OK I'll defend Tim Tebow

[Johonny]

Because it's sooooooo popular to * on him today. I do not agree with Tim Tebow's position at all. But this story reminds me of another story way back. A basketball player that dare come out as pro NRA. A certain "sports" guy said at the time "you know I don't agree at all with him but you know how refreshing is it to hear from an actual celebrity about an issue that matters." Comparing him to a certain other player that would tell you anything from what shoes to buy to what long distance phone company to purchase, but never took a stand that might hurt them at the bank. He was right on that opinion 10+ years ago, but man how on the game is that today. Vastly too many of these sports hero's are empty people for fear of blowing their ad dollars. Just look at all the hate thrown at a certain Golfer on the DU for making billion in advertising but standing up for nothing.

It's not even just sports stars. Look at the Queen of TV . She's been on the air forever, yet waited until Obama to make a political statement. The first of her long career. Still even after getting Obama in office she did not use her TV power to help pass his agenda. How empty a human being is that. This person will gladly sell you some * book on their show but not anything too political that it "costs" them at the bank.

So I credit Tebow. He has the guts, like say George Clooney, to at least stand for something in an age where not standing for anything is better business. In the world of the modern corporate commercial athlete, it's actually refreshing even if I don't stand with him on the issue.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[1gobluedem]

2. Tim Tebow is a media whore who used a taxpayer-funded university's football team to evangelize

He doesn't have guts at all. He took advantage of his athletic skill and scholarship to said taxpayer funded university to broadcast his religious beliefs to a national audience. Everything he does is calculated to give himself the spotlight.

There's a separation of church and state in this country and he had no business using a public university as a platform for his religious beliefs. I'm willing to hazard a guess that he didn't wear Bible references under his eyes every day; only when he knew the cameras were rolling.

I think he's disgusting, no matter what his beliefs are. Do you think a Muslim player would get a media pass and be lauded like that for referencing the Koran on his face during games? More than likely, he'd be told to remove it. But not Saint Timmy. Gag.

[paulsby]

4. you are kidding right?

"There's a separation of church and state in this country and he had no business using a public university as a platform for his religious beliefs. "

seriously?

i have seen some silly quasi-constitutional law claims in my time, but this takes the cake.

[1gobluedem]

30. I am dead serious

Free speech, my foot. He took advantage of the cameras to hawk his religious beliefs while wearing the uniform of a public university. Again, I ask you, would the media be fawning all over a Muslim player who referenced the Koran the same way? Puh-leeze.

How about if a player took it upon himself to put an Obama bumpersticker on his helmet? Do you think he'd be asked to remove it? Isn't that free speech too? Tim Tebow was wearing a uniform -- which means he should look the same as all the other players -- and he decided to embellish to evangelize because he knew cameras would focus on him.

[newtothegame]

65. Wow desperate much?

Find some happiness in life. Hug a puppy. Something.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

76. I can't keep up....

Every time I think I've heard the Dumbest.Post.Ever, somebody comes along to top the previous champion.

I don't agree with Tebow's viewpoint, but your criticism is just plain over-the-top.

[jaysunb]

10. Good post !

and I'm a Buckeye fan. :rofl:

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

14. You realize the Constitution protects his right to evangelize no matter where he went to college.

[Loge23]

20. I think free speech covers this

I may not agree with the eye scripture thing or run to the bible to check the quote, but I really don't see how Tebow's thing casts him as a coward. Besides that, his play - whether you like him or not - pretty much settles the coward thing.
So too with the ad: I have no problem with people trying to convince other people not to abort - as long as they do it in a responsible, caring, and completely non-violent manner. Nobody wants to have an abortion; it's the right to make that decision and have safe access to one that we have to protect.
Tebow's a media whore? What outstanding college football player is not?? That's their whole shtick - get on TV and look real good!
Disgusting? I think that's a bit much. After all, we didn't even get a chance to kick Michigan's ass.

