Tim Tebow handled his news conference skillfully Monday. Yes, he might have overdone his expressions of excitement about being a Jet. But beyond that script, he was polite and charming and disciplined in avoiding controversy. He might have been most excited to answer the question about whether he would establish a foundation in New Jersey.
Ian O’Connor of ESPN wrote: “This is no fake philanthropist. By all accounts Tebow leads the league in uncommon decency. So it came as little surprise that Tebow was most passionate Monday when talking about his life mission.”
Via The Jets Blog, here’s that segment of the news conference. For the full transcript, go to The Jets Blog here.
“Absolutely. I’m looking forward to doing things here in New Jersey and in New York, figuring out a way to just try to make a difference and to try to help. My foundation is something that is extremely important to me, something that I’m very proud of. I’m so proud of the 650 orphans that we support, or the 18 Timmy’s playrooms that we’re building, or the hospital in the Philippines that we’re building because ultimately I know that’s more important than anything I do on the football field, the ability to brighten a kid’s day, the ability to make someone smile. We’re put on a pedestal as a football player which makes us no more important or no more special than anybody else. You have an opportunity, I believe more than that, it’s a responsibility to be a good role model, to set a good example and to make a difference in kids’ lives, especially kids that are looking up to you because you play football. I can still remember when I was eight years old and Danny Wuerffel came to my church as a Florida Gators quarterback. I was probably the 120th kid in line and I waited an hour. But he signed all the autographs and waited until I got to him and I still remember how that made me feel as a little boy. I still have that autograph in my parents’ house in Jacksonville, Fla., because I know how it made me feel. Sometimes we can get so busy and caught up in the hustle and bustle, forget about being a role model, setting a good example and making a difference in people’s lives that are looking up to us. Ultimately I know that my biggest goal in being here and being a football player, is to set a great example, and I’m excited about this opportunity.”
From a Jets standpoint, the whole thing could come apart. But if you’re willing to look past football …
Among his foundation’s aims is
to fulfill wishes for children with serious illnesses and to give poor children with treatable diseases proper medical care.