45 Million Viewers Watched Tebow’s TD Pass in OT for Denver Victory Over Steelers

Tim Tebow … a network ratings dream …

Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow is not only a “miracle worker” on the football field, he is a ratings bonanza for the networks. As Tebow was throwing an 80 yard catch and run pass to Demaryius Thomas in OT to defeat Pittsburgh 29-13 and throwing for 316 yards … CBS ratings went off the charts as a reported 45 million looked on.It was the highest rated AFC Wild card game since 1988 receiving a 25.9 rating.

The television ratings for Broncos-Steelers could provide a clue: The game pulled in a whopping 25.9 rating for CBS, becoming the highest-rated AFC wild-card game since 1988. (That was 24 years ago, pre-Internet and before a majority of Americans had cable or satellite.) Variety estimates 45 million people watched Tebow’s touchdown pass in overtime.

As fate would have it John Ourand of Sports Business Journal reports that the final quarter-hour television rating for the Broncos-Steelers game was, you guessed it, 31.6. You just can’t make this stuff up.

Can you imagine what the ratings will be when Tebow and the Broncos visit Foxboro, MA on Saturday night to play Tom Brady and the New England Patriots this weekend? This will be off the charts.

Green Bay Packers Offensive Coordinator’s Son Michael T. Philbin Missing 1/8/12 in Oshkosh, WI (UPDATE: Body Found in River ID’d as Michael T. Philbin)

Michael T. Philbin, the 21 year old son of the Green Bay Packers offensive Coordinator, has been missing since Sunday, January 8, 2012 in Oshkosh, WI. His last known communication was at 2 a.m. Sunday … “He talked to a friend, he didn’t sound like he was under duress or he had any medical condition.” Philbin has not been heard from since.

Authorities in Oshkosh, Wis., were searching for the 21-year-old son of Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin yesterday, a day after he was reported missing following a night out with friends.

Michael T. Philbin was last heard from around 2 a.m. Sunday. Oshkosh Police spokesman Joseph Nichols said one of Michael Philbin’s friends reported him missing at 8:15 p.m. Sunday.

UPDATE I: Police report that they pulled the body of a young man between the ages of 20 and 25 out of the Fox River in Oshkosh Monday afternoon, but have not provided any identification.

UPDATE II: Reports are surfacing that the body discovered in the Fox River was that of missing Michael Philbin. NFL.com is reporting that there is confirmation that the body discovered in the Fox River was that of missing Michael Philbin.

Mile High Miracle … Tim Tebow Does it Again, Wild Card Win, Denver Beats Steelers 29-23 with OT Victory

Its time to give Tim Tebow his due, whether you love him or are a hater, what Tebow did yesterday no one could have predicted. The Denver Broncos shocked the sports world and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-23 in OT.

Does it pay to give the honor and glory to God? You make the call … you think its a coincidence that Tebow threw for 3:16yards? Call it a coincidence or divine intervention, what are the chances that Tebow throw for 316 yards and has a QB rating of 125.6?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

No one but no one gave the Denver Broncos a chance against the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers and their top ranked defense. As a matter of fact, the first quarter of yesterdays Wild Card match up between Denver and Pittsburgh looked like what may had predicted. Denver and the Tebow lead offense looked offensive with gaining less than 10 yards.

What happened next was simply amazing.  The Broncos actually started to take it to the Steelers and in many respects got hosed by the refs in the second half with an obvious pass behind the line of scrimmage that should have been called a lateral, a fumble and the Broncos taking the ball at the Steeler 19 yard line. What happened next was the Steelers driving the field for a TD.

The game goes into OT and many figured that the Tebow magic was gone and the Steelers would outlast the Broncos for the win. The rest is what we call history …

What will be referred to in Denver as “The Slant … the Skinny Post or the Mile High Miracle”, the first play of OT Tebow connected with WR  Demaryius Thomas on a trilling 80-yard touchdown. The sell out crowd at  Sports Authority Field at Mile High erupted in celebration … the legend of Tebow is alive and well in Denver.

Facing the Giants was a movie … Tim Tebow is Living It

What was predicted by many as Tim Tebow’s last game at the Denver QB as so many said, he can’t do it, he is no good and he can’t win. To the nay sayers of Tebow, he does not care what you think. There is a reason why this kid does what is does and is able to pull off these shocking results. No, God may not necessarily interject him self  in sporting events. I would tend to believe that he has more important big picture things to do. However,  Tebow believes that with a positive attitude, belief and giving the glory to God whether one wins or loses … to borrow a line from Facing the Giant’s … Give God your best … With God on your side, all things are possible.

