Cookies, Credit, and the Bare Minimum of Fatherhood

Today’s blog starts with a little trip back in time before we get to the now-viral image of Tim Tebow holding his newborn.

If you’re my age (46), you probably remember Chris Rock in his prime. On his (I think) 1995 Bring the Pain tour, Rock went on a rant about how you don’t get credit for doing things you are supposed to do. (In his voice: “What you want, a cookie? You’re not supposed to go to jail. You’re SUPPOSED to take care of your kids.”) Here’s the clip.

This Tebow picture SCREAMS that to me. And to be fair — he didn’t add the caption gushing about “humanizing fatherhood” or telling everyone to “get married, have kids.” But the way this is framed is the same tone I hear from a lot of MRA (men’s rights activist) circles: Look at this man doing something “unmanly” like holding his child — what a hero!

Tim Tebow is a dad. The least he can do is hold his damn child for a bit each day. And yes, shockingly (tongue firmly in cheek), he can look at a laptop screen at the same time.

As coaches, this image can be a conversation starter. Cover up the tweet caption, show just the picture, and ask: “What do you see?” Let players talk about the positives — loving your child, being present — while also surfacing and dismantling the manbox tropes that might come up: “Where’s his wife?” or “He should be out making money.”

Sometimes the most valuable conversation is the one that reveals which parts of the “default” narrative still need unlearning.

Coach Prompt:
Show your players the photo without the caption. Ask, “What do you see?” Listen for the full range of responses — both affirmations of fatherhood and any manbox-driven takes. Then unpack where those perceptions come from and what they reinforce.

Player Prompt:
When you picture being a father in the future, what’s something you want to be known for that isn’t about making money or physical strength? Why would that matter to your kids?