Another Letter From the Tebow Bandwagon: I’m Sorry

Would you like me to apologize for the mania?  Would you like me to apologize for the absurd hijacking of months of news cycle led by my cohorts and me?  Well, I won't.  I will say, though, that I feel sorry for those of you who want me to.

Dear Those Unfortunate Souls Not on the Tebow Bandwagon:

Alright.  So during that three game losing streak the ride on the Tebow Bandwagon got a little bumpy.  And thirty minutes into Saturday's AFC Divisional playoff game, well...this happened:

Side note: Is Harrison Ford bad in anything?  Anyway:

Things were bumpy, and with good reason.  The man didn't look stellar in some of these games.  In fact, he looked down right awful.  But we know this.  I think the more realistic members of the Tebow Bandwagon know that the dude is limited.  We know that you can't run a less involved offense than the Cadets at West Point run and still hope to have long term success in the NFL.  We know that you can't take half a quarter to wind up and throw the ball, and we know that magic doesn't last forever.

But you know what?  I feel nothing short of absolute glee for having been able to watch this guy try and challenge that thought.  I liked believing, for as short a time as it was and for however mistaken it was, that one man can will a team to victory.  I loved rooting for a guy who, unlike an awful lot of the members of the sporting world, actually deserves our admiration.  Yes, I forgave his flaws because of his character.  And yes, I may have over stated his value, but I don't apologize for that.  Given the choice between Tim Tebow and the veritable who's who of prima donnas and show boat artists that populate professional sports today (not all athletes, but plenty), I choose Tebow and all of his flaws.  And quite frankly, I don't understand, and I feel a little sorry for, those of you who don't.

In fact, I would rather be one of the insanely delusional members of Tebow Nation whom even five Tom Brady touchdown passes deep into Saturday's contest were under the impression that one day those two men could stand on equal footing.  I'd rather be so lost in the clouds that I consider Tim Tebow an elite quarterback than be someone so caught up in resenting the mania that I didn't stop to enjoy the ride (I mean, maybe I can't go quite that far.  I'm not sure I'd have this job if I was one of those people, but you're feeling my imagery, right?).  This was, to me, the best sports story of the year.  There was a movement afoot in this country, a shaking of the foundation of sports that with each improbable win, with each lucky bounce, with each unbelievably dramatic moment, grew bigger and stronger.  To think that there's a segment of the sports world that missed out on enjoying such a run because they grew a distaste for a man that did nothing to draw their ire is simply beyond me.

The win in Miami.  The last minute drive against the Jets.  The miracle that was the win over the Bears.  The AFC-West title.  An eighty yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime to upset the mighty Steelers and win a playoff game!  Those moments were as fun as sports gets, and instead of rising to your feet and cheering the entirety of those eighty yards that Demeryius Thomas rumbled into the end zone, you slumped into your couch and thought with scorn about tomorrow's headlines.  Why?  Because Tim Tebow isn't good?  We know!  We know he's not good!  But why does that mean that you couldn't be happy for him?  Why does that mean that you, who has probably spent years lamenting the life choices of guys like Pacman Jones, couldn't root for a guy who's only crime is fanning the flame - with his play, and nothing else - of an over zealous media?  He didn't ask for the mania, he didn't manufacture it.  All he did was handle it with grace.  Your beef's with ESPN, not Tim Tebow.  But unable to separate mania from man, you missed out on what was, to me, the ride of a life time.  And for that, I'm sorry.

So yes.  Tebowmania died on Saturday night, and Tom Brady backed up his car and ran it over four or five times for good measure.  And yes, the harsh truth that magic doesn't last forever was finally realized.  But the weeks I spent rooting for a man whom I can honestly say I was proud to root for was some of the most fun I've had in sports, and I wouldn't trade those weeks for anything.  Like I said months ago:  Give me that effort, give me that character, and I'll be rooting as long as you're playing.

Very sincerely and respectfully,

Joe Bianchino (@JoeBianchino)