Nice.
With his unconventional pass delivery and a physical style that seems just as comfortable running the ball anyway, some wonder if University of Florida star quarterback Tim Tebow will achieve NFL glory. But football fans just may get to see the story of the Heisman Trophy winner and unapologetic Christian impact the pro sport’s biggest game of the year.
Colorado-based conservative group Focus on the Family reportedly may buy a Super Bowl spot for an ad about how Tebow’s mother carried him to term despite a difficult and dangerous pregnancy.
Sure, the underlying politics may be different, but ultimately, this is exploitation cut from the same crassly cynical cloth as Clay Travis’ “are you saving yourself for marriage” presser question. (And I’ve no doubt that if this ad ever sees the light of day, Tebow will handle the media attention over it with as much aplomb as he did Travis.)
In a way, it’s even a little worse, because it’s not just about tweaking Tebow’s image to score a few cheap hey-look-at-me points. It’s about using the kid to bash a few others.
… If true, it would be just another example of Tebow annoying the secular left. The quarterback is as famous for wearing Bible passage citations on his game-day eye black as for winning an NCAA championship. As NewsBusters has detailed, that practice – and the faith it symbolizes – is irksome to some commentators.
… The elite liberals at the Huffington Post and elsewhere in the media are embarrassed that Tebow insists on publicly testifying to his faith and using his high profile to exercise his Christian duty to evangelize.
Yeah, because everybody knows that the bad ol’ media are always picking on the sincerely devout in college football.
Get The Picture 
Speaking of the eye black, I can’t understand why this is irksome for some people. Just don’t pay attention to it. At the age of about 10 we all learned to ignore people when they bother us.
Speaking of the commercial that may air, I’d say I have trouble with that, only because I’m not sure what purpose is serves, other than making women who have lost pregnencies due to ectopic implantation feel really really horrible.
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If it tweaks the left, good for Timmy.
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As a Christian, I’m somewhat conflicted. I can appreciate that Tebow is proud to be a disciple. However, I’ve always understood the view of a non-Christian, constantly having Tebow and his Bible passages rammed down my throat – “See how cool we are? We’ve got Tebow!”
As for the pro-life message, I’m really surprised they would even go there.
The pious, it annoys.
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I’m reluctant to defend Timmy under any circumstances, but I really don’t have a problem with this. As for the critics, if Tebow was doing a global warming ad or telling everyone not to eat meat, these same shitheads would do backflips.
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Read the article carefully. Tebow’s not doing the ad. Focus on the Family is using his mother’s pregnancy to make a point.
I’ve got no problem if TT wants to proselytize – free country, First Amendment and all that. And it wouldn’t be worth commenting on, because I’m sure if he did that, it would be a sincere position on his part.
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Left-winger here. Though I eat meat. A lot.
If Tebow was doing a global warming ad, I’d do backflips…straight to the remote control to change the friggin channel.
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In situations like this, I always ask myself what people would do if the opposite was happening.
Would people be ok with some famous players mother touting pro-choice? Of course not. People would be revolting. And screaming bloody murder.
So, if you like this idea, just say so. There is no need to play passive agressively stupid and act like people should ignore this and not pay attention, especially since you and all of your fans would be losing it if the shoe was on the other foot
oh, btw, I am Pro-Life. I just accept that others disagree w/ me and won’t change in their views, much like my own side.
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The only thing I agree with is your headline.
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Assuming that the point of the add would be something like “Hey, before you get that abortion, consider the fact that this young man’s mother was in a similar position … and look how well everything turned out,” I don’t have a problem with this at all. Nor do I think it would really amount to a reprehensible form of exploitation.
Of course, I’d still roll my eyes at it. But only because that’s my knee-jerk response to ANYTHING that involves Tim Tebow.
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But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
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1 Peter 3:15
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Who you going with the Lord or Peter???
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When I’m feeling a little down, I always go with Dr. Pepper
10:2:4
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The Lord is the Word (John 1:1-4). “Red letter words” are no more authoritative than the others, every word of the Bible is the inspired word of God, otherwise the whole thing is useless. So the “who you going with the Lord or Peter???” question is redundant: it’s better to ask, “are you going with the Lord?”
