Tebow: I Lost Endorsement Opportunities over Pro-Life Ad

LifeSiteNews ^ | 4/19/10 | Kathleen Gilbert

[wagglebee]

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 19, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Tim Tebow recently told a sold-out crowd at Lipscomb University that "multiple companies told him before the Super Bowl that they could not let him represent their products if he went ahead with his pro-life commercial at the Super Bowl," according to the Palm Beach Post.

However, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and pro-life celebrity went on to say that, "losing sponsors was a small price to pay for the ability to spread his message about family and faith."

The story of Tim and mother Pam Tebow, who was advised to abort Tim after she contracted amoebic dysentery while pregnant in the Philippines, was the center of a Focus on the Family-sponsored ad that ran during the Superbowl in February. The ad became the center of a nationwide uproar after top pro-abortion groups, without ever having seen the ad, drew massive attention to it by lobbying CBS to reject it.

However, while the ad ultimately made no mention of abortion, and essentially directed viewers to the Focus on the Family website to learn the real story behind Tim's birth, its impact was still significant: a study released in February suggested that as many as 1.7 million pro-abortion viewers may have reconsidered their stance after watching the short advertisement.

Despite the controversy over the ad, Palm Beach Post reporter Ben Volin notes that the former Florida Gators quarterback nonetheless enjoys ties with major brands such as EA Sports and Nike.

Because he has graduated and is no longer a member of the NCAA, Tebow is free to market endorsements. The football star has indicated that, as in other aspects of his career, he will let his beliefs define his path, and will therefore stay with companies whose message he agrees with, according to the Post.

"I'm very relational based," said Tebow. "So if I feel great with the people that I'm working with, if I feel that we're on the same page and that they have the same interests as me, that they're high character, that they're loyal and they believe in a positive message, then that's the type of people that I want to work with."

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Gentle Tebow Ad Has Big Impact
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/feb/10022213.html

Pro-Aborts Clash over Short, Sweet Tebow Ad
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/feb/10022213.html

[wagglebee]

"I'm very relational based," said Tebow. "So if I feel great with the people that I'm working with, if I feel that we're on the same page and that they have the same interests as me, that they're high character, that they're loyal and they believe in a positive message, then that's the type of people that I want to work with."

There's no sense in taking money from those who want you to deny your faith.

[wagglebee]

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[Recovering_Democrat]

Tebow has an even greater endorsement from the Prince of Peace.

[screaminsunshine]

He will do fine. I hope the Bucs get him. We are going to need him after this dismal upcoming season.

[Tax-chick]

Good for him. If a company thinks it would lose sales by having an endorser who is pro-life, they’re probably selling something a decent person doesn’t want to endorse.

[El Cid]

I wished he’d name names of these “multiple companies”.

[Paleo Conservative]

I wish he’d tell us which ones.

[nfldgirl]

Way to go Tim! Oh that there were more men in this world like Tim. (see my tag!)

[Ingtar]

I’d like the Saints to get him. What better place for him? Not just the name, but studying under Brees - the last quarterback who supposedly had the same defects that Tebow is supposed to have.

I would like to see names. Of course, if he releases those, he needs to be able to prove it.

[Voter62vb]

Having integrity, values, a love of the true gift of life and a humble belief in God is a bitch, ain’t it?!

[wmfights]

There's no sense in taking money from those who want you to deny your faith.

I have a 17 yr old son that thinks this guy is the greatest. A Christian who doesn't just talk the talk, but walks the talk.

[avacado]

Two things:

1) The commercial was not anti-abortion. It was pro-family.

2) Obviously the “pro-choice” crowd doesn’t actually like choices.

[verity]

Seems to me if he is successful in the NFL, sponsors will return.

[trumandogz]

If he is lucky, on Draft Day we can call him Round Two Timmy.

[screaminsunshine]

No way we need him in Tampa. After this season we will be ready to rebuild. We will get more top draft picks and a new coaching staff. Tebow will be a big help in a couple years. We love the Gators around here and he would get people to go to the games.

[PatriotGirl827]

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?”

Mark 8:36

[Venturer]

Right on. name them so we can ignore them.

[PhiKapMom]

See you don’t like his throwing any better than the scouts. How do we know the sponsors aren’t there because he is not a top round pick?

[I cannot think of a name]

The only problem with this article:

I sure wish he’d name the names of all the companies that didn’t want to use him because of the ad.

I’m always looking for a few more names for my DO NOT BUY list.