Not the right venue
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
It may have seemed subtle, but the Super Bowl commercial featuring Tim Tebow, Heisman Trophy-winning football quarterback for the Florida Gators, and his mother, Pam, sent a strong message during the big game.
CBS’s choice to air the commercial captured headlines for weeks before the Super Bowl. Viewers from both sides of the issue weighed in on the choice.
The commercial, which was a 30-second spot in which Pam Tebow called her son a miracle baby was aired during the first quarter of the game. The commercial directed viewers to the Focus on the Family Web site, where they could view Tebow’s whole story, which includes dialog with Pam Tebow about her choice not to abort her son despite doctor’s urgings.
An inspirational story? For many, yes.
But is the Super Bowl the right place for the debate between pro-life and pro-choice take place? No.
Among the Doritos, Coca-Cola and Bud Light ads, the Tebow ad stuck out like a sore thumb. While the commercial was subtle, it brings a new agenda to the Super Bowl, which is a place where this type of debate should be left to rest.
The Super Bowl is a time for fun, food, friends and family — not a pro-life versus pro-choice debate.
Jehmu Greene, president of New York-based Women’s Media Center, stated in an article that appeared on Foxsports.com on Jan. 26, that the ad should not run during the game.
“An ad that uses sports to divide rather than to unite has no place in the biggest national sports event of the year — an event designed to bring Americans together,” Greene said.
Following the big game, the commercial left some wondering what the big deal was and others were outraged about the commercial. Posts on Twitter, Facebook and other sites were streaming on Google shortly after the game.
The ad definitely got a great deal of attention, which was the idea of the commercial. But CBS’s choice to air the commercial during a national pastime that normally brings people together — not drives them apart in debate — was clearly inappropriate.
Brandy Nance
Reporter
Comments
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arminius (anonymous) says...
Oh come on Brandy.... If you're going to take shots at Superbowl ads go after the raunchy ones, not the ones promoting life and values.
February 10, 2010 at 11:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Joe_Strummer (anonymous) says...
Some of us don't give a frog's fat a** about what is going on during timeouts. I don't care what they show during commercial breaks.
That said, whether or not the timing of the ad was correct is not relevant. They doled out their cash, CBS took it, they aired their commercial. If a 30 second commercial sway's your beliefs then you are a weak minded individual to begin with.
February 10, 2010 at 11:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yev_kassem (anonymous) says...
The commercial was so mild that I questioned what the big deal about it was in the first place. It definitely didn't spark any conversations at the party that I was at other than "Why was this controversial?"
arminius--
I don't think any of the commercials were in poor taste or raunchy and I really don't think Tebow's commercial promoted life and values. Maybe if I would have went to the website and read his story I would feel differently however.
February 10, 2010 at 11:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
giggles (anonymous) says...
I don't understand how it was "clearly inappropriate". He is a football player isn't he? He and his mother took a moment to tell the story of how that came to be.
I agree with arminius, raunchy, sexually explicit, commercials to me do more harm in a family venue.
It almost makes sense to air such a commercial when others are sure to be promoting a product through sex. After all, sex is how unexpected pregnancy starts, why shouldn't they be allowed a moment to offer an option for that outcome?
I feel that if they were willing to shell out the bucks for the air time, and it is allowed by FCC standards, then no one should really complain.
It is also funny to me how you talk about something that brings people together, rather than drives them apart through a debate. Really? Just picking a team to rally for, drives people apart and stirs up debate. I've seen them get quite heated over it.
By the way, the Superbowl is JUST A GAME. Many people are very serious about it but all in all, it is still just a game. Those who want to get their panties in a bunch over a 30 second ad about life, perhaps are overly sensitive. If you cannot move on from that 30 seconds, then perhaps they need to get a life! (No pun intended.)
February 10, 2010 at 11:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OutsiderJ (anonymous) says...
Not to mention that Mrs. Tebow's story may not be the whole truth. I don't remember where but I read an interesting piece about how hard it is to get an abortion in the predominantly catholic Philippine Islands. It is illegal there and Dr.'s that perform abortions are subject to substantial prison time. She probably didn't want to get a back alley abortion. The article also related how difficult to get a Dr. in the Philippines to even recommend an abortion. Now if they had done it in a casket full of Doritos, that would have been awesome!!
February 10, 2010 at 12:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Some people were outraged that this Tebow dudes mom didn't abort him. That's weird.
February 10, 2010 at 12:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
The big question:
If this was a pro-choice commercial would the pro-life crowd thrown a fit? My guess would be yes. The pro-choice crowd should have aired an ad, problem solved lol.
February 10, 2010 at 1:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eucharistandcannabis (anonymous) says...
What is the point of airing an advertisement by an organization that is controversial?
Stick to the Doritos.
February 10, 2010 at 1:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Joe_Strummer (anonymous) says...
The point is $3 million for 30 seconds. That's a very strong point.
February 10, 2010 at 2:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
This may not be the right venue for a controversial statement like this and it will probably outrage some of you but I'm going to write it anyway. Maybe after writing it and then reading it I will be able to see why this is so controversial. Here goes .......................... I am glad that my wife didn't abort my kids.
Oh yeah now I see why some people are outrage by this woman saying that she was glad she didn't abort her son. Wow! Yeah that is offensive. I will refrain from future comments about the joy that my kids lives bring to mine so I don't offend anyone.
February 10, 2010 at 2:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
goodoleboy,
I agree. The pro-choice should have done an ad about a female athlete who was able to accomplish great things ever since she had an abortion. The tag-line could be something like:
"It was the hardest decision I ever made. It was also turned out to be my best decision. Most importantly, it was MY decision."
'enry
February 11, 2010 at 12:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
There goes that athlete's reputation forever, not because she admits to having an abortion, but because this makes her look like a colossal self-seeking egomaniac. I don't know if anyone wants to pay for that.
February 11, 2010 at 5:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
create....Well said!
February 11, 2010 at 5:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
create,
It would only ruin her reputation among the religious folk (because they’re judgmental like that) and nobody really cares what they think except other religious folk.
'enry
February 11, 2010 at 8:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
I thought the bible taught us not to judge? Someone else was supposed to do that, guess it's religious evolution =)
Seriously,
I don't think people are upset at the woman for not aborting her son, they are upset that the pro-life group used this stage to press the issue. Politics and the Super bowl are not the best mated pair, but they had the cash, its a free country, I say put on a counter or shut up, whining about it just gave them more free press.
February 11, 2010 at 8:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
'enry
Actually I think it would make me think much less of her and that has nothing to do with religion. It has to do with if her athletic career was that important to her she should have thought of that before she got pregnant. Having said that however...I would not deny her the right to make that decision.
February 11, 2010 at 12:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )