in 1998 as this man led the Denver Broncos to their first Super Bowl win in Super Bowl XXXII:

My dad was always a fan of John Elway so we watched games together when we could get them in DFW. It was a blast to yell at the TV and have fun with my dad while watching great football. At first, I probably liked the Broncos because their mascot was a horse and that was my favorite animal (silly me), but when I realized what I was watching, I loved the Broncos even more. I was witnessing a Hall of Fame quarterback lead a team of Hall of Famers. It was an adrenaline rush to watch Elway play with Shannon Sharpe and Terrell Davis and you could really see their passion on the field. The game was even more interesting because Mile High Stadium was rocking every Sunday!

The next year was even more exciting when a nine-year-old me watched again as my quarterback led his team to back-to-back Super Bowl victories. But, my world came crashing down soon after when John Elway announced his retirement. This was my first experience of heartbreak as I watched the quarterback I loved to see every Sunday walk away from the game. But he isn’t gone from the Denver Broncos organization, thankfully.

In 2004, I watched very proudly as John Elway was inducted into the Hall of Fame. I’ve never been to a Broncos game and was barely old enough to remember Elway, but my first memories of sports were his prime years and I’ll never forget that.

Ever since those early football memories, my passion for sports has grown. On any given day you can find me researching about the team, watching games whenever and wherever I can and writing my own thoughts about the Broncos. Obviously this passion was instilled in me at a young age.

Now, as a 23-year-old woman, my goal is to work for the Denver Broncos. And guess who would be my boss? Executive Vice President of Football Operations, John Elway. Going to work every day for the team I adore and with the player I loved to see play football as a young girl would be a dream come true.

Today (6/28) is Mr. Elway’s birthday and I can’t think of a better way to wish him a happy birthday than to let the world know HE is the reason I’m a Denver Broncos fan. It’s not because I love horses or that blue and orange perfectly compliment each other. It’s not even because Mile High Stadium has some of the loudest fans in the NFL. No, it’s because John Elway gave me my first sports memories. His two Super Bowl victories are the first things I think of when I think of football. Yes, even in the middle of Dallas Cowboys country.

P.S. If you’re reading this Mr. Elway, I’d love to work for the Broncos organization. 😀 I currently write about the Denver Broncos on Bleacher Report and would love the chance to speak with you. Go Broncos!!

Super Bowl XXXII

John Elway leads the Denver Broncos to their first Super Bowl win. My first sports memory was awesome!

Who has a better chance of coming back in the NBA Conference Finals?

Hello world! Sorry I’ve been absent for the past four months (crazy, I know). Lots of ups and down in my life, but there are no excuses. Writing is my passion and what I went to school for, so let’s get back to it. Gotta get my groove back and what better way to do it than with some NBA Playoff basketball!

How many “NBA Experts” had Boston making it this far in the Eastern Conference Finals? Only TWO! The older and more experienced Celtics has their own Big Three. A Big Three comprised of the best three-point shooter in the NBA (Ray Allen), the greatest trash talker (Kevin Garnett), and one of the most clutch players in the league (Paul Pierce). Unlike the pre-season favorite Big Three, the Celtics didn’t need to announce their desire or ability to win “not one, not two, not three…” championships, they play to prove how badly they want it. So why count them out? Because they’re old or because they’re playing the Miami Heat?

The San Antonio Spurs have been counted all but out almost every year since their last NBA title because of age. Tim Duncan is 36 years old but is still his teams’ leading scorer most nights. San Antonio’s own Big Three of Duncan, Ginobili and Parker went on a 20-game win streak this season before losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. Down 3-2 in the Western Conference Finals, can the Spurs regain composure and beat the Thunder team that put a stop to their win streak?

These two teams have shocked the sports world in the last few days. One for taking the series lead over the pre-season favorite to win it all and the other for falling behind to a young, inexperienced team.

So who has a better chance of taking it to a Game 7 and a trip to the NBA Finals (Heat or Spurs)? My money is on the San Antonio Spurs!

