All Tim Tebow and Kobe Bryant have in common is winning.
So remind us again: How much does character really count on the scoreboard?
As a rookie quarterback for the Broncos, Tebow is the sweet personification of the Cub Scout Promise.
As the unquestioned leader of the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant embraces his on-court persona as the deadly Black Mamba.
So let’s ask: What’s nice got to do with finishing first?
Evangelism through eye black defines Tebow. He painted Bible verses on his face before taking the field to play football for the Florida Gators.
A piece of ice big enough to sink the Titanic haunts Bryant. When declaring his innocence against a sexual assault charge in 2003, it was his wife’s 8-karat diamond ring, valued at $4 million, which made cynical eyes roll.
So can we challenge the biggest myth in sports: Does the heart of a champion always beat pure and true?
The NBA Finals, which begin tonight on the same television network that brings us “Desperate Housewives,” has a nagging problem more troublesome than the fact this championship round has been upstaged by free agent LeBron James starring in basketball’s version of “The Bachelor.”
And the problem is: The leading man in the NBA Finals is about as cuddly as a snake.
Bryant is capable of treating a teammate (see: O’Neal, Shaquille) with the same contempt he normally reserves for referees who give No. 24 all the calls anyway, despite the incessant whining. Sure, you can hang an Olympic gold medal from his neck and acknowledge he was found guilty of nothing except adultery in Colorado, but rooting for Bryant to win his fifth championship ring is like diving off a BP oil rig. You’re going to feel slimy.
As the Broncos conduct auditions for starting quarterback in a casting call that also includes Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn and Tom Brandstater, there is a problem, because coach Josh McDaniels has an undeniable rooting interest when he attempts to evaluate the candidates.
And the problem is: This competition to be the quarterback in Denver will ultimately be rigged in favor of Tebow.
The son of Christian missionaries in the Philippines, Tebow was born to be a role model. Far beyond the athletic feats of winning national titles or the Heisman Trophy with the Gators, Tebow is a 22-year-old man any father would be proud for his own son to emulate. Anybody who dislikes Tebow probably also has a thing against apple pie. The Vince Lombardi Trophy, however, is not awarded on the basis of clean living and smart choices. Or else how could we explain why Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has already won the Super Bowl twice?
If your desire is to feel good about wearing a replica jersey of a famous athlete to the mall, then give me Tebow over Bryant every time.
But if you need one player to make a difference on a team, Bryant beats Tebow all week long and twice on Sunday.
A test of character is finding a wallet containing $1,000 cash and two credit cards in a dark parking lot.
Character credentials are what Saint Peter wants to see flashed at the Pearly Gates. But, as Hall of Fame football coach John Madden once said, the road to Easy Street goes through the sewer.
Nobody in sports can get down and dirty like Bryant. He is a cold-hearted killer with the game on the line.
Launching a 20-foot jump shot at the buzzer with your team trailing by one point or threading a 40-yard pass while spitting at the danger of a blitz are testaments to hard work, focus and toughness.
But, for goodness sakes, what does being a Cub Scout or a Black Mamba have to do with winning?
Absolutely nothing.
Mark Kiszla: 303-954-1053 or mkiszla@denverpost.com
