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Tim Tebow is tough to stop. Even tougher to top, when it comes to an ESPN poll of America’s most popular athlete. Such is the world in which Tebowmania seems to have taken over.
Tebowing by Hooters waitresses is something even his doubters should be able to appreciate.
An ESPN Sports Poll has the Denver Broncos’ second-year quarterback (recognized by 3 percent of Americans surveyed as their favorite pro athlete) No. 1 among America’s favorite pro athletes, outpacing Kobe Bryant (2 percent), Aaron Rodgers (1.9), Peyton Manning (1.8) and Tom Brady (1.5). If it’s any consolation to Tebow detractors, the poll is a monthly one rather than anything more enduring.
No other athlete has reached the top spot so rapidly since the poll began in 1994.
“To put this in perspective, Tim Tebow rose to the top before the end of his second pro season. It took Tiger Woods three years, LeBron James eight years and Kobe Bryant 11 years,” Rich Luker, founder and director of the ESPN Sports Poll, said in an ESPN.com post. “I think we may be at the front end of a new era in sports stars.”
The only other athletes to occupy a monthly top spot since 2007 are Brett Favre, Manning, Woods, Bryant and James.
“For 18 years, ESPN Sports Poll has been the only on-going and nationally representative study about sports interest in America. And this past year we greatly improved the rigor and quality of our survey to include cell phone only and Spanish speaking respondents – to truly represent the opinions and attitudes of all American sports fans.”
“What’s that tell me?” Tebow said Thursday. “It tells me they have a lot of crazy polls out there. I hope people see I’m real and genuine. I hope they see that I make a ton of mistakes but that I always get back up and try again.
“But I’m very blessed. I’m trying to grow my foundation and things that like really help. They give me a platform. I feel like now I can walk into any Colorado hospital and talk to these kids that I want to help.”
Tebow told ESPN.com’s Rick Reilly of the fame he has acquired in his brief NFL career: “It’s not always fun. I like being a normal guy. I mean, I grew up on a farm. I like to get to know people and go to dinner like anybody else. But now I’m in this bubble and it’s hard. But it’s way worth all the downside to have a platform to make a difference.”
Of the Broncos being 13½-point underdogs Saturday against the New England Patriots, Tebow said: “The cool thing about that is maybe a bunch of people will win some money betting on our side.”
Tebow also is tops with the fine folks at Topps, the trading-card company.
Topps announced this week it is including 50 more Tebow autographs (via redemption) in its Precision Football Release. These cards — “Tim Tebow Precision Comeback Autographs” — will capture Tebow’s late- game heroics,including the wild-card postseason victory vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. Each limited edition card will be numbered to nine or less and include Tebow’s autograph.
As they say on those late-night infomericals and/or ads: But wait! There’s more!!
In this case, it’s Jimmy Fallon singing:
Among those attending the event featuring Chicago Cubs right-hander Ryan Dempster and his charming wife Jenny were Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer, manager Dale Sveum, broadcaster Bob Brenly and players Kerry Wood, Randy Wells, Darwin Barney, Reed Johnson and James Russell. There may have been others, but some of us were otherwise occupied enjoying pizza and good company.
And so the first week of increased “Maximum Exposure” featuring April Rose concludes. Four times a week rather than once is a definite improvement from this perspective, even if it does mean substantially more work for April, long a favorite around here.
For those who found Hot Yoga intriguing (or whatever adjective you care to use), here is some more:
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