Former NFL and University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow's journey through minor league baseball in the Class A South Atlantic League with the Columbia Fireflies is attracting plenty of attention, and earning him even more fans, writes CBS's Jason La Canfora in a lengthy dive into Tebowmania on Friday.
Tebow and the Fireflies opened their four-game series in Hagerstown, Md., Thursday night, and La Canfora was there to document all the wildness that follows the team everywhere it goes. Fans show up early and line up around the block to get into small minor league stadiums accustomed to crowds less than 10% the size they see when Tebow comes to town.
Despite the circus-like atmosphere at times, La Canfora writes that Tebow seems to have quickly gained the respect of coaches and teammates. He’s hitting .225 with 3 home runs, and he’s the 8-hole hitter for a small Mets farm team, but La Canfora writes he’s working hard to improve across the board.
“’He don't leave me alone,’ La Canfora wrote, quoting Fireflies hitting coach Joel Fuentes. “'Hey Fuentes, let's go. Hey Fuentes, let's do this. Hey Fuentes, let's go work on this.' Sometimes you have to tell him, 'Hey, slow down, relax, and let's do everything that we're going to do as quality as can be. Not quantity.'”
About the Author