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What’s the point of the Matt 6:6 reference? It’s an instruction for prayer. This is not a discussion about prayer.
Unless of course it’s supposed to imply that Christians are to keep their faith to themselves, which is obviously false.
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Maybe it’s me… no, I’m sure it’s just me…
But Tebow’s time in utero and subsequent time being fellated by the entirety of college football announcers/writers/etc. for four years is not exactly the ideal selling point that FotF thinks it is.
He should really do PETA ads, because every time he is mentioned in the media, it makes me want to kick a puppy…
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As a strict Jehovah Bystander I cannot take a stance on this issue.
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Why can’t Focus on the Family leave Tim’s Mommy alone!
Is it because all but one of the abortionists in the country have been assassinated and California homos can’t get married so they need a new mission statement for their crusade?
After all, because Focus on the Family has its very own black ops disinformation outlet, Fox News, why doesn’t FotF they just let Britany Hume give America another newsological Sunday School lesson on The Super Bowl Black Sabbath Sunday. That’ll cost FotF a lot less than a dang Super Bowl ad…
http://satiricalpolitical.com/2010/01/06/brit-hume-buddhism-tiger-woods-golf/
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If you’re going to label the commercial as exploitation then you would have to do the same for almost every other commercial. Exploiting sexy women to sell drinks, lingerie and about everything else is exploiting women to sell a product and make a profit.
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There’s a difference between exploiting a category or a type and exploiting a specific person…
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Does it count as exploitation if the person is willing? I mean, are all celebrity endorsements cases of exploitation? If yes, then it seems odd for you to single out this case. But if no, then would it still count as exploitation if the Tebow family is all for it?
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It would depend on the circumstances of course, but a willing and knowing endorsement would certainly lessen the chances that they were being exploited.
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Pretty safe bet is that the Tebow family knows about it and doesn’t object:
Direct from the July 27, 2009, “You Gotta Love Tim Tebow,” article in SI:
“Now Bob Tebow has a question of his own: “Have you heard the story of Timmy’s birth?”
Even if you have, it’s worth hearing from the mouth of his father: “When I was out in the mountains in Mindanao, back in ’86, I was showing a film and preaching that night. I was weeping over the millions of babies being [aborted] in America, and I prayed, ‘God, if you give me a son, if you give me Timmy, I’ll raise him to be a preacher.'” Not long after, Bob and Pam Tebow conceived their fifth child. It was a very difficult pregnancy. “The placenta was never properly attached, and there was bleeding from the get-go,” Bob recalls. “We thought we’d lost him several times.” Early in the pregnancy Pam contracted amebic dysentery, which briefly put her in a coma. Her doctors, fearful that medications they had given her had damaged the fetus, advised her to abort it. She refused, and on Aug. 14, 1987, Pam delivered a healthy if somewhat scrawny Timothy Richard Tebow.
“All his life, from the moment he could understand, I told him, ‘You’re a miracle baby,'” Bob recalls. “‘God’s got a purpose for you, and at some point I think He’s going to call you to preach.’
“I asked God for a preacher, and he gave me a quarterback.”
The irony of Bob’s last statement is that Tim can be a preacher and a quarterback too because the Venn diagram circles on those two things always intersect as they did with Danny Wuerffel.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1158168/1/index.htm
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Last time i checked Tim Tebow is a 22 year old grown man. Exploitation? Really? Not even.
If the message bothers you so much then don’t watch.
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Chuck, I’ve already said it’s not the message. If Tebow wants to get out there and promote a pro-life position, I’ve got absolutely no problem with it.
I just don’t see how I can condemn what Clay Travis did at SEC Media Days and give Focus on the Family a pass in this instance without looking like a hypocrite.
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Here’s a thought: why not just refrain from passing judgment or condemn either instance. You see, i have a hard time believing your fuss over a Christian Ministry’s choice of impacting lives with Christ’s message has anything to do with you fearing how you appear to others.
And I’m still waiting for you to explain to me how a 22 year old man is being exploited here.
