DENVER- The cheers from fans as Tim Tebow’s 80-yard strike to Demaryius Thomas put the Broncos past the Steelers extended well beyond the confines of Mile High Stadium Sunday night, with people worldwide tuning in to Tebow Mania. Indeed, as far away as the small village of Wernyol, in Southern Sudan, many huddled around the town’s lone TV to watch Tebow’s latest victory. For them, Tebow’s win offered not only entertainment, but a ray of hope.
“We are surrounded every day by starvation, killing, and misery,” said one observer. “It is easy to lose the faith. But Tim Tebow reminds us there is a God watching over us who cares about us and is taking an active role in our lives, and it brings us hope.”
This sentiment is not isolated to the far reaches of the world; even fans of other football teams report their sense of spirituality has been renewed by the success of Tim Tebow. Gene Hutchins, a Detroit Lions fan and lifelong Christian, admits his faith in God was beginning to wane until Tim Tebow began winning.
“I had been an autoworker all my life when the recession hit,” explained Hutchins, 55. “But like so many of us during the global downturn, I was laid off. Since then, I haven’t been able to land a steady job, and the stress of the situation has led my wife to leave me. It was hard in the face of all that to accept there really was a God. But when I watch Tebow play… I mean the Steelers? He put up more passing yards on them than any other quarterback this season? The guy has the most awkward looking throw going. If that’s not divine intervention, I don’t know what is.” Hutchins smiled and added, “Maybe next, he can look Detroit’s way. Things are pretty bad here. The Lions haven’t won a playoff game since the 50s.”
-TDM ’14