Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad Brings Pro-Life Message & Controversy

CBS gave a preliminary approval for a Christian group, "Focus on the Family" to run a Super Bowl ad featuring Tim Tebow and his mother. Apparently, the public announcement commercial would utilize Tebows mother as an example for their "pro-life" themed message. The media is arguing that the Super Bowl is not a time to bring up the controversial subject.

When Pam Tebow, Tim's mother, was pregnant with him and became very ill during a mission trip to the Philippines, doctors advised her to terminate her pregnancy. Because she didn't listen to doctors, Tim Tebow was born on August 14, 1987 in Manila, Philippines and became the first sophomore awarded the Heisman Trophy as quarterback for the Florida Gators.

Tim and his family have also had a huge impact on the home schooling movement and how it relates to athletes. "On January 7, 2007, Tebow was featured prominently in an ESPN 'Outside The Lines' feature on home schooled athletes seeking equal access to high school athletics in other states. Upon becoming the first home-schooled athlete to be nominated for the Heisman Trophy, Tebow remarked, "That's really cool. A lot of times people have this stereotype of home-schoolers as not very athletic - it's like, go win a spelling bee or something like that - it's an honor for me to be the first one to do that.

Several groups, which promote women's rights, are against running the ad during the super bowl and it has created some controversy. CBS still reserves the right to approve the script before final approval, which has not been granted yet. While some are commending Tim Tebow for participating in the 2.5 Million dollar, 30 second commercial, saying it is true representation of his faith, others have raised concern that it might hurt his reputation and scare off possible future sponsors. I think the controversy has just created more publicity for the man and shows he has character and beliefs, something so few people his age are lacking these days.

According to HLN Live, CBS commented saying, "At CBS, our standards and practices process continues to adhere to a process that ensures all ads... on all sides of an issue ... are appropriate for air. We will continue to consider responsibly produced ads from all groups for the few remaining spots in Super Bowl XLIV."

SOURCES:

Lyman, Isabel (December 6, 2007). "Homeschooler Snaps Up Heisman Nomination" USA Daily

San Francisco Chronicle "Tebow Becomes NCAA's First 20-20 Player"