The Tim Tebow Twitter Feud

Tim Tebow. The name alone conjures up all kinds of reactions, especially to sports fans. His success on the college football field, coupled with the interest in seeming succeed and/or fail on the prof...
The Tim Tebow Twitter Feud
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  • Tim Tebow. The name alone conjures up all kinds of reactions, especially to sports fans. His success on the college football field, coupled with the interest in seeming succeed and/or fail on the professional level is just one of the things that makes his a polarizing figure. Another Tebow attribute that inspires conversation and reaction is the way he throws the football.

    His throwing motion, which to some observers, is that of a trebuchet, has long been the topic of discussion since he first stepped onto the field as a collegiate freshman. Because of that, debate rages over whether his ability to win in the college ranks would translate to the NFL, making him a successful quarterback, a career that demands an ability to throw the ball with a certain style of mechanics.

    This video should help clarify the Tebow debate:

    Without turning this post into a Football Outsiders breakdown, let’s just say there’s a lot of debate about Tebow, and because of that, there’s a little Twitter war that’s been going on in the name of Tebow’s potential as a legitimate NFL quarterback. The social media hubbub was started by Ben Roethlisberger yes-man, Merril Hoge, who also moonlights for ESPN as an NFL analyst.

    As is the norm when people want to draw attention to their opinions, Hoge took to Twitter to blast Tebow, who is starting his second year for the Denver Broncos and is/was competing for the starting quarterback position.

    Hoge was less than complimentary, so much so, in fact, his rant seemed almost personal. In a incredibly popular social media setting, something like that with such a polarizing figure does not go unnoticed:

    Sitting watching tape off bronco offense from last year! Orton or Tebow? It’s embarrassing to think the broncos could win with tebow!! 1 day ago via Twitterrific · powered by @socialditto

    Orton or tebow? QB play is not just about who works hard gives rare rare college speeches or who is a good guy!! Because orton works hard 1 day ago via Twitterrific · powered by @socialditto

    And is a good guy as well. It’s about who can play!! I just watched Tebow throw 5 out routes to a wide open WR! He was 1 for 5! 2 went in 1 day ago via Twitterrific · powered by @socialditto

    Dirt 2 in the stands! That throwing motion he changed? U can’t change who u r! Just watched 2 throws and he throws like he did in college!! 1 day ago via Twitterrific · powered by @socialditto

    College credentials do not transfer to NFL raw raw speeches do not work! You must poses a skill set to play! Tebow struggle with accuracy! 1 day ago via Twitterrific · powered by @socialditto

    Why Hoge felt necessary to completely tear down Tebow is unknown. Perhaps Hoge is jealous of the fact that he’ll never be as famous as his target and took it upon himself to point out to the world just how horrible Tebow is? Whatever the case, Hoge’s critiques felt like personal attacks instead of simple observations.

    Too bad Hoge isn’t as emotionally charged about the safety of college co-eds in Milledgeville, Georgia.

    As is the social media way, Hoge’s Twitter blasts didn’t go unnoticed and none other than LeBron James chimed in, taking up for Tebow–and with that, we’re playing the Twitter feud. James’ first tweet took up for Tebow, but after that, his target was Hoge and the way in which he blasted Tebow:

    Tim Tebow will succeed in the NFL. He’s a hard worker, a student of the game, a natural born leader and most of all … http://tmi.me/dWy5z 11 hours ago via UberSocial for BlackBerry · powered by @socialditto

    Listened to Merril Hoge today on SC and he was just blasting Tebow. The man hasn’t even play a full season and its only his 2nd year in. 11 hours ago via UberSocial for BlackBerry · powered by @socialditto

    Guys get on that TV and act like they was all WORLD when they played. How bout encouraging him and wishing him the best instead of hating!! 11 hours ago via UberSocial for BlackBerry · powered by @socialditto

    Even Tebow got in on the action:

    Hey Merril…… ‘ppreciate that 12 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    And now, there’s a Twitter trend dedicated to him. Needless to say, the reaction swings many different ways, because that’s the nature of sports talk, especially when it hits Twitter:

    Re: Tim Tebow, I think I’d listen to Merrill Hoge first. Lebron needs to stick to what he does best…playing 3 quarters of basketball. 41 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    You bring out the best in Tebow when you diss him! http://t.co/XfM7MyC 43 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    get em Merril! (& Lebron’s still a huge douche) http://t.co/l0MbnBP #nfl @merrilhoge @espn 48 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    Does anyone else find it ironic that LeBron is now the authority of who a “WINNER!” is? http://es.pn/peCO57 1 hour ago via Digsby · powered by @socialditto

    This next one might be the most accurate take on the whole subject:

    How can fans NOT love @ESPN when @ESPN reports on @ESPN-generated “controversies”? Journalism! Catch the fever! http://es.pn/oqgomS 1 hour ago via TweetMeme · powered by @socialditto

    And then there’s this from the Denver Broncos official Twitter page:

    Nice 7-on-7 session for Tim Tebow, who completed long TD passes to rookies Julius Thomas and Mark Dell 3 days ago via Twitter for Android · powered by @socialditto

    Was Hoge a little too critical? Time will tell, but it’s always fun when social media is used in such a matter, especially when it leads to things like this:

    Tim Tebow must have lost his virginity with Merril Hoge’s daughter. It’s the only explanation…. 9 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    Tebow was/is (?) perhaps the most famous virgin in the world at one point. He’s also clearly still a polarizing figure, which leads to such inventive and creative uses of Twitter. One thing’s for sure, the even if the controversy was generated by ESPN, it’s certainly a buzz-worthy story now.

    Ain’t social media grand?

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