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Given your comment, I doubt I’m capable of an explanation that you’d find satisfactory, Chuck.
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“Exploiting sexy women to sell drinks, lingerie and about everything else is exploiting women to sell a product and make a profit.”
Yeah, it is, actually. You haven’t noticed this? What are you, seven years old? Eight?
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The past few decades has seen an agenda by non-believers, the diverse, and the politically correct to strongly tap-down Judeo-Christians in the USA. For those in these faiths there is a growing push back. The push back will grow. I strongly support and defend the unborn. No society can claim to be just and lawful who does not.
If the NCAA and the college presidents have an objection to the manifestation of ones religious belief, let them speak up. They have not done so with ear rings, long hair, (both of these are safety concerns), and other sayings on their person in games and sports. Set a rule if it an issue.
For those of us who have been around coaches and players who have strong Judeo – Christian faith, it is a blessing to us, our families, our community, and our houses of worhip.
Prayers by a player, players, team, teams, coaches, cheerleaders, bandmembers, and fans is a widely accepted and has historically been accepted in America which is viewed world wide as a Judeo – Christian country. Most of us have seen Tebow, Coach Richt, Coach Bowden, and many others speak about their faith. I thank them and GOD for their courage, spirit, character, and faith. It is who we are!
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“The past few decades has seen an agenda by non-believers, the diverse, and the politically correct to strongly tap-down Judeo-Christians in the USA.”
The most overstated idea of the last few years.
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Seriously. You can’t go anywhere without seeing a Christian “persecusted” these days.
May as well go back to feeding them to lions as entertainment.
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Best idea yet
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And see, I was just starting to think that your beef with Christians had something to do with THEIR inability to think clearly and critically.
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sarcasm
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your belittling is a form of persecution … surely you are smart enough to understand that!
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If snark is persecution, then I’m a serial offender.
Forgive me, Junior.
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“The most overstated idea of the last few years.”
The most ironic comment in this thread.
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I’m not the sharpest tack, but I don’t see the irony. Enlighten me.
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Let me give it a try…
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Oh I undertand irony. But the irony in my statement must have gone over my head. As for your video…seems more coincidental to me.
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Now, that’s ironic.
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Did I miss something? When did this become an issue for the NCAA and the college presidents?
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This is not a political point, but rather a logistical one. Just making that clear. So here goes:
Abortion will never be illegal in the United States. Never.
Now. Commit your time to however you see fit. Just letting you know that.
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Abortion may never be illegal in all 50 states in the United States, but the question whether a state may ban or regulate abortions is not now and never has been a matter of federal constitutional law. It is a matter for each state to decide.
The Supreme Court justices who voted in the majority in Roe vs. Wade are no smarter, nor more immune to ordinary feelings, than the ones who voted in the majority in Plessy vs. Ferguson or the Dred Scott case.
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“It is a matter for each state to decide.”
Then I should add the follow-up point I inevitably do when I make the original statement:
If you turn it over to the states, abortion will still be legal. Everywhere. Every single state.
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Which, as long as the states decide, is fine.
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You KNEW this was coming…
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“The past few decades has seen an agenda by non-believers, the diverse, and the politically correct to strongly tap-down Judeo-Christians in the USA.”
Wow…THAT’S why there are no Christians left. Man, I’ve been wondering where they all went!
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I feel very strongly both ways. After all, I’m not one to argue.
(RIP Billy Martin)
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1. I wish a Muslim player would put Koran verses on his face just to see what the reaction would be.
2. If Tim didn’t play football and you met him (a home schooled bible beater, who came off as kinda nerdy when you talked to him) you’d think he was a dork and make fun of him.
3. If the commercial asks “Imagine if Tim Tebow was aborted?” every Georgia fan’s head would flash to the same world Lionel Hutz envisioned on the Simpsons when he asks “Can you imagine a world without lawyers?”
4, If you take your religious/spiritual cues from a commercial or eye black then you should check out this awesome book called “Dianetics”. Oh – and take their free stress test. It will really open your eyes.
