Even the long-awaited Super Bowl ad from conservative group Focus on the Family came with a punchline Sunday night.
The 30-second “Celebrate family, celebrate life” ad starring Heisman winner Tim Tebow ended with a surprise – Tim Tebow tackling his mother after she says she nearly lost him during her pregnancy. The pair jokes that they have to be “tough” with all the family has been through.
The commercial sparked debate before it was even broadcast, and some groups called for CBS not to air it.
The ad is the first such advocacy ad to appear in television’s most-watched broadcast, which draws about 100 million viewers. It aired early in the first quarter.
The commercial, which shows just Tebow and his mother, Pam, against a white backdrop, does not contain an overt antiabortion message. Instead it sends people to Focus on the Family’s Web site, which tells more of the Tebows’ story and offers a more straightforward message.
The devout quarterback’s mother gave birth to him in the Philippines in 1987 after spurning a doctor’s advice to have an abortion for medical reasons. Read full story here
Highlights: Jill George, a late model race car driver, crashed upside down on the 27th lap of the ARCA race at the Daytona International Speedway, stopping the race today, according to the Orlando Sentinal. Luckily, she walked away from the crash unhurt. Read full story here
After much anticipation, the ads have now been released — and the Heisman winner tackles his mother! They do not contain any overtly pro-life message and are tamer than many may have expected.
The ads mostly consist of Pam Tebow, Tim’s mother, talking about her son. The former Florida quarterback only speaks at the end of the commercials.
PAM TEBOW: I call him my miracle baby. He almost didn’t make it into this world. I remember so many times when I almost lost him. It was so hard. Well he’s all grown up now, and I still worry about his health. Everybody treats him like he’s different, but to me, he’s just my baby. He’s my Timmy, and I love him.
Highlights: Lache Seastrunk ended his long running and highly publicized recruitment on Wednesday by announcing his intentions to sign with Chip Kelly and the Oregon Ducks on signing day.
Former Florida quarterback, Tim Tebow who’s known for writing Bible verses under his eyes, has been receiving criticism for starring in a planned Super Bowl commercial that critics say conveys an anti-abortion message.
Jehmu Greene, president of Women’s Media Center, asked CBS on Monday not to air the commercial, saying, “An ad that uses sports to divide rather than to unite has no place in the biggest national sporting event of the year.”
The Focus ad supposedly features the story of University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother. Pam Tebow and her husband were Christian missionaries in the Philippines in the ’80s, and during her pregnancy with Tim she developed amoebic dysentery. Doctors told her the strong drug they used to kill the infection had likely damaged the fetus, and they suggested an abortion. Pam refused. Tim was born healthy, won the Heisman Trophy in 2007, led Florida to the national championship a year ago and is a likely top draft pick in next spring’s NFL draft. Read more here
A CBS spokesman said it had approved the advertisement’s script and it would be “appropriate for air.” The network said today it would be willing to air more advocacy ads during the Super Bowl. Read full story here
JOIN: We support Tim Tebows Super Bowl Commerical here
Florida coach Urban Meyer will pretty much disappear after Friday’s Sugar Bowl when he begins his indefinite leave of absence to take care of his health issues.
Florida coach Urban Meyer changed his mind Sunday and said he was taking an indefinite leave of absence instead of resigning. Despite ongoing concerns with his health, he expects to be on the sideline leading the Gators when next season opens.
“I do in my gut believe that will happen,” he said Sunday at an Allstate Sugar Bowl news conference. Read full story here
See VIDEO here “Urban Meyers Will know when to Return”
But quarterback Tim Tebow, who has called Meyer his father away from home, plans on spending some quality time with Meyer after the season. Tebow said he expects to get Meyer out on the golf course.
“Hopefully, I’ll beat him in golf a few times,” Tebow said.
Tebow and Meyer are very close, and Tebow said he’s confident Meyer will slow down and do what he has to do to regain his health in the coming months.
After the Southeastern Conference championship game three weeks ago, Meyer spent several hours in a Gainesville, Fla., hospital because of chest pains. Meyer said Sunday he had experienced similar problems at times this season but had not had a heart attack.
“He needs to for himself and for his health,” Tebow said. “He needs to take a lot of that burden off and just rejuvenate, just let himself recover and let his heart recover. I think he needs it. Because of that and the love he has for his family, I think he’ll be able to do that and walk away at least for a while and recover. It will be good for him to get away and rejuvenate and get ready to come back. I think it will be good for him.”
Gators quarterback Tim Tebow said he and several of his teammates cried when they found out Meyer was stepping down Saturday and were elated when he told them he changed his mind.
Tebow said he also thinks it’s a good thing that offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will be the interim coach in Meyer’s absence. Read full story here
Urban Meyer sits down with Tom Rinaldi to discuss his future plans with Florida, his health problems and his family’s reaction Tags: Florida Gators, NCF
Stephen Garcia threw three touchdown passes and South Carolina’s defense slowed down Clemson star C.J. Spiller in a 34-17 victory over the 15th-ranked Tigers on Saturday. Spiller opened the game with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, an NCAA record- setting seventh of his career. Read full story here
Clemson’s C.J. Spiller has set an NCAA record with his seventh career kickoff return for a touchdown to start the 34-17 loss at South Carolina. Read more here
