According to multiple reports, including Sports Illustrated, Tim Tebow has been confirmed as a publicity stunt. The New York Mets general manager, Sandy Alderson, admitted that the organization signed Tebow, at least in part, because of his celebrity status. I knew it. I called this from the beginning. Mets fans denied the claims at first, and so did the Mets front office. But now the truth is out.
“Look, we signed him because he is a good guy, partly because of his celebrity, partly because this is an entertainment business. My attitude is, ‘Why not?'” Alderson said at a SABR Convention.
There it is, in black and white. Tim Tebow is playing baseball because he was famous. It wasn’t because he worked hard and earned the spot. But look at him now. He is all over the news. He’s gotten a promotion, hit several home runs, and is essentially tearing up the Minor League Baseball system. Is that a good thing? I believe the Mets are hoping his success will take the light off of the fact that he shouldn’t have gotten a start there, to begin with.
As I mentioned in a previous article about Tim Tebow, it would be a shame to know that there is someone out there working harder, with more talent and ability, to get where Tim Tebow seemed to have so easily landed. I wouldn’t even call it landed, so much as handed.
Can anyone doubt the success Tebow has had? No. But what IS in question here, is whether or not he should have ever been allowed the opportunity.
With such an in-depth Minor League Baseball system, there are thousands upon thousands of players in the game. Even more players are in Independent League Baseball and thousands more who just missed the cut. We are talking about guys who live and breathe baseball. Guys that have done so since they could play t-ball. Guys have worked hard, lived the grind, and continue the effort.
Did any of those players miss an opportunity so that Tim Tebow could sell a few jerseys and make the Mets some money? There is no doubt in my mind that this is the case. Statistically, it’s unreasonable to assume that Tebow was the BEST athlete that the Mets had to choose from to fill the position.
I find this disgusting. It’s a dishonor to the game of baseball, and a slap in the face to the thousands of players who are busting tail to get to The Show. Unfortunately for them, they aren’t famous. Because Tim Tebow is, he’ll likely play Major League Baseball before we know it. And not because he earned it, but because a dumpster fire called the New York Mets are suffering and trying to make a few bucks.
Shame on you Sandy Alderson. Shame on the New York Mets.
I see why you’re upset, but it’s business. The world will always revolve around money. Anyways, you can’t fault Tebow here. He is making the most of his opportunity. If you were low on cash and needed to turn things around, chances are you would do the same thing. There is no stat in sports, especially baseball, that totals moral victories.
I understand it’s business. I think the truly upsetting part is the lie. Either admit what it was from the beginning, or stick to the lie. I think it makes the organization look foolish.
Thanks for the comment!
“partly because of his celebrity”. So what? That makes the whole signing a lie? Man, you’re as delusional about making something out of nothing as Trump. Guess you don’t know the history of Bill Veeck or Charley O. Finlay. The “truly upsetting part is the lie”? Really? Grow up and find another business for gawds sakes. Your bio says you’ve been a sports writer for 2 years. That’s a lie. Cause you’re no sports writer. You gossip columnist.
I most certainly appreciate your opinion. I simply expressed mine in this editorial. The fact that the Mets GM stated upon Tebow’s signing that it WAS NOT for publicity is one thing. Then, he changes his story and states that it was partly because of his celebrity. I understand it’s a business. I just think he should have stuck to his guns, or been honest from the beginning.
Thanks for taking the time to read. I do appreciate that.
The kid works hard, does nothing but good as a human being, and [as written by you] has had success in his baseball venture. I may be a bit biased, I’ve been a Gator fan for some time. Even the B.T. (Before Tebow) years. I simply have one question: why the continued hate toward this kid? Tebow can do know right by doing only what’s right! According to multiple sport articles I have read, he’s the first one in and the last one to leave. The kids a celebrity and there’s no dirt anyone can gather in him and that my friend, is the reason you and every other pseudo-sports writer hate on this young man.
Let it go. Time to focus on other issues. Kids a winner in my opinion even if he doesn’t make to The Show!
Thank you for taking the time to read and make a comment. That is truly appreciated. I have two large concerns here. The first being the Mets lying about what they were doing with him. They initially stated it wasn’t a PR stunt. Then, a few days ago, admitted that it was. PR stunts happen. Admit it from the start if that is the case. If you want to make it seem like it isn’t a stunt, then keep up your story saying it isn’t. The second issue I have is that he got the job initially solely based on his celebrity. That isn’t fair. I take nothing away from what he’s done since, or the work he puts in. But he shouldn’t have gotten the job from the very start. I don’t hate him. I just think him being handed something because he is famous is unfair.
This isn’t the first time this has happened. Does anyone remember Michael Jordan playing for Birmingham Barons? Jordan finished his one and only season with pretty dismal numbers. After 127 games played…Avg .202, obp .289, slg .266, ops .555. At this point Tebow is posting much better numbers than Jordan. His stats for Columbia has him near the top of the leader board in the following…Hits #6 with 47, TB 72 #4, HR 3 #4, RBI’s 23 #4. He finds himself mid way in Avg #15 with .220, obp .311 #12, slg .336 #11 and ops .648 #12. With just 6 games played Tebow’s numbers with St. Lucie are irrelevant at this point. Although if we combine his numbers with St Lucie with those of Columbia his over all performance becomes much stronger. With the season less than half over it’s hard to tell where he will finish but at this point is overall grade is about a C. He is doing some things good and some not so good. My point is even if he was a publicity stunt he is still performing. I look for him to have a job with a Met’s affiliate next season.
I take nothing away from what he’s done while there. However, he should not have been handed the job just because he is a celebrity. If the Mets intended to use him as a PR stunt, then they should have admitted that from the beginning. Instead, they stated it wasn’t a stunt, then went backwards a few days ago, saying it was. That’s a huge issue to me.