[emilyg]

28. Free speech. What would you do

without it?

[Obamanaut]

45. I do believe his athletic skills, along with those of his team members,

brought in HUGE amounts of revenue to the university. Some of that money went to the Title IX programs.

Take away the football program - also takes away a lot of revenue for the school and the other programs that benefit from that football program.

I think wearing little patches under his eyes during a game is a fair tradeoff. If you don't like the patches, don't look at them and don't read the verses they reference.

It is quite likely also, that no one who plays any sport wears those little patches under their eyes every day, only when playing.

Much ado about nothing.

[Fla Dem]

55. Tebow is an excellent college player who will probably not make it in the NFL.

If he does, he will be little heard of, and the NFL overrulers will probably nix the eye labels.

[Ganja Ninja]

63. Tim Tebow and the Gators football team make a profit for the university.

They've probably sold more Tebow jerseys in the last 4 years than all the other gators combined. I really don't understand all the hate that's directed at him. So he's an evangelical. He has that right.

[stanwyck]

72. Are you sure? Do you know for a fact that

a profit is made? I know this is the rationale given for the huge costs associated with the stadium and staff for university football teams. But the reality is that student fees pay for football teams, NOT ticket sales or jersey sales.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

77. TV Rights....

I'm pretty sure the Southeast Conference charges for that sort of thing...

Edit: Just checked. The University of Florida Football Program (according to Forbes.com) does, in fact, turn a profit. And that doesn't count the economic impact in the surrounding community that Game Day generates.

[MadMaddie]

3. I mentioned this in another post it's about fairness

I asked my young right wing co-worker the below questions:

"Do you think if a Pro-gay organization wanted to spend millions to have a commercial supporting loving gay couples and the positive and healthy families air during the Super Bowl would you support it?" I got a blank stare by the way....

The second question if the network decided to allow the commercial what backlash do you think there would be? You know as well as I do that religious organizations and other right wing groups would be screaming that the gays are pushing their gay life style on America during the Super Bowl for heavens sake.

Does anyone remember the commercial that was to air a couple of years ago from a liberal group and it was yanked?

Tebow and his mother can go to their church, they can go to any number of forums to share their good news. I don't want to see it during the Super Bowl! Are they not shoving their agenda on America?

I want to see New Orleans kick the other teams ass!! That's all!

[The Straight Story]

5. Is his ad promoting outlawing abortion or is it just promoting having a child vs abortion?

If it is the latter, not sure why there is so much outrage over it.

[Pithlet]

6. Focus on the Family is rabidly pro-choice, among other decidedly very anti-progressive agendas.

they are definitely promoting a pro-life agenda. Google James Dobson.

[The Straight Story]

7. I am quite familiar with focus on the family, was asking about this particular ad

What is the Ad itself promoting or saying? Are they saying abortion should be outlawed in the ad?

[Pithlet]

8. If you're familiar with it, then that should speak for itself, don't you think?

You think Focus on the Family is going to put on some namby pamby "make the choice that's best for you?" ad? Come on.

[The Straight Story]

11. What does the ad say though? Does it promote a law outlawing abortion? (nt)

[Pithlet]

12. You're just playing dumb.

It's like asking if PETA is going to make an ad that might say eating meat is okay. ETA that I think you know better than that, because you say you're familiar with the org. So, I'm not buying it.

[The Straight Story]

15. No, not playing dumb - asking about the Ad itself, I know what the backers want

but what does the ad say - do you know?

[Pithlet]

18. Frankly? The fact that it is an ad that promotes this orginization is enough for me.

But I seriously doubt the ad will promote a middle ground as you suggest it may. It won't be "make the choice that is best for you". I think the odds that the earth will open up and swallow me whole are greater. Even if they don't explicitly promote the full brunt of their agenda in the ad, they're getting their name out there and that helps promote their agenda further, and that goes farther than just abortion. So, all this crap about Tebow being so brave to stand up for what he believes in makes me barf, especially when I see it here on DU. Bravery for standing up and defending Focus on the Family? Give me a break.

