MLB legend Darryl Strawberry said he's an admirer of New England Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow, adding he wished he could have been like the backup quarterback during his playing career.
Strawberry, who's now an ordained minister, said Tebow is a "real man" because he remains firm in his faith as a Christian despite the criticisms he's gotten from some of the public.
"I look at Tebow. He gets bashed because of his faith. Let 'em laugh. Let 'em talk. He's a greater man than anyone who might be greater than him as an athlete. He's a real man," Strawberry said in an interview with USA Today on Thursday.
"He gets challenged about his faith all of the time, but he never wavers because of opinions, or what the media is writing about him. His reward later on in life is going to be even greater because he stood in the midst of everybody criticizing him being a Christian and playing sports at the same time."
Known for his addiction to drugs during his baseball career, Strawberry said he really admires the character of Tebow "more than he could ever imagine."
Strawberry played for 17 seasons in the MLB, winning four World Series titles (one with the New York Mets and three with the New York Yankees) in his career. A fan favorite, Strawberry was selected into the All-Star team eight times and named homerun champion in 1988.
Meanwhile, UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman made an appearance on ESPN's show "First Take" to campaign for a spot as the Patriots' backup signal-caller.
Apparently, the man who ended Anderson Silva's reign in the UFC is a hardcore Tebow fan, who really admires the quarterback's ability to pull off victories despite not having the kind of throwing efficiency required for a standard NFL quarterback.
Here's the video of Weidman debating with the notably anti-Tebow Stephen A. Smit.