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

[screaminsunshine]

Back to the Culverhouse method.

[buccaneer81]

Back to the Culverhouse method.

Yeah. No local TV for home games...

[screaminsunshine]

Right. You have to go to the bar with satellite and drown your sorrows in a tall cold draft. Or go to the stadium and buy cheap unused tickets. They might win 5 if they get some breaks.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

The world is turned upside down.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“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.”

I wish I knew the company names, so that I could make sure not to buy them.

[trumandogz]

Like everyone else, Tim needs to prove himself in the NFL before he gets endorsements.

[Grizzled Bear]

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.

(Paraphrased) - What does it profit a man to gain the world should he lose his soul?

[tutstar]

bump

[Grizzled Bear]

We should all include him in our prayers. Because of his stand, he’s going to take a lot of flack from the REAL enemy!

[GatorGirl]

Tebow is the real deal. We just love him....obviously!

[Non-Sequitur]

Pass for 4000 yards and 23 touchdowns and you’ll have your pick of companies to endorse.

[redgolum]

Doesn’t surprise me. It may also cost him some money when it comes time to sign.

[Raider Sam]

Problem is you just got a 6’6” QB in last yrs 1st round

[Raider Sam]

Are you drinkin grape haterade?

I mean technically, Bradford, Suh, Eric Berry...none of them have proven anything yet.

And the NFL does care about religion and politics - just ask Rush.

Lastly, its Ryan Leaf. Hes from Montana, not Norway.

[avacado]

Thank you!

[wiley]

Same here. They don’t need my business.

[Albion Wilde]

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

LOL!! Nice one!! Amen!!