Tim Tebow Is A ‘Real Man’ Says Darryl Strawberry

Tim Tebow has received high praise from former MLB star Darryl Strawberry for sticking to his Christian beliefs.

Strawberry, who played 17 years in the big leagues and finished with 335 home runs, 1,000 RBI, and a.259 batting average, expressed his admiration for the New England Patriots backup quarterback and possible tight end because of the former University of Florida Heisman winner’s deep faith.

The outfielder won four World Series rings in his career, one with the New York Mets and three with the New York Yankees. Over the years, Strawberry has had various run-ins with the law, however, and has dealt with substance abuse, but is now apparently an ordained minister and an addiction counselor.

USA Today reports that Strawberry spoke highly of both Tebow and former Mets teammate Gary Carter who tragically died in February 2012 of brain cancer: “I wish I could have been like a Gary Carter or a Tim Tebow when I was playing and have Christ in my life the way I do today. When Carter left here, he left here as a right man, a righteous man, who lived his life right. He loved his faith.”

Added Strawberry: “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. 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. I admire him more than he could ever imagine.”

The 2013 New England Patriots training camp opens on July 26.

What do you think about Darryl Strawberry being a big fan of Tim Tebow?