Linning vs. Tebowing-Why God likes Jeremy more than Timmy
This year, we have seen two break-out stars that survived a younger career buried under thousands of pounds of doubt to emerge into the national spotlight. There have been a lot more heralded stories such as Michael Oher coming from being homeless, and the countless pro athletes who have made it out from their shadowed drug and crime-ridden early lives to make it big in pro sports. So then why have Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin become the biggest sports stars of year?
Tebow and Lin were both railroaded by the discouraging hater train as their careers began. There were very few people that thought that either would win games on the Pro level, where the athletes are immensely better than those they played at any point in their lives. Tebow was a Heisman winner and many considered him the best college QB in history, but his motion looked like Charles Barkley’s golf swing. It was slow and ugly, causing visual pain to those who watched. Even with that, Barkley is more accurate than Tebow. Talking heads saw him as a fullback, half-back, or even a tight end; very few saw this man-child as a QB. Finally, when he had his chance at the helm, the Broncos went on a win streak supplanting his NFL career with what we know today.
Jeremy Lin has essentially been a second thought since high school, where he wasn’t really recruited; then a college that probably utilizes physicals as a coaching tool since they actually understand it (but certainly nerds aren’t good ballers); and finally he entered the NBA as an undrafted free agent that no one wanted. No one even mentioned his name at the beginning of the season. Now he’s a worldwide phenomenon, similar to Angela Doolen in the show Phenom. So while Tebow and Lin have both shown the ability to overcome doubters, they really are very different on so many other levels. By comparing the two on more than just surface metrics, you’ll learn why Jeremy Lin’s is simply a better story.
Past-The Rise of the Planet of Tebow and Lin
Tim Tebow’s past has the making of a pro-athlete. He was a legend as far back as his high school days and a highly touted national recruit his senior year. He was a medaled high school star, winning Florida player of the year and getting a seat in the Army All-American game. After receiving such accolades, he received a scholarship to one of the top football programs in college sports and proved that overachieving could be somewhat cool.
Jeremy Lin, on the other hand, couldn’t find a scholarship and eventually went to Harvard, a school predicated upon intelligence, not athletics. I mean, even their janitors were solving complex math problems and their most renowned sport is rowing. Harvard was one of only two teams to give him a spot on their team.
While under Urban Meyer, Tebow became a starter his sophomore year where he was an All-American, Heisman Winner, and First Team all SEC. During that epic year, he set the following records:· Career high single game rushing touchdowns, 5, Nov. 10
· SEC season total touchdowns (passing and rushing), 55
In his second year as a full-time starter the Florida Gators won the National Championship, continuing the Tebow legacy, which was followed by a stellar senior year that added to the Tebow allure. When he graduated, at the end of his college career, Tebow held 5 NCAA, 14 Southeastern Conference, and 28 University of Florida statistical records. He was the SEC's all-time leader in career passing efficiency (176.0), completion percentage (67.1%), passing touchdown to interception ratio (5.5 to 1), rushing yards by a quarterback (2947), rushing touchdowns by players at any position (57), and total touchdowns responsible for (145). He also ranked second in career passing efficiency and third in career yards per attempt (9.33) in NCAA history. Because of this storied collegiate career, he was taken as a first rounder (25th) pick and after barely playing his rookie season, took the starting role from Orton after the Broncos were 1-4 in his second year in the league. This was when Tebowmania hit.
Jeremy Lin was not as recognized throughout his journey. He had a decent high school career but truly broke out his senior year, leading his team to a 32-1 record when he average 15.1 points, 7.1 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 5.0 steals. In the tradition of Lin as the real Cinderella story, his team upset nationally-ranked Mater Dei to win the CIF Division II state title. After the majority of schools asked him to walk on, he found a cozy spot with the Crimsons. Finally at a place that allowed him to shine, he made second team all-ivy his sophomore year, and in his junior year, he made 1st team All-Ivy. During his senior year, as a team leader in a sport where 1 player is so instrumental, Hah-vahd set numerous program records including wins (21), non-conference wins (11), home wins (11) and road/neutral wins (10). Upon graduating, Lin finished his career as the first player in the history of the Ivy League to record at least 1,450 points (1,483), 450 rebounds (487), 400 assists (406) and 200 steals (225). That still didn’t get teams running to him as no one wanted to trust or believe an Ivy Leaguer was any good.
After graduating, he was an undrafted free agent. After playing decently in a summer league for the Mavs, he was picked up by Golden State. After a mediocre year, he was released by the Warriors and picked up off of waivers by the Rockets, butn on Christmas Eve, he was waived. Luckily, one of the biggest franchises in sports picked him and rest is history.
So right from the start, Tebow was not as big of a surprise as Jeremy Lin. First round draft picks are suppose to start in their first few years. That is why they are paid so much. If Tebow didn’t make it, then he should be considered a HUGE bust with the likes of Ryan Leaf and Kyle Boller. From a young age, people have heard of Tebow and expected greatness. It should not be a huge surprise that he is an NFL starter. I mean come on; he was a fucking Heisman Winner. Even with an amazing senior year where Harvard received some national attention thanks to several upsets, Jeremy Lin was about as recognizable as the any of the Hanson brothers solo. In a sport that every child can play since all it requires is a rim and a ball, and with such limited openings, the fact that he came literally from nowhere is unheard of to play in a league where less than 1% of all college players actually make it. Breaking through in the NFL is not even close to the same level as making it to the League.