First of all, let’s start out with “Why not the Heat?” Let’s see….your MVP only shows up for three quarters and didn’t want any part of making shots in the fourth quarter in Game 5. An integral part of the starting five is missing: Chris Bosh. Like it or not, the Miami Heat are missing him and his limited minutes in Game 5 weren’t enough. Also, the fan base there is terrible. Sooooo very fair weather. You could hear a pin drop late in the fourth quarter of Game 5, but then again nothing compares to a game in the Garden. There’s also the issue of heart and who wants it most. Sometimes it’s obvious D-Wade and LeBron think a trip to the NBA Finals should be handed to them. It doesn’t help that the officials are awarding bogus flops. But, the Boston Celtics are pushing through with clutch plays, big hearts and intimidation. Plus, I’m pretty sure most of the country is pulling for the Celtics to upset the Miami Heat.

Now on to the team with a fighting chance!I find it hard to believe Pop and the San Antonio Spurs will lay down and die in Game 6. As I’m following ESPN GameTracker, I can see the Spurs have a 15-point lead at halftime. Didn’t see that one coming. *sarcasm* The same team who won 20 games in a row a few weeks ago is NOT going to lose four of the most important games of the year. The Spurs have more poise and experience than the young Thunder squad. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are a dangerous pairing, but I just don’t see them outlasting the combination of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili. It’s going to come down to a nitty gritty Game 7, and for the second year in a row, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be knocked out just short of a trip to the NBA Finals.

But that’s just my opinion. What do you think? Will LeBron show up and lead his team to a Game 7? Will James Harden and his beard scare away the Spurs and take the series?

Was the shortened NBA season a bad idea?

In the midst of the NBA lockout, many team owners, players and fans pushed to save the season, even if it was shortened. When the NBA decided to open a shortened 66 game season on Christmas Day, America rejoiced at the return of basketball. Flash forward to February and this NBA season is like no other previous season. There are too many games in a short period of time and injuries are piling up quickly with no time to recover.

The shortened preseason and training camps are mostly to blame, but is NBA Commissioner, David Stern, to blame too? He was more concerned with making money than the well being of the NBA players. Every night, you hear of multiple players on their respective teams’ injured list. Is it because of fatigue or laziness during the off season, or a combination of both? Should the NBA have just cancelled the 2011-2012 season instead of having a condensed schedule?

Big name players such as Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony, Manu Ginobli, Chris Paul, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Paul Pierce, Dwyane Wade, Stephen Curry and Chauncey Billups have all suffered uncommon injuries that can be traced back to being unprepared for this rigorous season. Injuries such as pulled muscles, broken hands, turf toe, Achilles tear, back spasms and twisted ankles are injuries you rarely see in a typical NBA season.

Playing back-to-back-to-back games with one or two days rest before another stretch of games is taking a toll on player’s bodies, regardless of age. JJ Barea, one of the younger players in the NBA, has already missed 15 games this season with a hamstring and ankle injuries. Dirk Nowitzki, a veteran, sat out for a week for extra conditioning and rehab. Jason Kidd followed him after suffering back and calf injuries.

It’s quickly become a strange NBA season. One thing the NBA Commissioner strived for in the new deal was parity. Well, this season is a great example of what they wanted, but probably not the way they wanted to go about it. One night San Antonio will beat the Boston Celtics and then lose to the Toronto Raptors the next night. Instances like this are a nightly occurrence because of the condensed schedule, injuries and resting of key players. Many fans will be disappointed when their favorite player isn’t playing because he’s resting for the upcoming stretch of games. I, personally, went through this two weeks ago when I purchased tickets to two Mavericks games. The tickets I purchased happened to fall in the time period when Dirk was rehabbing. I definitely wasn’t a happy camper, and I’m sure many fans felt the same.

So, was this shortened season a bad idea? Should the NBA have cancelled the season instead of “saving” it? Many of these injuries and rigorous stretch of games are tiring out players quicker than usual and wrecking havoc on their bodies. Some player’s averages are lower than normal because of the fatigue. Many veterans are essentially wasting away a year of their career because they can’t recuperate quick enough.

I love basketball, but I feel like the NBA should have cancelled the season. During the lockout, I was one of the fans who pushed to save the season, but now I’m rethinking myself. The first third of the season has been full of terrible ball all across the board. I’m ashamed to admit I have lost some of my passion for basketball because of it. It makes me sick to see such terrible injuries on ESPN SportsCenter every night.

