We still have three days until the Broncos and Patriots square off so we need to fill the time with something, right? Let's start with this - The ESPN Sports Poll ranks America's favorite current pro athlete. Apparently they have been doing it for 18 years. The athlete at the top of the poll for December? You guessed it.
According to the poll, Tebow was recognized by 3% of those polled as their favorite pro athlete. He beat out Kobe Bryant (2 percent), Aaron Rodgers (1.9 percent), Peyton Manning (1.8 percent) and Tom Brady (1.5 percent) in the Top 5.
The significance of all this? The speed. According to ESPN, Tebow's ascension to the top of the Sports Poll is the quickest in the 18 years the poll has been run.
"To put this in perspective, Tim Tebow rose to the top before the end of his second pro season. It took Tiger Woods three years, LeBron James eight years and Kobe Bryant 11 years," said Rich Luker, founder and director of the ESPN Sports Poll. "I think we may be at the front end of a new era in sports stars."
They also speak about First Take - you know, the daily show that feature's Tebow's biggest fan Skip Bayless?
Further illustration of the "Tebow Effect" comes from ESPN’s First Take, where Monday’s episode achieved the highest rating in the program’s history (since 2006). In fact, the .59 rating joins four other First Take shows from this NFL season as the program’s top-rated in history — all coming after Tebow’s first 2011 start as Denver Broncos quarterback on Oct. 23.
While we all know Tebow is popular, I'd imagine the poll's real importance to ESPN is to tell them who YOU want to read, see and hear about on their networks. In other words, Tim Tebow moves the dial and we'll get more and more of him in the days, weeks and months ahead.
"This is an exciting finding and one that reflects the sentiment of all sports fans, not just the online or social media world," said Artie Burglin, Senior VP for Research and Analytics, ESPN Sales and Marketing.
Never seen First Take? Here is an example:
1 recs | 22 comments
Skip is the worst possible ambassador for the Broncos.
Actually, Merrill Hoge would be worse.
Jordo5150 - January 11, 2012
Skip is alright. He gets behind Tebow more so than the team, which bothers me, but overall he usually has a viewpoint more in line with my own when it comes to Tebow and the Broncos. His over the top antics I could do without, but then, would anybody watch that show if not for Stephen A. Smith and Skip trying to ring each other’s neck’s?
postpunk27 - January 11, 2012
I hate first take.
The anti-Tebowists know pretty much nothing about the Broncos, and just blindly claim he sucks. And Bayless is pretty much the opposite. He seems to know nothing and discredit the rest of the team and claim Tebow is single-handedly the greatest thing since sliced bread. I get irritated watching it.
Teboner - January 11, 2012
First Take is an epic disaster.
They all need to be out of a job. Skip is ridiculous and Doug Stewart has got to be the single most hateful, spiteful, envious, blowhard of life. As a Black American he embarrassed the heck out of men on Monday when he was on.
FT is the sports equivalent of a Kardashian reality special. Blech
iBleedorangeandblue - January 11, 2012
And I bet he'd win the poll for America's least favorite athlete as well.
Seems like most people are either all in or completely out when it come to Tim.
asinsoin - January 11, 2012
Overrated probably, but not most hated
It seems to me people hate the hype about him, but not him as a person. I seem to remember a poll of most hated athletes sometime last year that had Roethlistberger, Vick, Lebron James, Tiger Woods and Cutler all pretty high up on it.
Poster_Formerly_Known_As_Royal_Fan - January 11, 2012
He'd win overrated too...
But check some of the other sports blogs nationally ESPN, SI etc… in fact check the CBS blog from this same article and then tell me there’s not some legitimate hate going on. Pretty sure he’d be right up there. For totally different reasons than the others for sure including his religion, ah shucks attitude, nice guy and the the simple fact that so many people are contrarians and will choose to hate him simply because so many love him. But it is a substantial number.
asinsoin - January 11, 2012
Forgot to add
the fact that he’s made so many so called “experts” look foolish and unfortunately many people have a hard time admitting they were wrong…so they hate.
asinsoin - January 11, 2012
I hate First Take
Between Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, that show is unbearable.
jbbroncosfan27 - January 11, 2012 via mobile
ENTERTAINMENTandsportsnetwork
I don’t believe any of them, they pick a position (for or against) and make up their script as they go. It’s a very bad reality show.
