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'Tebowing' on the rise

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow kneels in silence before taking the field against the New York Jets in Denver on Nov. 17, 2011. UPI/Gary C. Caskey
Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow kneels in silence before taking the field against the New York Jets in Denver on Nov. 17, 2011. UPI/Gary C. Caskey | License Photo

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AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The Global Language Monitor in Texas said there has been a rapid rise in use of the term "Tebowing," meaning to take a prayerful knee during athletic activity.

The organization, which analyzes and catalogs word trends and their impact on culture, said "Tebowing," in the style of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, has risen at a speed similar to "Obamamania" in 2008.

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The Monitor said "Tebowing" was first mentioned Oct. 23 following a Denver game against the Miami Dolphins.

In that contest, Tebow, who often takes a knee in games, led the Broncos from 15 points behind in the closing minutes to an 18-15 overtime win.

"Sports have become significant generators of new cultural trends ... that transcend the athletic arena," said Paul JJ Payack, president and chief word analyst for the Global Language Monitor.

"The ESPN sports broadcasting network has widely championed the word. The tebowing.com Web site devoted to people posing in the 'Tebowing position' has been wildly popular. The New York Times has recently carried an editorial on the subject and the Chinese search engine Baidu.com already has hundreds of citations for Tebowing."

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