Tim Tebow: Popular & Polarizing
Outside the Lines (Sunday, 10 a.m. ET, ESPN2)
https://youtu.be/3mesLs0bDk0
To some, Tim Tebow is the greatest college football player of all time, winning two national championships, a Heisman trophy, and millions of faithful fans. To others, he’s grossly overrated, a glorified fullback with flawed mechanics, and no chance to make it as an NFL quarterback. Yet Tebow is even more controversial off the field where many view his Evangelical message as exclusionary. Tebow is defined not by how popular he is, but by how polarizing. Mark Schwarz reports.
“This could set people’s teeth on edge because either explicitly or implicitly, they’re told that they’re wrong, that they’re in the dark, and that they need to get with the program or something really bad is going to happen to them.” — Tom Krattenmaker, who writes about religion and public life for USA Today, on Tebow’s public preaching
“A lot of people would probably say, ‘Football is fourth in this list of your priorities?’ And, yeah, it is. My No. 1 priority would probably be my faith, my relationship with Jesus Christ.” — Tim Tebow
Arizona’s Dockett Describes Life-Changing Incidents
Sunday NFL Countdown (Sunday, 10 a.m. ESPN)
https://youtu.be/3NYvbCRFOXA
In just a four-month span at the age of 13, Arizona Cardinals’ Darnell Dockett’s life was changed forever. Upon returning from a 4th of July party, Dockett discovered his mother was murdered in their own home. Following his mother’s death, Dockett reunited with estranged his father, who would die within months from pancreatic cancer. Despite playing in three Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl, Dockett remains haunted by these incidents and forever affected by the losses. He talks about these events for the first time on television with Colleen Dominguez.
“We pulled up to the house, I get out, open the gate, go in the house. It was strange, because the first time I’d actually walked in the house I just felt like the wind hit me like something ain’t right. I took approximately six, seven steps, and I looked to the right and I saw my mom in the fetal position. There was blood on the wall. My body numbed. I just kind of like broke down. I was so scared.” – Darnell Dockett, Cardinals defensive end, on how he discovered the body of his murdered mother
NASCAR’s Knaus: From Sweeping Floors to Collecting Cups
NASCAR Countdown (Sunday, 1 p.m., ESPN)
https://youtu.be/Ekfr4oxoiJI
In racing, it’s not always about how you start, but how you finish. The same can be said for the career of the No. 48 car’s crew chief, Chad Knaus. At age 22, the Illinois native landed a job sweeping floors in the body shop of Jeff Gordon’s team at Hendrick Motorsports. After nearly a decade moving through the NASCAR ranks, Knaus got his first chance to be crew chief for a then-unknown driver named Jimmie Johnson. The five-time Sprint Cup-winning crew chief reveals how his success came on a long road, not an oval track.
“When I was in high school, I was working at a gear manufacturing facility and I was like, this isn’t for me. I want to go and try to do more. I remember walking into work and telling the guys, ‘Well, I’m leaving tomorrow,’ and they were like, ‘What do you mean you’re leaving?’ I said ‘Well, I’m moving to North Carolina to see if I can get a job in racing.’” — Chad Knaus
Jason Brown Recounts his Brother’s Death in Iraq
Monday Night Countdown (Monday, 7 p.m., ESPN)
Eight years ago, Rams center Jason Brown’s older brother Lunsford “Ducie” Brown, was killed in Iraq while serving in an Army intelligence unit. Rick Reilly talks with Brown about his brother’s death, the depression he faced, and the reminder of his brother that he keeps in his locker.
Stoops Family Coaching Tradition Clashes Saturday
College Gameday (Saturday, 10 a.m. ESPN)
https://youtu.be/e6-M5Yn29N8
Since Ron Stoops, Sr. died coaching high school football in Youngstown, Ohio nearly 25 years ago, his sons have all gone on to successful coaching careers. With Bob Stoops leading No. 1-ranked Oklahoma against No. 5 Florida State and defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, Tom Rinaldi reports on how they preserve their father’s memory and spread his legacy through the game they share.
“What he did, he loved, and in his eyes, he wasn’t working. And when he wasn’t playing ball, coaching ball was his passion.” – Bob Stoops, Oklahoma head coach, on his father, Ron Stoops, Sr.
“Bobby took off his Rose Bowl ring and buried it with his dad. I said, ‘Bobby, you will want that someday, you will have a son.’ He says, ‘No, I worked that hard probably because of Dad, and that’s where it belongs, Mom.'” — Dee Dee Stoops, wife of Ron Sr. and mother of Bob
Mexican De Leon a Detroit Olympic Hopeful Eyed by Steward
ESPN Deportes SportsCenter (Sunday, 11 a.m.)
https://youtu.be/U5rx6A1gpFQ
Mexican-born Erick De Leon came to America as an 8- year-old, and picked up boxing while living in Detroit with his family. A successful amateur career caught the attention of U.S. boxing which marked him a candidate for the 2012 Olympic team. However, his family never followed through on its initial attempt for citizenship, but now that De Leon finally secured his citizenship, he may not make the team. Renowned trainer Emanuel Steward of Detroit’s Kronk Gym has also noticed De Leon, claiming he’s one if his city’s best ever.
“I’ve been watching Erick De Leon since he was 10 years old. The amateur program in Detroit has never had a boxer as good as Erick — he has won more national championships than any boxer in the history of Detroit. He has a beautiful style, and most people expect him to be the next big superstar in boxing. The fact that he is born in Mexico makes it even better because the Mexican fans are the greatest in the world.” — Emanuel Steward, legendary Detroit boxing trainer
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