Sports Athletes Who Died in 2011 … Harmon Killebrew, Macho Man Randy Savage, Bubba Smith, Al Davis and Joe Fraizer to Name a Few: REST IN PEACE

In Memoriam …

Sadly we lost some real icons in the world of sports this year. Among some who died were MLB Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, WWE Pro-wrestling great Randy “Macho Man” Savage, NFL football greats Bubba Smith, Chester McGlockton, Dave Duerison, Ollie Matson and John Macky, PGA golfing legend Seve Ballesteros, Oklahoma State women’s basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna, NFL icon Al Davis and Boxing great Smokin Joe Frazier.

VIDEO

No death was probably more tragic than the terrible Indy car crash and the death of race car driver Dan Wheldon at the season-ending Las Vegas Indy 300. Weldon was just 33 years of age.

Sadly, boxing great and former heavy weight champion of the world, Smokin’ Joe Frazier passed away at age 67 after to battle with liver cancer.

The NFL lost its Commitment to Excellence … NFL Oakland Raider Owner Al Davis Dies at Age 82 … JUST WIN BABY!!!

More athletes who passed in 2011 can be seen here at Sports Illustrated. What is the most tragic thing after  reviewing the far many athletes who died in 2011 was sadly the amount who died due to suicide.

When Technology Goes Wrong … SkyCam Camera Comes Crashing to Ground During Insight Bowl Between Iowa & Oklahoma

The sky is falling, the sky is falling … nope, it’s SkyCam crashing to the ground, barely missing players …

During last nights Insight Bowl in Tempe, AZ in the 4th quarter, the SkyCam came crashing to the field nearly hitting one of the Iowa players, wide receiver Martin McNutt Jr. SkyCam looked more like Sky Lab crashing to the ground circa 1979.  ESPN apologized for the accident, “We will work with them and bowl officials to determine our future course of action. As always our primary concern will be the safety of fans and those on the field.” I can’t imagine what the post production meeting must have been like following the game.

Announcer says a Soviet Satellite falling out of the sky … glad no one was injured, that is no small piece of eqwuipment

Flying cameras have been providing unique perspectives on everything from golf to college and professional football for more than a decade, becoming so commonplace that fans rarely notice the whizzing remote-controlled devices.

At the Insight Bowl on Friday night, no one could miss the overhead camera when it came crashing down to the field late in the fourth quarter, nearly taking out one of the players.

The ESPN camera narrowly missed Iowa receiver Martin McNutt Jr., who became entangled in the guide wire but wasn’t hurt.

BTW,  the Oklahoma Sooners beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 31-14.

GIANTS TAKE MANHATTAN … Giants Brandon Jacobs Tells NY Jets Coach Rex Ryan, “Time to shut up, fat boy!” & “shut the F@#K up”

Jets coach Rex Ryan told,  ”Time to shut up, fat boy!”

I can remember during my informative football years my coach told me two life lessons, “pretend like you’ve been there” and “let your actions talk for your mouth”. Too bad NY Jets coach Rex Ryan and Giants RB Brandon Jacobs didn’t both learn those same lessons …

Yesterday following the NFL battle of New York, or should we say New Jersey, as the Giants dominated the Jets winning 29 – 14,  Jacobs deciding to do a bit more talking than the Giants did on the field telling Jets coach Rex Ryan,  ”Time to shut up, fat boy” & “shut the F@#K up”.

Per the (New York) Daily News, Jacobs also sent a “shut the (expletive) up” to Rex, who reportedly countered with “go (expletive) himself.”

Ryan’s take from his postgame press conference when asked about Jacobs?

“We had a private conversation. That’s all I’ll leave it as,” he said.

“He doesn’t like me. I respect him, but I couldn’t care less about him.”

JETS post game press conference.

This is not the first time Rex Ryan has had a potty mouth. Actually, it happens often and it is old. However, when that’s all ya got, what else would one say?

Honestly, at this point its time for Ryan to eat some humble pie.  Although both sides are in the wrong on this, what else does one expect this to come to when Jet’s coach Rex Ryan has been all mouth and no game pretty much all year. Of course that is Ryan’s shtick, but his act has grown old and tired. Especially when his team has rarely backed up his big mouth this year. The Jets were supposed to win the Super Bowl, maybe they should have started that be beating the Patriots, who they lost to twice this year by embarrassing scores of 30 – 21 and  37 – 16 .  The Jets were so hellbent this year to beat the Pats and win the AFC East that they forgot one thing, to win the games.

Although it was not Brandon Jacobs place to tell Ryan to put a sock in it, maybe it is time for him to do so. For the media, NY Sports talk radio and ESPN Rex Ryan is a gold mine, for those that say “SHUT UP AND PLAY”, he is a fool. Sorry, but even Jets fans must be tired of his act.

