Denver Broncos rookie Tim Tebow has traded biblical scriptures on his eye black for a friar haircut. It is ironic that as part of his National Football League orientation, Tebow he has traded a serious reference to religion, scripture on his eye black, for a farcical one, a haircut poking fun at monks.
Tebow, widely considered one of the best college football players of all time, is in camp competing for the starting quarterback job; a job that many believe he is not skilled enough for.
Throughout his highly lauded college career at Florida, Tebow was both praised and scorned for his overt portrayal of his religious beliefs. In arguably his most obvious promotion of his religion, Tebow wrote scripture on his eye black during games. During the Sugar Bowl this year, for example, he wrote Ephesians 2:8-10 on his eye black.
The National Football League, however, does not permit its players to write special messages, whether they be religious or not, on any part of their uniform or body.
In accepting NFL money, Tebow has agreed to stop writing scripture on his eye black. What the NFL does allow, however, is for rookie hazing, which is core part of the experience for rookies in the league.
In Tebow's case, the veterans on the team made him shave a large circle on top of his head. That, combined with Tebow's full beard, gives him the look of a friar or monk.
As it seems most college graduates experience, Tim Tebow is likely going through a process of figuring out how his ideals translate to the real, post-campus world. He's gone from a pious and religious stance, one that had him sharing with the world scripture on his eye black, to making a joke based on religious leaders' haircuts.
Nobody, of course, means any offense to monks or any religion. But through the humor and good natured ribbing that Tebow is undoubtedly experiencing, there is perhaps evidence that Tebow is in a different world now, one in which he cannot freely express his ideals and may, even if in a good humored fashion, needs to have a laugh at the expense of deeply pious figures.
None of this makes Tebow a hypocrite; a silly monk haircut isn't inherently sacrilegious. But it is striking that the scriptures on his eye black, a Tebow staple for years, are gone and a silly haircut now sits on Tebow's head.
Source: Sean Leahy, "Broncos QB Tim Tebow sports friar's haircut in team's rookie ritual", usatoday.com
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