Mothering Tebow

By Jessica Piazza 
TWIF Featured Columnist 

At the ripe young age of 22, Tim Tebow has already become a football legend. Being a two-time national champion and the first Heisman Trophy-winning sophomore, it’s no wonder he is the focus of many football enthusiasts far and wide.

But during this year’s Super Bowl, Tebow’s focus will be “on the family,” as he will appear in two 30-second commercials in support of the pro-life group Focus on the Family – a Colorado Springs, Colo.-based evangelical organization active in promoting its views on social conservative public policy.

Running alongside commercials for beer and Doritos, Tebow and his mom, Pam, will tell the story of her medical difficulties during her 1987 pregnancy with Tim while doing mission work in the Philippines.  Tebow was the first sophomore to win the Heisman (2007) 
With a theme centered on “Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life,” the two will share the personal story of how she ignored her doctor’s advice to abort a potential problematic pregnancy, relied fundamentally on her faith, and carried Tim to term.

Now taking his star power to sports’ biggest stage, Tebow has riled up almost as much attention as the Super Bowl matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints.

And the commercial has caused an infuriating stir among many pro-choice groups and abortion rights advocates. Not just because of its message, but also because the network recently rejected a Super Bowl commercial for a gay dating Web site, and has refused to air other more liberal advertisements in the past.

Although it’s reported that there have been discussions about particular wording to ensure CBS could broadcast the commercial (the word “abortion” is not specifically mentioned), it is clear that the commercial will illustrate just one side of a contentious political debate facing our country.

Personally, I could care less about the influence the ad is intended to have on viewers, or CBS running it for that matter.  It’s television – if you don’t like it, turn it off.

What I am perturbed about is that it has to be during the Super Bowl. Why do the network executives feel the need to ruin the biggest national sporting event of the year by throwing in some heartfelt, conservative and conflict-ridden commercial?

The Super Bowl is the one big and fun event where people gather and throw parties to be entertained and have a good time. And the commercials are the epitome of that entertainment, not a forum for debating political issues. The commercials should all be goofy, funny and light-hearted.

 However, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Tebow commercial is actually very mild – possibly not even recognizable as a pro-life or anti-abortion message, but more for publicity and exposure about Focus on the Family.

After all, there no such thing as bad publicity. And with broadcast slots costing between $2.5 million and $3 million, it’s apparent that CBS agrees.

Regardless of your political views, the hype surrounding the controversial ad is just what CBS is looking for. So like it or not, Tebow and his mom will be dropping into your living room to preach their story and promote their values, breaking up the rowdy and spirited game-watching time you’re having  with your football buddies.

Nonetheless, it’s still worth tuning into CBS for Super Bowl XLIV, Sunday at 6:25 p.m. EST.