Cincinnati Bengals Jerome Simpson Head Over Heals Touchdown Flip … Even the Russian Judge Gave a 9.9

HEAD OVER HEALS IN CINCINNATI …

Not only was this the highlight play of the NFL weekend, it might have been the best of the year. Cincinnati Bengals WR Jerome Simpson scored a TD as he flipped into the end zone. The flip was great enough, but he sticks the landing. Even the Russian judge gave the US athlete a 9.9.  Simply amazing, Nadia, Olga, Mary Lou would be proud and for the younger generations, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liuken gave a  thumbs up as well. The only thing that was missing from Simpson’s flip was a lay-out tsukahara.  The Bengals defeated the Arizona Cardinals 23-17 to keep their playoff chances alive.

A Note on Tim Tebow and #TEBOWING … This Isn’t the First Time We Have Seen This, Remember Notre Dame’s Rocket Ismail … Praising God Should Always be En Vogue

TEBOW MANIA … Tim Tebow and “Tebowing” has become all the rage; however, this is not the first time we have seen this. In the end, is it so terrible to have role models we can be proud of. The answer is no!

Let me first say, I am a Tebow fan. Not because I am a Denver Bronco fan, just the opposite. I am a life-long Patriot fan and have been a Tom Brady fan for years. Which happens to be the over-hyped NFL game of the week and all that every one is talking about. Can Tebow beat Tom Terrific? Honestly, I doubt it. I can’t see the game being so close in the 4th quarter, Tebow time, when playing an offense like that what the Pats put on the field. Although, what I learned from the NE Patriots perfect season year and loss to the Giants in the Super Bowl, anything can happen.

That being said, what Tim Tebow is doing and what he brings to the NFL is refreshing. The fact that there are haters to Tebow is a bit disconcerting. What is there really not to like about Tim Tebow? From all accounts he appears to be a good Christan kid, humble, has his priorities correct and has a faith in himself and in his God. Seriosuly, what could be wrong with that? Isn’t this what the NFL has been looking for … a clutch player that makes headlines on the field, not in the police blotter.

I know we live in the 24-7-365 social media age; however, a note to the youth of America and a reminder to the MSM … Tebowing is not new. Many athletes during post game interviews give praise to God before they answer any sports reporting question. That being said, for all you too young to remember, you can watch it on Youtube. In the late 80′s there was a NCAA college football player known as “the Rocket”. Raghib Ismail was “Tebowing” for Tebowing was in. In fact, the Rocket did not always wait until the fourth quarter to get down on one knee and thank God.

Check out after the Rocket scores … looks a bit like “Tebowing”

The Rocket went to his knees twice in this game against Rice, although his first TD post knee prayer, he was swarmed under by fellow Irish players.

The fact of the matter is that Tim Tebow has great faith in himself and faith in his God. Win or lose, Tebow praises God. I often wonder why people have bad things to say about this, this actions or his faith. Of course the MSM including the ESPN’s of the world are blowing this all out of proportion. Tim Tebow has great faith in himself and his Awesome God. For those that would have a problem with such qualities need to maybe figure out what is lacking in their lives. When I look at Tebow, I think of the movie “Facing the Giant” and the message for it. The struggling coach asks, “what is the purpose of this football team”. A player responds, “winning football games”.  Coach Grant then says, “winning football games is just too small a thing to live for. [...] we need to give God our best in every area. And if we win, we praise him and if we lose we praise him”.

It is not Tim Tebow who is making this about Tebow, that is the media.  In the end, what could ever be wrong with praising God and understanding that there is something greater in the universe than you? All too many need to embrace this, including many of our political leaders.

“NO TEBOWING ZONE” … Two Riverhead High School Students Suspended for Tebow”ing”

Who knew that a high school hallway was a “No Tebowing” zone. Educators really need to get educated.

How on Earth have we got to the point where high school kids get suspended for “Tebowing”? In a world where high school kids are smoking, drinking, sexting, puffing, bullying, hazing, harassing, cursing, assaulting, raping, cheating and doing drugs to name just a few … the brain surgeon administrators at Riverhead High School in Long Island, NY suspended students for “Tebowing” in the hallway.

No running in the halls — and no Tebowing either.

That’s what one Long Island administration said Wednesday when it suspended a group of high school athletes for replicating Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow’s popular pose in the hallway at school.

Jordan Fulcoly, Wayne Drexel and brothers Tyler and Connor Carroll of Riverhead High School were all handed a one-day suspension Wednesday, after three days of taking a knee with their foreheads resting on their fists, the same way Tebow does in the end zone and on the sidelines. The news was first reported by Yahoo! Prep Rally earlier Thursday.