But, at the same time, I don’t feel bad for all of the players. These guys could have kept themselves in shape during the offseason. Many assumed there would be no NBA season so they became lazy and didn’t hit the gym until two weeks prior to the season. They are being paid millions of dollars to play a game they love, so why couldn’t they keep themselves in shape during the offseason? Example: Dirk Nowitzki. I love the dude and he’s my favorite Maverick, but it was really hard for me to have sympathy for him while he was missing games for conditioning. Sure, go party after winning your first championship, but start working out in August/September. He admitted he didn’t want to play basketball anymore after winning the title and playing for the German national team. No fire. No desire to get into the gym. So that explains why he’s out of shape, slow and can’t shoot right now. I still love the guy, but come on, get with it! By not being in shape, Dirk, and other veterans like him, are throwing away one good year in their career.

2012 NBA season=miserable to watch for many reasons. The NBA should have cancelled the season in order to save these players from awful injuries, exhaustion, frustration and bad ball. 66 games in four months is NOT a great idea!

What the Special Olympics means to me

“Isn’t this a sports blog?,” you may ask. Yes, yes is it is, and I want to include everyone. Tomorrow I have an interview with the Special Olympics, an organization that is very dear to my heart. I want to use this blog to tell my story of how the Special Olympics and its athletes have had an affect on my life.

In Matthew 5:1-12 Jesus tells the disciples who all to love. Verses 3-10 really stick out to me:

   ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

These people that most of humanity ignores-people with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, homeless, lame, mute- Jesus says the Kingdom belongs to them. So why shouldn’t we love them? I love the Special Olympics because their mission is to include people with intellectual disabilities. There are over 200 million people worldwide with an intellectual disability and the Special Olympics is trying to reach out to every single person through sports.

My personal story begins when I was six months old and Ronnie Sanchez moved in with my grandparents. His mother and stepfather had recently passed away and he moved to Texas because my grandmother was his guardian. Ronnie had Down Syndrome. I obviously don’t remember him moving here, but I don’t remember my life without him. My family raised every grandchild around Ronnie. He looked different to me, but I never treated him differently. Ronnie may have been slow when it came to learning and reading, but he had great one liners and was a fantastic bowler! There are many misconceptions about people with Down Syndrome. Ronnie defied all of them. Doctors told him he wouldn’t live to be a teenager, but he lived to his 60’s. Many employers wouldn’t hire someone like Ronnie, but he held a job for as long as I could remember.

I learned a lot through Ronnie and could never thank him, or my family, enough for sharing his life with me. Ronnie taught me how to love unconditionally and without prejudice. He taught me to be myself and not be afraid of what others think. Through him, I learned to be accepting of everyone and to be compassionate toward people like him. When he passed away four years ago, a piece of my heart died with him. He had me wrapped around his little finger! His impact on my life didn’t stop because he was no longer in my life. Ronnie’s memory lives on in my heart and my desire to work with people with intellectual disabilities.

Many people like Ronnie learn through sports. They learn how to focus, gain courage and social skills and learn to be exceptional in a sport. Ronnie participated in sports leagues through his job, similar to Special Olympics. When I was in junior high and high school, I volunteered with the Special Olympics. Those few days were the highlight of my year! Seeing the smiling faces of the kids and adults when they crossed the finish line melted my heart. And they gave the BEST hugs! In college, I was a member of Best Buddies. My buddy’s name was Paula. She was around the age of Ronnie when he passed away and, because of that, she immediately had my heart. It was like I could continue my relationship with Ronnie through Paula. We hung out once or twice a week. I would pick her up from her apartment and we would do crafts together or just talk. She was definitely a blessing in my otherwise crazy college life. During my junior year, I tried to make a bocce league for people with special needs that would meet and play on the Baylor campus. Student Activities never responded to my request. During my senior year, I had the chance to work with the Baylor Lady Bears. In my head, I had this huge dream of creating a basketball league for people with intellectual disabilities. I thought, through my connections with work, I could have players act as coaches for this league. My plan never got off the ground though.

Now I’m making a complete circle. Tomorrow I interview for an associate position with the Special Olympics. I’m more excited about this than I was for a job with ESPN (obviously, this is where my heart is)! Tomorrow I have the chance to have a job where I combine both of my passions: sports and people with intellectual disabilities. I want to think that Ronnie is looking down on me and smiling. He knows I would be perfect for this; almost like I was born for this job.