Congrats to Tebow and Mr. Bowlen. The Broncos brand value has skyrocketed since Tebow was drafted.
I think you’d be surprised @asinsoin, Tebow would be nowhere near the top of ‘least popular athlete’. The haters are few but prolific.
Portia11 - January 11, 2012
see my response above Portia
The haters are many, I just choose to ignore them. But spend more than 10 minutes on any of the national sports blogs and you’ll understand why I believe it.
asinsoin - January 11, 2012
A lot, yes
but it’s the same people posting again and again. Some of them seem to have a religious bias more than a football one even on football blogs/MBs. The “analysts” who have made a mistake about Tebow’s NFL future I agree, are entrenched in their I can’t admit I’m wrong stance. They are in print but do people believe them when they insist Tebow could never run or pass in the NFL? Oh well, we can agree to disagree.
Portia11 - January 11, 2012
Good thing I don't watch First Take,
or even anything on ESPN. That was unbearable.
moondoggie12 - January 11, 2012
I actually watch First Take
however lately when they start talking about Tebow I change the channel. It’s not what they say it’s how they say it. A classy debate is what I like and this show is going the other way.
weazel - January 11, 2012
Black guy
Black guy looks like the Major in “The Wire” but not as heavy. Alot of people like that guy hate the Tebow, and I think Skip has a crush on the Tebow. Most people here in Bagh hate tebow so bad it’s comical. I tell them Tebow is a very good person, why all the hate?
Baghdad - January 11, 2012
Not a fan of Bayless
But I give him credit for jumping on the bandwagon early and staying on it. The rest of them are trolls
JOEGATOR15 - January 11, 2012
Kordell Stewart is pretty horrible too.
Reading between the lines, you can tell that he believes he was the first tebow and never got the deserved accolades. I am pretty sure he feels there is a racial element to what he recalls as his treatment. Actually, he was pretty erl hyped too initially, but didn’t live up to it…which is the opposite of tebow, mocked and surpassing expectations.
He was saying that not even a superbowl would change his mind on tebow. I think I would place him as the worst of the bunch.
TheMascotArmy - January 11, 2012 via mobile
You should have seen him harping desperately
on the under 50% completion start for the pitt game. So ridiculous. Only guys allowed to dink and dunk far exceed 50%.
ESPN as a whole is pretty terrible for all things Tebow and I rarely watch.
TheMascotArmy - January 11, 2012 via mobile
So disappointed in Kordell
I really liked him when he first became a pro. I do credit him for being a mobile quarterback in his time, but man, he comes off as completely immature now and that is just too bad.
GirlWhoLovesFootball - January 11, 2012
Skip Bayless rox!
Fabio Broncos - January 11, 2012
Tebow held to high standard
I live in the NYC market and I hear sports talk radio defend Mark Sanchez by saying he’s only in his 3rd year and he’s a young QB…yet Tebow has 15-16 career starts compared to Sanchez 55 if you count playoffs..and Tebow gets crucified if he has a bad game and his career is judges on that poor performance. I watched Eli Manning get years of grace period…and Matt Ryan gets a pass cause he’s “young”…yet these guys have 50-100 starts under their belt. Alex Smith is another guy who people said was still young…yet Tebow is expected to be at his career “peak” after 15 starts. It amazes me the double standard. Tebow will have more bad games to come like we saw against KC…let’s not over react people
Yankee4444 - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Few More Thoughts....
These analysts talk about his completion % and it aggravates me..look at plenty of Hall of Fame QB’s pass comp % in their first 16 starts…if he’s around 47-50% now I’m sure after 48 starts we’ll see him settle into the 55% range, with possible 58-60% ceiling, which I believe with his intangibles and athleticism will make him an elite QB in the future…guy made 15 starts…wish everyone would back off him a little bit when he struggles and afford him the same “he’s still young” defense other QB’s with 50 plus starts under their belt get.
Yankee4444 - January 11, 2012 via mobile
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