‘Tebowing’ – a bow to faith or a mockery of someone’s religion?

Finally, just so you know we’ve sifted carefully through many candidates for the Just You Wait series, a quick note on one that didn’t make the cut.

“Tebowing.”

That’s the fad of people suddenly dropping to one knee, with one hand to the forehead, pretending to pray in public places in the manner of the Denver Broncos’ pious quarterbacking sensation, Tim Tebow. On Facebook, you can now see about 8 gazillion photos of people Tebowing.

The practice is controversial.  Some see it as merely a good-natured takeoff on the antics of an athlete who’s captured the imagination of many sports fans.  Others see it as snark disrespect for the obviously sincere Christian faith of this young man.

Whichever side you’re on, the debate has grown tiresome and the joke stale.

Tebowing, we concluded, has already jumped the shark.

(“Jump the shark,” by the way, is a catchphrase that dates to 1998. Harkening back to a notorious episode of Happy Days, it refers to the moment when a show, a person or a fad passes its peak and becomes ridiculous or irrelevant. )

Sorry, Tebowing, your 15 minutes are over. And, sorry, Tim, despite your jaw-dropping heroics last Sunday in the Broncos’ upset wildcard game win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, no Super Bowl this year for you and the Broncos.