Behind the weekend mask

Beyond the radar and hype, who is that masked man? Too often the essence of a person is lost beneath the sharp and relentless focus of our media. Who a person is and how he is portrayed in the press does a huge disservice. Articles the reveal the real person behind the weekend warrior mask are few, but well worth reading to get a better sense of character. So here is my first of a series of characterizations that few know about.

Each game, home and road, Tebow has as his guest a young person who has gone through some medical or personal struggle, and win or lose, he spends 15 to 30 minutes with the person and his/her family afterward. On Sunday, after the loss to New England, Tebow met with brain-tumor victim Kelly Faughnan and her family. While Tebow and Kelly spoke, her father said to Darlington: "I can't begin to tell you the impact he's had on my daughter. She's very positive, and she tries so hard, but she's had a struggle. Tim Tebow has built her self-confidence up so much -- taught her to believe in herself -- that when I see people criticize him, I'm just dumbfounded. I don't get it. It's almost incomprehensible to me. I don't understand why anyone wouldn't want to see an athlete use his position and platform to do good for people." And that's Tebow. Forget his religion, forget his politics (if he has any). He's a good person who does good things.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... z1gzV53fw6

He is the real deal, not some image of one.

I know he also has spent some time with a 285 corridor, local person with a serious medical issue.

I'm thrilled to see a professional athlete who is humble, hard-working, well-spoken, and all the other positive attributes that one may want to attribute to Tebow. I personally have a very dim view of pro athletes - the vast majority to me seem to be over-paid, over-medicated prima donnas. Tebow is a breath of fresh air.

Indeed he is. This is what the media ought to hype instead of all the stuff we have been seeing. Ok, it's fair enough to analyze and critique a public persona, but what has happened goes far beyond a critic or slam of his professional skills. That bothers me so I will do my best to draw attention to the outstanding character of some professional athletes because they are so far and few in between.

Another huge difference is how those deeds are done. There are many athletes who donate huge sums of money (nice tax write off) but invest nothing of their time. There is no commitment to the giving. It's like one of us playing super santa at k-mart. Sure we help out where it is needed but that is as far as it goes. With Tim, there is a personal commitment as well as financial. His personal time to follow up on various tragedies, the inspirational messages are a huge gift.

Having said what the media ought to hype has me wondering what sort of an impact such a media blitz would have on the population as a whole???? For example, would we see something akin to the super santa theme where people go out and pay part or all of the layaway debts of needy people? Would there be enough inspiration to reach out personally to someone with the gift of our time and empathy? Just imagine how much better our community and world would be were that to happen.

Here is part of what William Sullivan thinks

...In a broader political sense, Tim Tebow is teaching America a lesson that we once learned, but now appears lost. In a society that is consumed by belief in the power of the collective, he is a testament to the often underestimated potential of the individual, and proof that individual success can lead to the success of those around him.

Barack Obama could spend every dime of American wealth on countless government initiatives to promote the social and physical development of the collective, but none of that will promote individual excellence. Rather, such programs teach people that if the right social support structures are put into place and the right individuals are in charge of seeing to the good of the collective, all people can reach an acceptable standard. In this state of communal reliance, the potential for greatness is vastly diminished.

Tim Tebow, on the other hand, is teaching people a much more valuable lesson. He is a personification of the traditional American belief that if people work hard, believe in themselves, and have the humility to believe in something greater than they are, they can exceed what the collective believes them to be capable of. That the impossible can become possible, even if only for a short while.

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/12/ ... z1gzzVwfsh

Another standout athlete currently not actively playing

Adalius Thomas is one of the most active Ravens in the community, donating time and financial support to organizations that assist underprivileged children. Thomas annually hosts a group of 45 students from the Knights of Valor chess team to take part in a chess tournament against Ravens players and, for his work in the community, was honored as a finalist for the Byron "Whizzer" White Humanitarian Award in 2004, given to the NFL player who best represents dedication to team, community and country. Also in 2004, Thomas hosted his 1st Annual S.L.A.S.H. (Sportsmen Lifting Academics and Sponsoring Hope) Golf Tournament with proceeds benefiting the foundation.

Not to belabor the point, but it is one thing to host an activity and quite another to be directly involved.

People tend to look for the bad in people that are positive and energetic enough to almost be considered a force of nature. I know I should be doing more, but I'm tired. I see some people that are always up, always going, always doing good for others... and it makes me feel guilty that I don't do more.

It would be so easy to fall into the trap of criticizing those energetic, positive people in order to shore up my self-steem that's been hacked apart by guilt.

But, there's one thing I can do, It takes no energy, it takes little effort. I can avoid tearing down people like Tebow, Thomas, Bettis and others. I can recognize their efforts, realizing that they're normal people with flaws that don't need to be highlighted to offset their good deeds just to salvage my own selfish ego.

Check this out... Who's doing good... http://www.goodsearch.com/whosdoinggoodpage.aspx?goodid=36

http://www.alicenter.org/Pages/default.aspx

Respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, giving and spirituality.

Nobody that matters wrote: People tend to look for the bad in people that are positive and energetic enough to almost be considered a force of nature. I know I should be doing more, but I'm tired. I see some people that are always up, always going, always doing good for others... and it makes me feel guilty that I don't do more.

It would be so easy to fall into the trap of criticizing those energetic, positive people in order to shore up my self-steem that's been hacked apart by guilt.

But, there's one thing I can do, It takes no energy, it takes little effort. I can avoid tearing down people like Tebow, Thomas, Bettis and others. I can recognize their efforts, realizing that they're normal people with flaws that don't need to be highlighted to offset their good deeds just to salvage my own selfish ego.

Check this out... Who's doing good... http://www.goodsearch.com/whosdoinggoodpage.aspx?goodid=36

First of all You do matter whether you thinks so or not. When I look at people, it always comes down to character rather what someone accomplishes per se. I've met many highly accomplished people whom I can't stand because they're not genuine. What I've read of your posts and what you write above speaks volumes. It speaks of character. I've never seen admirable people who elevate themselves at the expense of others. Instead, the people I've come to admire the most are those who are magnanimous in their praise of other's efforts. It speaks of recognition, realizing the difficulties one faces in accomplishing something. How you get where you wish to go matters less than what you have once you get there. As you acknowledge with all have flaws and it is far better to recognize the positive than the negative. Seems like you have gotten there already and I admire you for that.

Thanks for the link. A few days ago AV posted she is not going waste another thought about Tebow, lumping him in with the many losers who play professional sports. I'm sorry she feels that way as she keeps herself from getting to know a quality character. Among the hoard of egotistical, selfish etc. professional athletes, there are gems. I am going to make an effort and encourage others to find those gems and bring them to our attention.