The ultimate in name recognition for a new company is to have its name become a verb. The classic here is Xerox, but many others have entered common usage, such as "I will Fedex this to you" or "I Facebooked that picture."
So what are we to think of the latest noun to become a verb?
From UrbanDictionary.com: "Tebowing (verb): To get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different."
And this from the extensive Tebow Wikipedia page: "Tebowing" was officially recognized as a word in the English language by the Global Language Monitor, due its level of worldwide usage, which was comparable to the word "Obamamania."
This behavior (getting down on one knee to pray after a touchdown) by the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos, Tim Tebow, may be something new to the members of the church of NFL-tailgaters, but it's not new to Tebow.
Unlike other athletes who may point to the heavens after a scoring a touchdown, Tebow has been doing this kind of thing for years. He lives his faith through activities such as missions to the Philippines (his father runs a nonprofit evangelistic association). He also regularly deflects praise while giving credit for any success to his teammates.
Tebow's name dominated TV and sports talks show discussions in December when he surprised his critics (who said he did not have the talent to be an NFL quarterback) and led his team to fourth-quarter, come-from-behind wins six weekends in a row.
Tebow turned in a disappointing performance Dec. 24 at Buffalo, where he threw four interceptions in what CBS Sports called "the most dreadful performance of his two-year professional football career."
But, as many who practice it regularly will attest, prayer can work wonders.
In Denver's first post-season win since their Super Bowl victory in January 1999, Tebow led his team last Sunday past the Pittsburgh Steelers in an overtime win, using what was supposed to be his major weakness, his passing game.
Even those who might make fun of Tebow and his "Tebowing" cannot deny that:
A. He maintains his joy and enthusiasm, whether he wins or loses.
B. His focus on "team" instead of "me" is refreshing.
C. His durability is impressive, remaining injury-free and healthy despite running the ball more than most coaches would allow.
Public display of religious convictions is something that challenges our personal stereotypes of professional athletes. Yet clearly Tebow has tapped into a reservoir of restrained emotion as we see photos of others "Tebowing" in public.
My guess is that there are many athletes who turn to prayer, perhaps as often as Tebow. They may be a silent majority, but they choose to pray in private.
The Bible tells us that Jesus preached the good news in public, but cautioned his disciples about public versus private prayer. In Matthew 6:6, Jesus advises, "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret and thy Father, which seeth in secret shall reward they openly."
Perhaps Tebow goes into his mental "closet" when he "Tebows" but chooses to also include his TV viewing audience, as well as 70,000 fans in a football stadium. That's his choice. Whatever his faith, you have to admire his conviction and enjoy his rewards.
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