Tebow is the youngest of the five Tebow children, but Pamela Tebow's life-threatening infection during her pregnancy while in the Philippines, had doctors recommending that Mrs. Tebow abort her pregnancy. Thankfully, she didn't.
All five Tebow children were home-schooled and brought up in the family's strong Christian faith. Tim Tebow benefited from the 1996 legislation passed in Florida, which allowed home-schooled students to compete in local high school sports.
Even in high school the future NFL player was turning heads. His running, throwing and overall competitive edge was undeniable. However, controversy surrounded the fact that this homeschooler was a top-pick for colleges. ESPN's program "Faces in Sports" documentary filmed a special segment called "Tim Tebow: The Chosen One," which not only focused on this point, but it also showed the missionary work that the then-high school, home-schooled student was doing in the Philippines.
During his years of being home-schooled, he spent three summers doing missionary work in the Philippines—assisting with Uncle Dick's Home— an orphanage founded by the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association. The orphanage, which is is still dear to the Tebow family today, is a Christian home for orphaned Filipino children in Lamsugod, Surallah, South Cotabato, Mindanao, Philippines. He worked at the orphanage in the summers before attending his parent's alma mater, the University of Florida.
A poster-child for the home-schooling movement, Tebow has personally vouched for opening up more opportunities for home-schoolers to compete on local teams.
At the University of Florida, Tebow thrived and racked up wins, championships, honors, and records. The Florida Gator player played from 2006 to 2009, becoming the starting quarterback in 2007. Tebow broke the school's all-time record for rushing touchdowns in a season and also became the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman Trophy. Tebow also broke the SEC career record previously held by former Georgia running back, Herschel Walker.
While Tebow's legend was increasing he was not shy in showing his Christian faith to the world, wearing eye-black with different Bible scriptures, which spurred controversy and led the NCAA to enact what is dubbed the "Tebow Rule," which forbids writing on the eye-black. He also had his name pulled from consideration in 2008 for the Playboy Preseason All-American team because it conflicted with his Christian beliefs.
Now Tebow plays for the Denver Broncos after being drafted as a first round pick (25th overall) by the Denver Broncos. Head coach Josh McDaniels talked about his first round selections which included Tebow, saying, "We want players who are tough, smart, have great character, love football and are passionate about coming here and helping the Broncos win a championship. I think both players fit that role, and I think that's something that we're looking for in all of our players. What we're trying to build here is team chemistry and a team that cares about winning and winning a championship, and that's it."
The back-up quarterback during his rookie season, Tebow took over duties of starting quarterback for the Broncos in his second year, after Kyle Orton had a 1-4 start to the 2011 season. From the rough start, Tebow and the Broncos managed to rally for a string of wins that placed them as a wildcard pick for the NFL Playoffs. In an unexpected and unprecedented game during the first round of the 2012 NFL Playoffs, the Broncos won in an overtime win with Tebow throwing a touchdown to Demariyus Thomas on the first play of the overtime, sending the Pittsburgh Steelers home and giving the Broncos the victory 29-23. However, the season ended on Saturday January 14, 2012 with a pretty healthy dose of veteran know-how, as Tom Brady and the New England Patriots put away any Super Bowl hopes for Tebow's second season.
What is Tim Tebow's real legacy?
Not like many other football players who try to bring attention to themselves with their dancing moves and overall "It's all about me" antics; Tebow often kneels and gives praise to God during games—a move now dubbed as Tebowing.Tim Tebow is often quoted saying that football "is just a game," but he takes his missionary and charity work a lot more seriously.
"So what exactly is TimTebow's international effect?"
It has little to do with his football star status but more to do with the works he does because of his Christian faith. Through his foundation (The Tim Tebow Foundation), Tebow is able to touch the world. His passion is with children and much of his work centers on helping orphaned, homeless, disabled, sick and dying children. The Tim Tebow Foundation's partnership with CURE, has a mission is to "bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day, and this partnership will directly benefit children throughout the developing world who suffer from treatable physical disabilities."
The foundation also supports Uncle Dick's Home, which has 49-orphaned Filipino children and 13 staff members; Timmy's Playroom, rooms which will serve as a place of faith, hope and love to these very strong and courageous children in hospitals across the world. In addition, The Tebow foundation is also working with Dream Come True, a local organization from Jacksonville, Florida, which is now the official wish-granting organization for the Tim Tebow Foundation's "Wish 15" program (W15H). This program has been created to fulfill the dreams of children with life-threatening illnesses whose wish is to meet Tim Tebow.
Find out about the Tim Tebow Foundation and some of his charitable organizations he supports by clicking here.
Fun Food Fact
In a recent interview with Steven Serby of New York Post, Tim Tebow said Mom's homemade tacos is his favorite food.
Information from Wikipedia and the Tim Tebow Foundation,
