Tim Tebow is no stranger to criticism. As the former college football superstar sweats it out in the minor leagues within the New York Mets organization, he’s asked left and right why he won’t give up his dream of being a major-league ballplayer. It’s a tired question. Tebow’s answer, however, is not.
In a press conference speech that’s already been viewed millions of times over, Tebow dropped his latest poster-worthy diatribe.
“You’re always going to have critics and naysayers and people that are going to tell you that you won’t, that you can’t, that you shouldn’t. Most of those people are the people that didn’t, that wouldn’t, that couldn’t.”
Baseball aside, there’s no doubt he’s an inspirational guy pic.twitter.com/FDTwUuKXI2
— Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) February 16, 2019
It’s a pretty poignant statement. Here’s the full text:
[lborder]“It’s really about keeping perspective and not letting other people define you because they sure want to. Shoot, I try to encourage young people all the time to not let the world or outside sources define you because you are always going to have critics and naysayers and people that are going to tell you that you won’t, that you can’t, that you shouldn’t. Most of those people are the people that didn’t, that wouldn’t, that couldn’t.
“Don’t be defined by the outside sources. You go after your dreams. Succeeding or failing is not making it to the bigs or it’s not necessarily fulfilling that. It’s having to not live with regret because I didn’t try. I just feel for all the young people who don’t go after something because they are so afraid of failing that you are going to live with a lot more regret than if you would’ve and you failed. I’m very passionate about that.
“I think the reason people don’t go after things is because how much you will be criticized. What if I fall flat on my face? Fear and doubt and all these things creep in. I just don’t believe that is the healthiest way to live. I don’t want to have to live with fear or doubt every day, regardless of what everybody here says about me. It doesn’t define me.
“I’m grateful that doesn’t define me. There is one thing that defines me and that’s what God says about me. Besides that, I get to go live out my dreams and help as many people along the way as possible.”
Normally, we’d crack a joke about how Tebow should hang up his cap and start giving pep talks to the locker rooms of this great nation, but who are we to stand in the way of his dream? We don’t define Tim Tebow. God defines Tim Tebow! He just said so! You can’t put this man in a box.
Tebow’s in his third season for the Mets organization now. He plays AAA ball and, if he plays well, might be considered for a big-league promotion sometime late this season. It’s a long shot, but hey, Tebow’s seen long shots before.
It’s also refreshing for a professional athlete to put passion and emotion into their press conference interviews. While these affairs are often reserved for bland deliveries and tired cliches about “doing what’s best for the team” and “focusing on the next opponent,” Tebow has long used the environment as a platform for things he cares about. Maybe he doesn’t bring the laughs of Marshawn Lynch saying “I’m just here so I don’t get fined” over and over, but there’s still a place for Tebow’s poetry.
