There is no tougher dilemma for a sports fan than when a national storyline overlaps with a team that carries a rooting interest.

That was the case for me on Sunday, when my Oregon Ducks were looking for a 3-1 Pac-12 start in men’s hoops at the same time Tim Tebow was looking to shut the mouths of sports know-it-alls around the country by moving on in the AFC playoffs against the Pittsburgh Stealers.

I used the “last” button for most of the night, flipping back and forth between Cal’s domination of Oregon and Tebow’s uncanny ability to go from horrifically inept to football demigod all in the course of one series. But as the Denver-Pittsburgh game came down the stretch, despite loathing both organizations as any true Seahawks fan does, I couldn’t look away.

And that is the essence of Tebowmania.

Opinions vary on everything from the validity of his religious fervor to the poorly executed fundamentals of his throwing motion. Just as they should. As important as third-down execution, free throw percentage or the advanced baseball metric of BABIP (batting average on balls in play) are, each ceases to remain relevant when no one is talking about them.

Argument is what makes sports great and it’s tough to remember a figure that has inspired as much debate as Tebow.

Most often, at least some common ground exists on even the most divisive sports figures. Dennis Rodman was a hated figure outside the cities he played in, but no one can deny his presence on the boards. Powerful people argued about whether or not Doug Flutie could carry a team, but no one questioned his character.

Few if any of Tebow’s detractors changed their opinion after the wild card round win. It’s similarly unlikely that any of his supporters will jump off the bandwagon if the Broncos are unable to get past Tom Brady and New England this weekend.

Everyone has an opinion on basically everything Tebow does and is willing to defend it passionately, even if that means throwing common sense out the window. Maybe it’s the unpredictability he brings, or the way he sports his emotions on his shoulder pad, but there’s something about Tebow that makes him impossible to ignore.

When Denver has the ball, some will irrationally cheer for a team they have no connection to or even possibly once despised. Others will wait for Tebow to misfire on a throw or fumble the ball, ready to spring to their feet exuberantly at a moment’s notice.

No one is on the fence when it comes to Tebow and everyone will have one thing in common: they will all be watching.

For the love of the game is a Bellevue Reporter column by sportswriter Josh Suman. Email Josh at jsuman@bellevuereporter.com