5. Some pro-choice group should run an add with Hitler, Osama Bin Laden, and Paris Hilton asking “Imagine if their parents had decided on abortion”
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ACG’s V, you are pretty much dead-on with all five points. ESPECIALLY #1 and #2.
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I think he’s a dork and he does play football. And I haven’t even met him!
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1. That’s easy. He would be a Islamofascist Terrorist fixing to jihad, of course. Most likely an al-Queda #2, just so you know that even when you get rid of him, that #2 would be easily replaced by the next al-Queda #2 quicker than a camel can lick its ass.
2. Behind Tim’s back because he’s bigger, stronger and faster. Plus he can levitate.
3. Mike Leach as a lawyer and on behalf of all lawyers in this great country of ours is going to find you, now that he’s got some unexpected time on his hands, and give you the same opening statement that he gave to Adam James. Why? Because can’t even stand to watch you ******* stumble around with a sh!tty ******* effort like you’ve accomplished some*******thing, that’s why.
4. You are now officially on the Scientology Your Sh!t Don’t Fly List…
http://www.rushprnews.com/2009/01/25/exposed-scientologys-stress-test-scam/
5. Leave Paris Alone!
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AC Green, the ex-Lakers basketball player?
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1) I fear they would get blacklisted and they would disappear from the record books & rosters just like happened with that boxer, Cassius Clay, and that basketball player, Lew Alcindor.
Whatever happened to those guys after they made it known that they were muslims?!?!
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I guess I missed the part about the left wing media hating on tebow…
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I’m a Dawg. And an atheist. And a marketer. Reaction from those perspectives:
As a UGA alum, I hate Tebow for all the usual reasons. He beat us on the field, his program has consistently achieved at a higher level than ours, the nauseating level of overhype, and there’s a tremendous media/officiating double standard where he’s concerned (see AJ Green’s “celebration” penalty vs. LSU, compared to any of Saint Timmy’s gator chomping, ready for Broadway theatrics on any given play). It’s the inverse of why we all love Reggie Ball.
As an atheist, I’m weary of his proselytizing, right down to the eye black. What would be the reaction if a high profile college athlete wore messages that said “read p48 of Dianetics?” Or “Xenu Lives!” It’s amazing to me that one group of people with unproven, illogical beliefs can point at every other group with unproven, illogical beliefs (Hindus, Wiccans, Scientologists, Muslims, Mormons, etc.) and say “they’re wrong.” Why is one point of view allowed to be promoted as part of the “uniform?” If he wants to preach on his own time, outside the field of play, then that’s perfectly fine. But if you allow the biblical eyeblack, then every other potential message, from “Chico’s Bail Bonds” to words from Mein Kampf, should also be fair game. And they’re not, of course. And it’s this capitulation to the majority cult that so aggravates me.
As a marketer, I’m obviously for free enterprise. Focus on the Family has the right to produce an ad. The network has the right to refuse to air the ad. The problem comes in when you’re using the name/image of a public figure to promote your product or service. Tebow is a difficult case, as he IS a “public figure” (whose image or story could be deemed newsworthy, as is the case with political ads who use the words or likeness of a competitor) but yet apparently isn’t a “paid endorser” for the planned ad (even if he may agree with the underlying message). Cynically, I think the whole “we’re doing a Tebow abortion ad for the Super Bowl” is just a craven grab for publicity, and that there is no actual intent to follow through with producing the ad or attempting to purchase airtime. And guess what? It worked.
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Bingo!
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“What would be the reaction if a high profile college athlete wore messages that said “read p48 of Dianetics?” Or “Xenu Lives!” ”
Perhaps the Christians among us would come up with a persecution agenda to suggest that the culture was banishing them (as opposed to, say, the player simply choosing to voice preference for an alternative worldview).
Oh, that’s right…they do that NOW, without Dianetics eyeblack. Nevermind…
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Tebow is clearly a public figure. His mom, maybe not. Aren’t they using his mom’s choice not to abort him to sell their point? Timmy had nothing to do with it. Perhaps since they both likely agree with the stance my point is moot.
You can’t even imagine how different the take on Tebow would be if he were a devout muslim who was home-schooled, and he put verses from the Koran under his eyes.
