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

[buccaneer81]

We are going to need him after this dismal upcoming season.

Him and a cast of dozens. 2002 seems so long ago, now.

[screaminsunshine]

Miss Gruden yet?

[Tunaofthemall]

The Media and Pop Culture Vilify Tebow while - in the same breath - they praise and adore Tiger Woods. It’s so depressing.

[Gene Eric]

I’d like to know more about those lost endorsements so I can abort their products.

[blueyon]

Good job saying “No” to them, Tim Tebow. Shows you have great character, may God bless you for it

[buccaneer81]

Miss Gruden yet?

Heck, I still miss Dungy.

[Nightshift]

GniP

[originalbuckeye]

Ditto.

[Pablo64]

Very well stated.

(And true.)

[rintense]

I see SOOOOO many parallels between Tim Tebow and Sarah Palin. In the football world, particularly among fans, you either love him or hate him. And much of the hate is based on his unabashed faith and pro-life stance. Never thought I could see men hate so much but the vitriol toward Tebow from me rivals that of women toward Palin.

It is my wish that at some point, Tebow joins Sarah at a rally and multiple liberal heads explode.

[rintense]

His throwing motion is vastly improved in just a few short months. His segment on ESPN with Jon Gruden was really good. He tossed the ball in a hot potato drill and never once drifted from his new motion. At the end, the high school kids (Gruden's kid was one of them) huddled up and said, 'Tebow! On 3!' Tim quickly corrected them and said, 'Hard Word! On 3!'.

They listened.

Tim will make a fine NFL quarterback. And an even better ambassador for his faith.

[camp_steveo]

I’m a UT Vols fan, but Tebow has my utmost respect, and I will follow his NFL career very closely.

[rintense]

That should be Hard Work! On 3!

[screaminsunshine]

I wish we could get him back. he helped Plant get the state title.

[Hot Tabasco]

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

If he's successful, he won't need sponsors........

[trumandogz]

In the NFL they don't care about your religion, your stance on abortion, your politics or your virginity, instead they only care about your skills.

And thus far Tim has not proved himself and if he does he will get endorsements like Peyton Manning. If he does not, he will get endorsements like Ryan Leif.

[Campion]

I’m gonna go out on a limb here. I don’t know what kind of NFL career Mr. Tebow will have, but I predict that when that’s over, he will make a serious mark on the world in one or more of (a) coaching; (b) politics; or (c) the ministry.

[buccaneer81]

As long as the Glazers own the team, they’re simply going to use it as a cash flow cow for Manchester United. How sad is that?

[Salvation]

I certainly hope Tim isn’t sorry that he endorsed life first!

[Chode]

he should name them so they don't get any more of our money...