Walk the Walk

I came across this article on the cover of espn.com. I've grown up rooting for the Florida Gators. I've loved them from the Fun 'n Gun days of Steve Spurrier. With the likes of Danny Wuerffel, Ike Hilliard, and Fred Taylor, the Gators were one of the most fun to watch teams in college football since the mid-1990s. But that is not why I love Pat Forde's article on Tim Tebow. I love the article because Tim Tebow represents everything good and right in a world that sorely lacks good role models and humble heroes.

The media craves attention and drama. Throughout the past several seasons, sports shows and even newscasts have highlighted the ongoing saga of Terrell Owens, the much-maligned "cancer" in the locker room. Michael Vick, Barry Bonds, Randy Moss, Stephen Marbury, Plaxico Burress and all the other drama kings have spent time plastering the covers of all major media outlets. The media loves the sensational storylines these characters offer in selling to many sports consumers, especially those who are still very impressionable. The youth of our generation is being taught subtlely that it is okay to cheat, to cause dissension, to play the victim, to intentionally injure. And by participating in such activities, they can expect to cash in. The media spends considerably less time on the good characters, those that every aspiring athlete should try to model himself after. This is why this article on Tim Tebow has captured my heart today.

The author writes, "There are plenty of athletes who talk the pious talk. Plenty of athletes who write scripture on their eye black the way Tebow does or thank God after victories. But how many have walked the walk like Tebow -- walked it into the prisons, into the slums of the Philippines, into the hearts of people in need of a role model? How many, at age 21, have done as much work on behalf of those less fortunate?"

I'm not trying to make Tim Tebow into a demi-god. Neither is Pat Forde or all the others who admire and respect this young man. All I'm saying is that given how important sports is to many boys and girls across the country, I would expect that more people would see the need for people like Tebow. Wouldn't it be advantageous for those growing up in low-income and underpriviledged neighborhoods to look up to good role models whose actions speak louder than words? I'm not suggesting that teen (and gang) violence, inner city poverty, failing school systems, racism, and other major social issues can be simply tackled by having greater role models. But hey, it's a start isn't it? Especially in neighborhoods where they look up to these athletes that routinely get into trouble.

If only athletes and celebrities and politicians and others who have been given opportunities to do good with their position of influences can walk the walk...