This post sure has elcited some response. Senator, I’ve got to ask, were you trying to get a Drudge link. Maybe something like, “UGA blogger declares Tim Tebow should have been aborted”
That would really increase traffic around here. 🙂
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It’s amazing to me that one group of people with unproven, illogical beliefs can point at every other group with unproven, illogical beliefs (Hindus, Wiccans, Scientologists, Muslims, Mormons, etc.) and say “they’re wrong.”
^^
I wonder the same thing about atheists all the time.
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“…how Tebow’s mother carried him to term despite a difficult and dangerous pregnancy,”
links to
“Unfortunately, Pam [apparently Tim’s mom] entered into a coma after she contracted amoebic dysentery, an infection of the intestine caused by a parasite found in a contaminated food or drink.”
Not to diminish the difficult pregnancy of Tebow’s mother, name a Westerner who spends any time in-country in the PI who could ever avoid getting an infection of the intestine caused by a parasite found in a contaminated food or drink [which just so happens to be all of it because the parasites are everywhere]?
While you may not get dysentery or fall into a coma, no one can avoid or ever forget the shivering sh!ts they get in the Philippine Islands. After all they filmed Tropic Thunder food scenes in the PI, didn’t they or was that in Apocolypso Now…
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Jeez, you’ve managed to elicit some responses with this one, Senator.
Throw the politics and the religion aside. This is a terrible idea for a much simpler reason. If Focus on the Family is trying to get a point across, it will likely get lost in the annoyance of most of the viewing audience that has had their fill of Tebow-worship. IMO, most people will roll their eyes and go to refill their drink.
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Tebow is not proselytizing, he’s bruising the proverbial fruit. Mark Richt doesn’t wear a WWJD banner on the field because it simply is not appropriate, and he walks the walk better than most Christians I know, including myself.
This has been the subject of heated family discussions. And no, I don’t like all the tats on the arms any better. I’m also waiting for some fast moving target to get his head snapped back when he gets caught by his long and lovely hair.
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Ain’t free speech wonderful? Lots of varied points of view here, and some well stated.
But, I still believe in God and am anti abortion. Doubt anyone’s mind was changed in this debate, but it has been interesting.
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When Christians Attack: Britany’s Back!
The First Commandment: When Christians are caught attacking the stop, drop and roll defense is always that ‘others’ are attacking Christians, the Appeal To Pity (Appeal to Sympathy, The Galileo Argument):
‘I did not murder my mother and father with an axe ! Please don’t find me guilty; I’m suffering enough through being an orphan,’ and being attacked because I’m a Christian. Attacked by atheists!
Christians have been working that angle for the past 2000 years up through Mel Gibson and no one can stop the play although everyone can see right through it.
See, e.g., Britany Humes and Bill Donahue, Prez of Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights (his religious and civil rights by the way, not yours) who says:
“Donahue said the double standard reveals itself in the absence of public outrage over atheists who have become “increasingly dogmatic and aggressive and very public and vocal” in expressing their contempt for Christianity.”
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/59396
What Bill fails to see it’s just that people don’t like Bill trying to ram Bill’s ideas down everybody’s throat. It would be like everyone telling Bill to clean out the pedophiles from his own church first (actually they tried it and found it couldn’t be done) before he preaches to everybody else telling all who don’t follow him that they are atheists.
Can anyone name an atheist attacking Christianity?
(Excluding citizens of countries we have attacked, invaded and occupied because I think we can all understand why they don’t dig any American, Christian or otherwise. We would feel the same way were the roles reversed.)
Just one.
Anyone?
Bueller?
Madalyn Murray O’Hair?
Been dead since ’95?
Okay.
Anyone else who is still alive?
If Christians believe others are attacking them maybe they ought to ask their ‘leaders’ for names and addresses of those who are attacking Christians because no one else knows about it.
Remember, strict constitutional constructionists, just because someone doesn’t agree with each and every chapter and verse you do, that’s not an ‘attack,’ it’s called ‘freedom of religion’ which includes but is not limited to freedom from your religion.
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+1, as they say.
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