Lin 1, Tebow O
Present - The Pro life
Once again, Lin and Tebow are in different worlds. Sure, the first real chance they both received with their current teams did not start well, and both started off with a 7-1 in record, but the two players couldn’t have reached stardom any differently. During his 7-1 streak, Tebow completed a mere 11.5 passes per game, completed 47.6 percent of his passes, and averaged 151.37 yards/game in those first 8 games. If you think these stats are good, then you’re as fucking stupid as George W. No, Tebow won these games due to a defense playing lights out, an offense playing to not lose the game, and a kicker who was truly sent by God. I wrote a previous article about how unimportant Tebow was to their hot streak and it’s damn true. They had all of the same players, but the defense knew that their only chance of survival is to keep games close and by doing that, they had to play like gods. Maybe Tebow is actually a pagan in that case because instead of one God I’m assuming he prayed to his team to save his ass…
Now, let’s examine how Jeremy kept the fire alive since all he does is Lin Lin Lin. The Knicks lose Amare and Carmelo. The city is in panic. The pendulum is continuing to slowly lower on the coach’s head. Gotham City might not make the playoffs and anarchy is the only thing occurring on the court. Then enters a hero the town needs and wants. Jeremy Lin comes in and leads the Knicks to a 7-1 (Now 8-1) hot streak. He started his career on a team who, without their two best players and perennial all-stars, was lacking any chance, nobody else able to offer a solution to their terrible play. So he steps up and doesn’t act as a mere contributor, but THE REASON NY hoops is on the map again. During that 7-1 streak, he averaged 24.6 points a game, 8.6 assists, and 3.5 boards. These numbers are unreal for anyone that nobody wanted or cared about. In February, he has averaged more points per game than any other player in the league. He has played lights out, shooting just around 50%, pretty damn efficient. Without Lin, the Knicks would be a damaged team relegated to looking towards next year. Linning, Linsanity, Linvisious, A True Linner is a better move than simply Tebowing.
Future- I’m a damn Gypsy and all I see in the future is a Linner
Lin led the charge when beating such top tier playoff teams as the Lakers, The Jazz, the emerging Timberwolves, and most recently the World Champion Dallas Mavericks. He has played against all-stars and future hall of famers and doused them all with Linagic (Nothing better than forcing his name into nouns such as “magic”). Currently, the Knicks are 8-1 and are still playing without their best two players at full health. He has been seen and scouted and still proven still to be too much to handle. Tebow, you peaked in college, which is fine, because that is better than most cops, who peaked in high school.
The Broncos beat 1 team with a winning record and that was an unprepared Steelers team in the first round of the playoffs. Besides them, they not only lost to teams with winning records, but were decimated. They lost the three other games against winning teams by a combined score of 43-131. They even lost to some teams that consisted of raw dogshit such as the Bills (14-40) and the Chiefs (3-7). Seriously, they lost 3-7 against a crappy team in a terrible division with a losing record. It was already proven during the end of the season when they went on the three game losing streak that Tebow was figured out and contained. Look to next year when he becomes extinct like the Wildcat. Lin has already been figured out but he still can't be held down. His future is bright and the NBA couldn’t be happier
Lin 2, Tebow O
Now, the final debate: who is better for their sport game?- Making it Rain
Both players add a good-guy element to leagues riddled with thugs and crazies. They both are humble and seem to have a childlike exuberance and passion that has become increasingly disassociated with pro athletes. But there is a factual answer to this that is non-debatable. Jeremy Lin is better for basketball than Tebow was for football. Tebow increased fan base, viewership, and converted many non-football fans to praying to the Sunday Gods. As much as I don’t want to admit it, he was positive for the NFL socially and financially. Jeremy Lin has had the same affect for the NBA, but the Lin affect has traveled further than just the US. He has helped increase the international fan base of the NBA. Each game’s viewership has not only increased in the States but has gone through the roof in China. He is the first Chinese American to play in the NBA and because of this, he has become an icon not only in the US but also overseas. He actually had to ask the media to lay off his family living in Taiwan. Let me reiterate, his family in Taiwan is being hounded by the media because of him.It’s unbelievable. He is also a man of God like Tebow but, unlike Tebow, Lin doesn’t consistently throw it in your face, vs. Tebow’s constant bible-thumping that almost became a detriment to religious belief since people got sick of hearing about it.
There are countless purists who think the NBA is a joke due to the lack of heart, defense, travel calls, and basic fundamentals. My father is one of those, but we watched Lin take apart the reigning champs and even though he isn’t a Knicks fan or even an NBA fan, he was standing up cheering for the kid. While Tebow has captured the country, Lin has captured the world.
Lin 3, Tebow 0
- Kyle
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