When Tim Tebow wore John 3:16 on his eye black during Florida's 2009 BCS title game against Oklahoma, it resulted in 92 million Google searches to look up the meaning of the Bible verse.
Only Lance Armstrong and LeBron James were ahead of the ex-Florida quarterback.
When it comes to making a difference, former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is in heady company.
Tebow was recently ranked the third most influential athlete in the nation, according to a poll conducted by Encino (Calif.) E-Poll Market Research.
The poll was based on 1,100 respondents from throughout the nation ages 13 and up. Tebow scored 28 percent, behind seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong (32 percent) and NBA basketball icon LeBron James (also 28 percent, but slightly higher than Tebow).
Encino E-poll Market Research spokesman Randy Parker said Tebow's name was part of a poll that listed several high-profile national athletes. The poll then asked its respondents to check off 46 different attributes, ranging from total awareness to likability to influence.
Tebow scored 24 percent on total awareness, ahead of pro athletes such as Kevin Garnett (22 percent), Dwayne Wade (19 percent) and Albert Pujols (12 percent).
"For a guy who has yet to play a pro down to score as high as he did is pretty remarkable," Parker said of Tebow.
Tebow was drafted in the first round (25th overall) by the Denver Broncos in April. He will compete with Brady Quinn and Kyle Orton for the Broncos' starting quarterback job in preseason camp starting next week.
Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy and rushed for a school-record 57 touchdowns during his stellar four-year Florida career. But his influence spread beyond the football field.
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SOURCE: The Gainesville Sun
Kevin Brockway | brockwk@gvillesun.com