[Initech]

9. James Dobson outed the Teletubbies.

If that doesn't say crazy anti-gay, anti-choice, anti-progressive, nothing does.

[Pithlet]

13. Exactly. The mere existence of a FOTF commercial during the superbowl is disturbing enough.

Their entire agenda is extreme. There is no middle ground with them.

[Initech]

29. I was telling my dad the mere fact Tebow sides with these lunatics is scary enough.

No justification for it ever.

[ElmoBlatz]

23. The ad hasn't even been shot yet

So no one knows. But its SOOO easy to bloviate from the safety of a keyboard (as you've noticed) when you don't really know.

If it doesn't address legality but just says, hey, I had a kid, and i'm glad I did, is that so bad?

[Pithlet]

24. When it's funded by a group pushing heavily to outlaw abortion? Yes. It's bad.

I had kids. I'm glad I had them too. The difference is I'm not pushing to take away that choice from other women. Trying to pass this off as an innocent commercial by a woman who's just simply happy she had her son is deceptive to say the least.

I wouldn't be so hell bent out of shape about this commercial if CBS hadn't refused to show adds by liberal special interest groups. That's what's crap about the whole thing. Focus on the Family gets a pass? I've let CBS know how I feel about that.

[ElmoBlatz]

25. I'll pass judgment after I actually see it

All this outrage over something that doesn't even exist yet is a bit silly.

[Pithlet]

26. Edit never mind

It probably wouldn't even matter what the content was, would it?

[slackmaster]

68. Apparently it wouldn't matter to a lot of us

:shrug:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

32. It's FOCUS ON THE FAMILY. Doesn't that tell you anything? -nt

[comrade snarky]

16. Yeah, It takes a lot of guts

To stand up for the religion of only 80% of the country.

Guts is standing up for what's right when it isn't popular, let me know when Tebow does that.

[devilgrrl]

17. I couldn't disagree more.

But I defend your right to say it.

[DefenseLawyer]

19. Gator fan?

Just a guess.

[Johonny]

33. Nope

I just find it ironic that Tiger Woods got bashed so much on the DU for never really taking a stand and being a commercial shill. And yet Tim Tebow gets Bashed because he is far to open to the press on his opinions (mostly religious and conservative). I'd call it ironic but mostly it's just sad. I guess I'm tied of having to hate people I disagree with.

[Blue_Tires]

46. i'm not bashing him for having an opinion; i'm bashing the opinion itself

AND especially the absolutely evil pseudo-christian zealot bigots he's getting in bed with and attaching his name and credibility to...He's still shilling, but just for a different 'corporation'...

:eyes:

[Kalyke]

58. I bash him.

For someone who is such an alleged Christian, he sure doesn't show it on the sidelines. He's forever yelling and screaming at his teammates and kicking things.

By your fruits shall I know ye, Timmy, and your withered fruit is full of the worms of judgment, ill-will and hypocrisy.

[Name removed]

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[athenasatanjesus]

22. I hope the Niners draft him that would be too funny...NT

[gratuitous]

27. Zzzzz, whuh?

Oh, pampered college athlete says something "controversial," takes stand. Whoa, that's gutsy. Puts himself right out there, he does. Almost like a real person. But unlike a real person, he isn't there for the give-and-take of discussion or argument. He's just put on a pedestal, given a several million dollar podium to declaim from, and then gets to go back inside his privileged bubble, unanswerable to anyone who might disagree with him.

Oh, it's refreshing all right. Never seen anything like it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

31. Oprah got Obama into office?

I learn something new every day.

