Are you ready for Tim Tebow, the man, the legend...the law?
Tom Brady may be married to a supermodel who makes more than he does. Peyton Manning may have a new, bionic neck and enough money to buy his own island nation, but leave it to the New York Jets' Tim Tebow to outdo both of them...while still being a backup quarterback.
Thanks to U.S. Sen. Shadrack McGill of Alabama, Tebow's star will become a bit more divine as the Tim Tebow Act aka SB 186 makes its way through the legislative process. It would allow home-schooled kids the right to participate in public-school sports. It was named after Tim Tebow because (of the notoriety and instant attention?) the home-schooled star quarterback was able to not only compete in, but win a championship for Nease High School thanks to a 1996 Florida law allowing it.
According to AL.com, Sen. McGill has sponsored similar bills before, only to see them die in committee. While some would argue against home-schooled kids being able to participate in school sports, supporters argue that it should be allowed since whether a kid's home-schooled or not, they pay taxes that support their local schools regardless. Twenty-nine other states have similar laws allowing home-schoolers to play sports. The law would not allow home-schooled kids to participate in clubs and other organizations.
Once again, the chess club cartel flexes its muscle.
Of course, politics like the public's love of Tebow has never been fully about making sense. This case is no different. McGill's bill barely cleared a Senate committee recently 3-2, but that was down party lines with Republicans in favor and Democrats against.
Come on, guys. How can you vote against a Tim Tebow law? That's like voting against free pizza or Saturdays.
The Tim Tebow Act has cleared it's first hurdle, but others remain and not just from democrats. It also has to get by opposition from the Alabama High School Athletics Association. Senate Minority Leader Vivian Figures (Dem-Mobile) opposed the law on grounds that home-schoolers think they're above their public school counterparts.
"If the public school system is not good enough for your children or home-school children to go to on a full-time basis and have the whole experience, why is it good enough for extracurricular programs?" said Figures. She's also cited an unfair advantage by the home-schoolers since they'd have more practice time at home.
Do you think the law is fair?