To me, the Special Olympics means compassion, inclusion, courage, acceptance and absolute joy. The athletes feel all of these things, and the volunteers feel the same. The volunteers are there to make a difference for the athletes, but the athletes are actually making more of a difference on the volunteers’ life. To be a part of such an amazing organization would make me incredibly happy and fulfilled. Loving on the athletes would be the greatest joy in my life. I really hope and pray I can make these feelings known tomorrow in the interview.

Streak ends at 40, but Baylor Athletics still among elite

Last night, the Baylor men’s basketball team suffered a 92-74 loss at Kansas, their first loss of the season. To many, this would be no big deal. It’s just one loss, right? Wrong! This was also Baylor Athletics’ first loss since October 30. That’s right, the football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams combined to go 40-0 since November 1.

Just last summer, when the Big 12 was going through major changes and maybe even possibly dissolving, Baylor was left out of the BCS conversation. Texas, Texas A&M and OU were all ready to jump ship and leave the Big 12 for other conferences. Baylor was left in the dust, as many conferences overlooked them because the football program hadn’t been very successful. Baylor then gained national attention when Texas A&M announced their admittance into the SEC and Ken Starr threatened legal action. Many thought it was uncalled for and ridiculous, but Baylor was just looking out for their best interests and the school’s future. Baylor was repeatedly called “irrelevant,” “the little brother,” and “nobody cares about little ol Baylor.”

After the 2011 football season and the 2011-2012 basketball season so far, I bet those same people are now shaking their heads and eating their words. Thanks to the “Baylor Big Three,” Robert Griffin III, Perry Jones III and Brittney Griner, Baylor fans can be proud of a great athletics program that is featured night after night on SportsCenter. The football team finished the season with a 10-3 record and a record-breaking 67-56 win over Washington in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Robert Griffin III won the Heisman Trophy and is projected to go in the top 10 in the NFL draft, possibly even before Andrew Luck. The women’s basketball team is currently ranked number one in the country and has earned a perfect 17-0 record. The men’s team is now 17-1 after last night’s loss to Kansas and boasts multiple NBA prospects. Baylor is the ONLY school in the country to have their football team, men’s basketball team and women’s basketball team ranked in the top 15 in the coaches poll. Still think Baylor is irrelevant?

It’s definitely been a long and strenuous road for Baylor fans. Baylor athletics has risen from the ashes, especially the men’s basketball team. In 2003, Carlton Dotson murdered his teammate, Patrick Dennehy, and then the staff covered up multiple NCAA infractions. This marred not only Baylor Athletics, but also Baylor University. For years, the men’s basketball team suffered setbacks from the scandal. But, with the addition of Scott Drew, the men’s basketball team reached the NCAA Tournament in 2007-2008 and is projected to go to the Final Four this year after the addition of Quincy Miller and Brady Heslip, as well as the return of Perry Jones III and Quincy Acy.

For years, the only thing to cheer about was the Baylor Lady Bears. Two years after the scandal, Kim Mulkey led her team to a national title. Every year since, Mulkey and the Lady Bears have consistently dominated other teams. When Brittney Griner enrolled in 2009, she was immediately a big hit on and off the court. Standing at 6-8, Griner towered over everyone else on the court and became a blocking machine. She can also dunk, a rare feat for a woman. Last year, the Baylor Lady Bears were projected to win the national title, but they fell short in the Elite Eight, losing to Texas A&M. This year, Griner has more experience under her belt coming into the 2011-2012 season. She was the only collegiate player to make the USA basketball team and played on the 2011 European Tour. Add that to Odyssey Sims’ gold medial-winning performance with the USA Basketball team at the World University Games and you’ve got a recipe for a national champion-caliber duo.

After Robert Griffin III announced he was leaving Baylor to go pro, many people said Baylor football would slip back into obscurity. Not so fast, my friends! Coach Art Briles has consistently recruited some of the best players to Baylor. He notoriously persuaded Griffin to follow him to Baylor after initially committing to Houston. Second string QB, Nick Florence, shows promise to follow up Griffin’s winning performance. After Griffin sat out the second half of the Texas Tech game with a possible concussion, Florence scored 21 unanswered points and led Baylor to victory. Oh, and let’s not forget that Baylor announced plans to build an on-campus football stadium. The new stadium will definitely help with recruiting. Things are looking up for Baylor football.