Riverhead superintendent Nancy Carney said that two of the students’ suspensions were later rescinded, citing that administrators found that those students were not given the same warnings that the other two were.

Seriously folks, they were “Tebowing” … not smoking in the boys room. They students who were suspended stated it was an over-reaction by the school and that they were honoring Tim Tebow, who they look to as a role model. Tebow is a winner, a leader and a role model who doen’s do steroids and has great faith. Yup, that’s exactly what needs to be punished.

Just curious, If Elly Manning of the NY Giants or Mark Sanchez of the Jets were  going to one knee, would the Long Island high school gone to this extreme? Better yet, if they were Muslim students praying to Mecca, would suspensions have been warranted?

People need to get a grip … in this day and age high school age kids need all the decent, honorable role models they can get. In the words of one of the suspended school students, “I think they screwed up”. AGREED!

Good Grief … NCAA Basketball Goes Thug Life & Gangsta … Cincinnati – Xavier Turns into Brawl … Suspend Them All

WHAT A TOTAL DISGRACE … IS THIS WHAT NCAA BASKETBALL HAS BECOME … GANGSTA THUG LIFE?

What has always been a tough fought NCAA basketball rivalry, yesterday the Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier Musketeers basketball teams embarrassed themselves, their respective schools and NCAA basketball. The game got called with 9.4 seconds remaining in the second half when an all out, ugly brawl began that had been simmering throughout.  Technically the game did not end and honestly the NCAA should disqualify both teams from any victory and suspend the players involved for the season.

Xavier’s senior All-America guard Tu Holloway readily admitted afterward that he was taunting Cincinnati players and coaches in front of Cincinnati’s bench, as the clock wound down. What ensued was a basketball brawl as ugly as any in memory. At one point, Xavier center Kenny Frease emerged from the pile on all fours, blood dripping from a gash below his left cheek, courtesy of a punch thrown by Cincinnati forward Yancy Gates.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS? FOLKS, THIS AIN’T THE HOOD!

What might have been more disgraceful than the actions that took place at the end of the game, punches, fighting and kicking that took place was the comments made by the players in the post game conference. Some of the players actually defended their thug behavior. NICE. With no due respect to Tu Holloway, you acted like nothing more than gangstas and thugs and with your comments afterwords probably do not even belong in college. As reported from SI.com:

“We’re grown men over here,” Holloway explained. “We got a whole bunch of gangsters in the locker room. Not thugs, but tough guys on the court.”

When asked why he taunted the Cincinnati bench and thus had a big hand in inciting the fracas, Holloway said he had been “disrespected.” It was a reference to Cincinnati guard Sean Kilpatrick saying during a local radio interview Thursday that he was better than Holloway, and that Holloway would not start on Cincinnati’s team.

“This is my city,” Holloway explained. “I’m cut from a different cloth. None of them guys on their team is like me. We got disrespected. Maybe it looked bad to you (media), but this is what I’m used to. This is where I’m from. This wasn’t bad.”

Disrespected. Are you serious? Just how much disrespect do you think you did to your university and NCAA college basketball? There should not be suspensions, there should be expulsions from the team and the college. The only individual this any perspective, pride or honor was Cinnicati coach Mick Cronin who stated he had never been more embarassed in his life, “I have never been this embarrassed in my entire career. It’s a complete embarrassment. Toughness is doing the right thing. … If my players don’t act the right way, they will never play another game at Cincinnati.”

The gutless Xavier coach Chris Mack took a more measured approach as he certainly would not want to affect the ranking of his top 10 Xavier team over something as trivial as sportsmanship and acting according to NCAA rules.

I’m not in a position to be a decision maker,” said Mack by phone from the Cintas Center. “We’ll address the situation and see what our conference feels is necessary. The bigger thing is that our kids in this situation need to learn how to handle themselves and not let that happen again.

“No one wanted the game to end like that. We wanted to have our seniors celebrate the Crosstown Shootout.”

It’s too bad these punks actually take the “Crosstown Shootout” literally. Had these thugs done this in another setting rather than a basketball court, they would have been arrested and charged with assault. “Zip ‘em up”, eh? These player need to be reminded what their lives would be like if not for an opportunity to play college ball.

College basketball better take a real goo look at this and act accordingly. The NCAA and universities have done enough over the years with taking a blind eye to bad and criminal behavior. If you want March Madness and your ratings to go away and look like the NBA … Keep it up. This was truly shameful and there best be severe consequences to these actions. One and two game suspensions is no answer.