One of the effects of the NBA lockout is that NBA stars like LeBron James have more time to watch SportsCenter and NFL Live, and more time to get worked up about the comments of television talking heads like Merrill Hoge. Hoge, the former Steelers running back who now speaks on television for ESPN, was assessing the Denver quarterback competition between Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow, and said on air of Tebow, “He is awful as far as accuracy goes and what’s kind of even more disturbing, he’s probably worse moving and running around with the football and throwing than he is from the pocket.”
He later tweeted, “Sitting watching tape off bronco offense from last year! Orton or Tebow? It’s embarrassing to think the broncos could win with tebow!!”
Enter LeBron, who knows a thing or two about attracting extreme criticism.
“Tim Tebow will succeed in the NFL,” James tweeted. “He’s a hard worker, a student of the game, a natural born leader and most of all a WINNER! It takes time and he’ll be nice.”
Later James wrote: “Listened to Merril Hoge today on SC and he was just blasting Tebow. The man hasn’t even play a full season and its only his 2nd year in. Guys get on that TV and act like they was all WORLD when they played. How bout encouraging him and wishing him the best instead of hating!!”
Yeah, don’t be a hater, Merrill. Your job is to spread roses and sunshine, to lie to yourself, your viewers and to ignore the facts. Silly announcer.