As for basketball, both men’s and women’s teams look stacked for the future. The men’s team has consistently recruited some of the nation’s best players. Pierre Jackson is already being touted as a top 3 PG in the Big 12 in his first year. Many analysts have compared this year’s women’s team to UConn teams of the past because of their total domination of the competition, with margin of victories averaging 89-52. Coach Mulkey has continued to recruit the nation’s top players including; Odyssey Sims, Brittney Griner, Sune Agbuke and Jordan Madden.

#1, #3, and #12 sound REALLY good! 2011 was, as Robert Griffin III would say, “unbelievably believable,” and I can’t wait to see what 2012 brings!

LeBron vs. Tebow: Who would shake more doubters with a championship win?

LeBron James and Tim Tebow may play two different sports, but they are eerily similar. Both are polarizing athletes that people love, or love to hate. Both are mocked and ridiculed in the media and carry heavy pressure from their respective teams and fans to perform well.

James has been ridiculed for his production, “The Decision,” and also the early celebration when the Miami Heat announced the Big 3 at the beginning of the 2010-2011 season. Most people hate LeBron because of his decision to leave Cleveland. The way he did it and how he severed ties with the team that signed him and joined a “Super Team” didn’t sit well with Americans. James has also been mocked for disappearing in the fourth quarter and being a disappointment. And his greatest disappointment in the 2011 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, where he was completely unproductive in every fourth quarter. Last year, LeBron James was the most hated athlete in the country. His doubters range all ages, race and state in the country.

Then there’s Tim Tebow, who suffers from a different kind of hate. He is hated because of his faith and lack of orthodox NFL abilities. He was told from the very beginning that he would never make it in the NFL. His throwing mechanism wasn’t suitable for the NFL, so he trained for weeks and tweaked his throwing motion. The same ESPN analysts who are praising him now, doubted his skills and ability to succeed two  years ago. Tebowmania now has swept across the country and people either love him, or hate him. Tebow is open about his faith and charity work, leaving people to doubt is he’s being genuine. “Tebowing,” otherwise known as praying, is a frequent thing to see on the sidelines when Tebow makes a great play and at the end of a game. Doubters believe Tebow’s Christ-centered pre- and post-game prayers, press conference quotes and media interviews are mainly for attention. Even Charles Barkley spoke out this week that ESPN and other media outlets need to stop focusing so much on Tim Tebow and need to move on.

These two men are hated for different reasons: LeBron for leaving Cleveland, joining the Miami Heat and not producing, and Tebow for praising the Lord for his skills and winning a game.

Both men have the chance to win a championship this year. LeBron James and the Miami Heat are the early favorite to win the NBA Championship this year. They have produced early, jumping to an 8-3 record and third place in the NBA. Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos are in the playoffs for the first time since 2005 and stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers, and America, in the first round. Saturday night they have the chance to upset the New England Patriots and be one step closer to Tebow’s first Super Bowl and the Broncos’ first appearance since 1998.

If one, or both, men win a championship, who will shake more doubters? Will the man we love to hate gain more love with a championship ring? Or will the nice guy with a big heart shake the doubters when he proves he can win it all?

In my opinion, LeBron James would shake more doubters. Many analysts thought James would already have a ring by now. When he joined the Heat, he promised “not one, not two, not six, not seven…” championships. They had their chance last year against the Mavericks, but failed. I do believe James will have multiple rings by the time he retires. He could, in fact, win his first ring this year. When he does finally win a ring and become a Champion, many doubters will be put to rest. I’m sure there will still be many doubters and haters, but there are just as many who would respect him after the win.

If Tim Tebow wins the Super Bowl, Tebowmania will be at an all-time high, which could cause more hate for the young quarterback. At the same time, his followers and supporters would grow at an alarming rate. Americans love a good guy and a Cinderella story and Tim Tebow is exactly that.  He loves the spirit of competition, but realizes there is more to life than football.

I just don’t feel like Tebow hatred is on the same level as LeBron hatred. They are two different guys with two very different stories. Both men would gain respect, but I feel like Tebow is already respected by so many people, while more people hate LeBron rather than respect him. With a championship win, LeBron James has more to gain. He will finally shake the “fourth quarter disappearing act” persona. He will prove he has what it takes to be an NBA legend and join the likes of Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.

What do you think?