Deafening shouts of “Tebow Time” have been silenced, as Jesus switched teams last weekend to hand New England a resounding division win over the Denver Broncos.
The popularity of this catchy alliteration in Australia at this time of year is telling.
Any other month, if you dropped the names Tim Tebow, Eli Manning, or Tom Brady, most Aussies would offer you a blank expression. However when January rolls around, closet American football fans emerge with opinions on every aspect of the game.
In years gone by, an Australian Superbowl hope has sparked interest in the playoffs (think punter Ben Graham). This year, however, there are no patriotic reasons to jump on the bandwagon, and Tebow Time has clogged plenty of Twitter feeds in the lead up to the Broncos’ playoff matches.
With limited live television coverage most of the year, many of us are guilty of getting swept away with the hype in the early parts of the year. But to fans who have followed Tebow’s career from the get go, the two cents contributed from these January devotees can get old fast.
In fact, to a lifelong supporter of any team, it can be more than a little irritating when bandwagon experts try to tell you what’s what. The question that this makes me ask is: when are you truly a follower of a particular, sport, team or even just a player?
I have heard some say that you can call yourself a fan of a side when you can name three players in that team. While I don’t know that the distinction is that clear cut, everyone certainly has an opinion about when a fair-weather fan becomes a full-fledged follower.
Is it when you become a member of a team, or just when you watch more than one game on the weekend? Is it when you’ve stuck with a side when they are consistently left watching on during finals times?
Sure, sometimes this sort of line in the sand can lead to sporting snobbery, something of which I am not an advocate. However, I like the idea of someone having the knowledge to back up their sporting trash talk.
So, watch the Ravens, Patriots, Giants and 49ers gun for championship glory this weekend, but when January rolls around again, pay attention outside of Tebow Time.
Sailosi
Guest
Sorry I don't have a link. It is from The Independant, the article is Tv's Great Viewing Mirage. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Sailosi
Guest
When they quote those figures, that is the potential audience. For example when they say the rugby world cup or football world cup has a tv audience of 4 billion people that refers to the overall spread of the event coverage. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Chris Chard
Expert
Hmm interesting, the thing I always wonder with the worldwide tv figures is are they posting the number of people who actualy watched ,or the people who could 'potentially' watch the game through coverage-if your investigation is right it sounds like the latter! Will have to findmyself a copy of that article-how about that Brazillian Grand Prix eh!
Sailosi
Guest
108 million is the us record -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Steggz
Guest
Super Bowl would get 120 million watching it in USA alone, if not more. Add in a few million in Canada, some in Latin America and a smattering elsewhere, I reckon you could get to at least 200 million, with 150-160 million in the USA minimum.
Sailosi
Guest
Those figures are rubbish, there was an article in the guardian in 2007, somebody posted on the roar late last year. Some journo investigated tv figures for 2007 and worked out the "real" figures and they are nowhere near as high as that. The top 5 for 2007 were from memory, Superbowl 120 mill worldwide Brazilian grand prix 63 mill champions league final Rugby world cup Can't remember the fith The actual figures are nowhere near as high as what people sprout. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Chris Chard
Expert
Agreed you can never really trust worldwide tv figures, however in this article (that I just happenned to read this morning) http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/story/_/id/7468174/the-nfl-ratings-continue-surge-dominating-all-programing-path it states that "Of the 20 most-watched television events globally, all 20 were Super Bowls. Recent Super Bowls averaged more than 1 billion viewers worldwide" Granted FIFA World Cup and Olympics might at times outrate the SB, but a cool billion worldwide annually is pretty hard to top
Steggz
Guest
Add me to your list. Got my Packers jersey with Favre 4 on it.
Brett McKay
Expert
I was somewhat stunned to see a TEBOW 15 Broncos jersey in the middle of the Canberra Centre last weekend, but quickly assumed it to be a bandwagoner. He may not have been, but I can count on one hand the number of NFL jerseys I've seen worn in my life (and have fingers spare)..
Ray Lewis
Guest
Ridiculous arrogance from both the Giants and Patriots fans, already calling for the SB42 re-match. What happened last time the Ravens went to Foxboro in a play-off game? I forget...
B.A Sports
Guest
What about the Drew Brees bandwagon and the Packers bandwagon? The slight irony was that it wasn't Teebow who was to blame for the Broncos loss to the Pats. The Broncs defence let them down as did Teebows recievers who dropped numerous passes which hit them in the numbers.. Oh and the fact that The Pats are just better. Put Brady and Gronk on any team any they become instant contenders. Pats v Giants Superbowl coming up - and I can't wait!
Al
Guest
Can't agree with you regarding the "biggest sporting even in the world", yes the game is huge in the US and racks up huge television audience numbers over there but at the end of the day it's still just a national competition's final of a sport that most of the world doesn't care about.
Al
Guest
Funny how 49ers fans were booing Alex Smith not too long ago and wanted him gone, he has now become one of the more controlled and steady QB's in the NFL despite not throwing the huge numbers that Brady, Brees and Rodgers have done this season.
Niners Fan
Guest
Heard enough about Tebow this year to last me a lifetime.... I could understand all the hype if he was a half decent quarterback, but he's not! As for the conference championship games, couldn't of asked for 2 better matchups. As long as the Niners get through, I don't really mind who wins the AFC, as both teams would present an interesting super bowl.... you either get the Harbaugh Bowl, or you get Brady playing for his 4th ring against the team he grew up supporting. Go Niners!!! :-)
Steggz
Guest
Especially when we don't get to see them here, because Fox/One puts on local ads... Still recovering from the Packers getting knocked out. Just wasn't their day. I'm backing SF for the big one. Playing a Super Bowl in your home stadium would be unusual these days, and so that has to be a big motivation.
Chris Chard
Expert
Personally I think Jesus couldn't make it to Foxbrough in time after bailing out the 49ers in San Fran ha ha I quite like it when the general Australian public starts talking NFL this time of year, I just can't stand it when the media spends all their time crapping on about the Super Bowl Ads. WHO CARES ABOUT ADS?!?! There's arguably the biggest sporting event in the world being played and you want to talk about nikecokedonalds 30 sec clip that any true sports fan avoids to go grab another Dr Pepper. Ads, spare me Go Ravens! (on the bandwagon)
Sailosi
Guest
I've still got a bout of "Tebow Fever", the man just keeps on making me believe. Luv Ya Tim. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
sheek
Guest
"Jesus switched teams" - love it!
DumpStar
Roar Rookie
Thank god Tebow time is over. Be very interesting if he can correct his passing deficiencies over the off season. If not, will he be content to be converted to a fullback or TE? As for this weeks playoff games, cheering on for the Har-Bowl!