Tim Tebow not happy about 'Tebowing' being brought into national anthem protests debate

Josh Peter | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Tim Tebow blasts home run in first Class AA at-bat Tim Tebow made a splash in his debut with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, connecting on the first pitch of his first at-bat for a three-run home run.

TRENTON, N.J. — Tim Tebow said he has never knelt during the national anthem and he’s disappointed that his so-called “Tebowing’’ has been misrepresented.

“I think that’s sometimes one of the things that’s a little bit sad is sometimes people will just try to create something that had zero truth,’’ Tebow said Friday before the New York Mets’ Double-A affiliate, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, were set to play the Trenton Thunder. “I never did anything during a national anthem but stand and support my country. And then stories can get written and they can get put out of proportion so that you believe one thing when you’re asking me a question that was nothing that was part of the truth.’’

Tebow, in his second season playing minor league baseball for the Mets, said it was important to go back to the facts about why he knelt.

“A lot of people even think it was a touchdown celebration,’’ he said. “I never did it to celebrate a touchdown. I did it from my sophomore year in high school all the way through the NFL, that before and after games I would get on a knee to thank my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, and also put things into perspective. …

“It was never something I did to take away from somebody else. It was just something I did with a personal relationship with my God. So I think that’s just sometimes disappointing when things get taken away from the truth and then it’s just created into whatever somebody wants it to be.’’

Tebow also shared his opinion about NFL players who have protested during the national anthem.

“I think when people believe in something and they stand for that, I don’t knock them for that,’’ he said. “Even if I agree with some or disagree with some, I appreciate it when people have convictions and they stand for that.

“I think it’s important how we do that as well. So I think there’s a lot of players that I’m friends with that have been on both sides and I understand it and I think what’s more important is to know their heart and where they’re coming from and where the conviction stands in their heart and what they really want to share.’’

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