Brian Schmitz: Tim Tebow should try even more sports
Tim Tebow entered a new phase of his sporting life on Tuesday at a rather old age.
At 29, the former Florida Gators star quarterback auditioned in Los Angeles to become a baseball player, dragging his skills out of mothballs for major league scouts representing 28 teams. Next to try out was Taylor Swift.
OK, I’m kidding. But no other 29-year-old who hadn’t played baseball since his junior year in high school could have commanded this attention unless he also carried marketing possibilities.
His celebrity is outracing his credibility, to be sure. But he’s a terrific, caring citizen, so what’s the harm in him taking a few swings in his own one-man reality show?
A scout told ESPN at first glance that Tebow – who has been working with former big-leaguer Chad Moeller the past three months – had decent speed, a below-average outfield arm and good power. He also doesn’t always see the free safety.
According to reporters at the “Tim Tebow Showcase,” he sent eight batting-practice pitches over the fences, one shot estimated at 420 feet. He then built an orphanage.
Linebacker-sized at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds, he struggled against live pitching, reminding us just how great a two-sport star Bo Jackson really was. Still, Tebow’s agent said four to five teams showed interest.
There’s no reason for him to stop at baseball.
Here’s the other sports that maybe Tim can try, in alphabetical order:
Basketball: I don’t know if he can play hoops, but he connected on some nice jump passes at Florida. The Magic could replace Golden State as the NBA’s most popular and polarizing team if they signed Tebow.
Bobsleigh: Seriously, he should consider it. Herschel Walker made it to the ’92 Winter Olympics pushing a sled. Gators fans would weep seeing Timmy draped in red, white and blue.
Bowling: Tebow would have to throw strikes and, of course, skip the beer frame.
Boxing: He would rocket to heavyweight contender status overnight and break pay-per-view records. There surely would be a sizable fan base rooting for Tebow to get knocked out, led by FSU fans and atheists.
Hockey: Remember when the NHL had a glowing puck to make it easier to follow the game? Fans could just follow the aura around Tebow.
Lacrosse: Hey, Jim Brown played it, and was pretty good at football, too.
Pro wrestling: In the Age of the Kardashians, Tebow would sell out arenas. He’d be cast as a WWE good guy. But if turned into a stage villain, he’d require 24-7 security, even from cane-waving grandmothers.
Soccer: Put Tim in goal. He’s become a master deflecting shots directed at him.
Stock-car racing: If NASCAR allows Danica Patrick to just drive around and attract sponsors, putting Tebow behind the wheel is a no-brainer. Heck, Danica and Tim could car pool!
Track and field: I mean, if Tebow hired Caitlyn Jenner to train him for the 2020 Olympics, it would break the internet.