Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad: Worthy of the Controversy?
This is what all the fuss was about?
For weeks, controversy raged around former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. Not because he was a questionable NFL prospect, but because he and his mom had agreed to star in a Super Bowl ad sponsored by Focus on the Family.
The spot aired early on in last night's game, and featured Mrs. Tebow briefly telling the story of how her son "almost didn't make it into this world." She didn't say a word about abortion or pregnancy termination, merely hinting at that issue.
The commercial then told viewers to visit the Focus on the Family website for more information.
The ad almost seems worthy of more controversy from the right than the left: couldn't the $2.5 million spent on it have been used more practically?
In a very weak crops of Super Bowl commercials, two others stood out for humor's sake:
The first starred a young boy that's very protective of his mother... and his chips.
The second featured a bunch of men in their underwear. Watch each one below and let us know: Which ad was your favorite?
Raging Grannies Call Out CBS on Corporate Bull$hit
The Women's Media Center is not the only organization angry at CBS for approving the controversial Tim Tebow Super Bowl commercial that espouses an anti-abortion viewpoint.
A singing group called the South Florida Raging Grannies has a message for the network, one we can't print on this family website. Check it out below:
Regardless of where you stand on abortion, let's give Tebow a break:
Based on his evaluation by pro scouts, this is likely the only chance he'll ever have to actually star on Super Bowl Sunday.
ManCrunch.com Super Bowl Ad: Rejected!
There's little debate that Super Bowl XLIV will pit the top teams in each conference against each other.
But there's already a great deal of controversy surrounding commercials that will air on CBS during the game. A pro-choice group, for example, is taking extreme exception to the planned Tim Tebow ad on the February 7 broadcast.
Many liberals might have more to shout over now:
CBS continues to stall over a commercial from ManCrunch.com, a gay dating website. The network has told the company that ad space is full, though many spots remain unsold. Said spokesman Dominic Friesen:
"It's clearly a form of discrimination that we're getting the runaround, that we're not being told the truth. Quite frankly, there is a lot of ad space available - a lot of the companies that typically advertise during the Super Bowl are not advertising this year."
In the 30-second spot, two men are watching the game, reach into the chip bowl simultaneously... and then make out. Watch it below and sound off: Is this a double standard, considering the approval for the aforementioned pro-life ad?
Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad Rankles Pro-Choice Advocates
On the field, University of Florida senior Tim Tebow is stirring up a great deal of controversy: Will he succeed in the NFL as a quarterback? Will he be drafted in the first round? What position is he best suited for as a professional?
But those questions pale in comparison to the fervor Tebow is creating away from the gridiron.
The former Heisman Trophy winner is slated to star in air a 30-second Super Bowl commercial this season. It will be paid for by the Christian group Focus on the Family and will emphasize the football star's pro-life stance on abortion.
The ad, whose slogan is "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life," features Tebow and his mother Pam, who ignored doctor's orders to terminate her pregnancy.
The decision by CBS to air the $2.5 million commercial has come under fire from the Women’s Media Center. In a letter to the network, it writes:
CBS’s recent decision to air an anti-choice advertisement during Super Bowl XLIV was outrageous. Even worse is the network’s about face from its own policy of rejecting controversial Super Bowl ads. The Women’s Media Center, and organizations dedicated to reproductive rights, tolerance, and social justice, are urging the network to immediately cancel this ad.
This does make for an interesting case, as free speech advocates will stand by the ad and point to the First Amendment.
Often misunderstood, this amendment has nothing to do with an instance such as this. It simply means one cannot be jailed solely for expressing one's views.
CBS, for example, has rejected numerous commercials in the past, such as campaigns on behalf of PETA, MoveOn.org and the United Church of Christ. It's surprising the network would approve such a clearly controversial spot.
Then again, how can something be "anti-choice," as the organization references above? Tebow isn't mandating an end to abortions, he's simply expressing a view, the choice he'd make if faced with the situation.
"I know some people won't agree with it, but I think they can at least respect that I stand up for what I believe," he said.
Super Bowl XLIV airs live from Miami on Sunday, February 7. Will you tune in for it? Where you stand on this debate?
MacGruber and a Snow Globe: Our Favorite Super Bowl Commercials
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinas 27-23 in one of the greatest Super Bowl finishes in history last night.
To many, though, the most entertaining aspects of the game took place long before Santanio Holmes caught the game-winning touchdown in the final minute.
From Budweiser to Doritos to Audi, companies shelled out millions for commercials they hoped would stick in the minds of viewers. Here are two of our favorites:
What were your favorite Super Bowl commericlals?
A Look at 2008 Super Bowl Commercials
Some fans may remember Super Bowl XLII as an historic football game that saw one of the greatest upsets in professional sports history.
Others may not be able to tell you who won on the field, but they can rattle of a list of the best and worst Super Bowl commercials from the evening. To wit:
Lamest: Godaddy.com. Why not just stick with attractive WWE Diva Candice Michelle as your spokeswoman? Instead, the company pretended to give us a shot of Danica Patrick - who really should focus on winning a race instead of being a sex symbol - doing a striptease... only to resort to the tactic of telling viewers to go to its website in order to see more.
Right. Because Danica Patrick nude photos were surely all the rage there...
Most Inspired: Budweiser. When the Rocky music started to blare during this funny ad, which depicted a rejected Clydesdale being trained by a Dalmation, it took all our might not to pump out a few one-handed push-ups.
Funniest: The first E*Trade ad of the night that featured a talking baby was more gross than humorous. Vomit never sells. But the following commercial, focusing on the same child discussing the error of his clown-hiring ways, made us laugh harder than New Yorkers at Boston fans who thought they were special...