[Johonny]

35. never said that

I said Oprah is very influential and her endorsement certainly helped. If you don't understand how influential she is that's find. OBama clearly did because he knows how to campaign. It amazed me she never was political before Obama's election run and oddly not much after it either.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

44. Yeah you did.

[Johonny]

52. So people that work on a campaign

aren't considered as getting a person into office. I guess I'm wrong. LOL. Yah I meant she single handed got him in office. Oprah appoints and boom there you go. You're just being an * to be and *. It's ok I love you anyways.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

54. OK, I'll be the *.

You can be the guy that supports Tebow and his misogynistic trash, while attacking Oprah for supporting Obama.

And I'll be the *.

[Name removed]

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[belpejic]

36. The nice, and just, thing about Tebow

Is that his lack of NFL talent will make him go away soon enough. Fitting!

[Blue_Tires]

48. +1

that's why they are trying to cash in on him now, before the draft...

[Johonny]

49. Oh we wish that were true

I see him sitting next to Joe Buck on FOX sports. I'm praying he gets wiser as he gets older because I think he's around for the long haul.

[joeybee12]

37. It doesn't take guts to espouse ignorance...

...I refuse to equate bigotry, sexism and homophobia with "beliefs."

[Iggo]

38. He's allowed to do it....

...and I'm allowed to fuckin hate him for it and to talk shit about him all day long.

No problem.

Fuck Tim Tebow.

[pipi_k]

39. Sports and religion just do not belong together

Nor government and religion.

Nor mainstream entertainment and religion.

Nor any other aspect of daily life.



I don't care what someone's faith is. They just need to keep it to themselves until and unless they're asked.

[FormerDittoHead]

47. Then why do they always thank God / Jesus when they win?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=215x132448

on edit:

[stanwyck]

73. I guess when they lose it's because Jesus hates them. n/t

[VMI Dem]

40. I don't care about his abortion position.

He is associating with a hate group in making this ad. So fuck him.

[UTUSN]

41. That's one spin O'LOOFAH can use with the one he used last night:

He "hosted" (not letting her talk) the bigwig of some pro-Choice group, probably Planned Parenthood.

First, he set it up that NOBODY has seen the ad, that CBS won't let anybody see it yet, dampening down whatever it might be as supposed speculation.

But then he steered it all toward the dude saying his mother was told her health problem at the time meant she should abort and that she showed tremendous courage by choosing to have the birth, AND -------------here's the kicker----------- that the birth (HIM) is such a WORTHY, WONDERFUL, GIGANTICALLY FANTASTIC human that this shows how wrong THAT abortion would have been.

Iow, O'LOOFAH framed it like, it was all about this ONE dude, NOT about ALL abortions

The guest tried mightily to make her point that, despite the dude's focusing on himself, his message was AGAINST ALL choice as potentially cutting off WORTHY, WONDERFUL, GIGANTICALLY FANTASTIC football humans. Plus that the sponsoring organization is welll known as the anti-Choice, homophobic, etc., that it is, which makes WHATEVER message, no matter WHAT the package is, anti-Choice for ALL.

Not being hostile to the O.P. at all, just saying, why does the dude's "courage" need to be mixed into a hugh sports event?! I also chafed when Bill CLINTON had his personal peccadillos doing the same thing.

[lib2DaBone]

42. Last night on ABC NEws Tebow said, "Most athletes don't stand up for what they believe".

.. I bet there are a few guys in the NFL and NBA who work for the United Way that would disagree with Timmy....

[Johonny]

53. actually

I bet most sports writers would agree with him. Anyways I'm pretty sure the United way is a conservative organization in many respects...

[Kalyke]

61. Peyton Manning stands up for his beliefs.

He supports the Red Cross and has championed for AIDS research, disaster relief (via the Red Cross, I assume) and human rights. He also established the Peyback Foundation to help disadvantaged children in Louisiana, Tennessee, and Indiana.

I'd have to say that for a good-ole Louisiana boy cum Tennessee-favorite-son cum Indianian, he sure does support a lot of progressive causes.

That's because his Mama taught him right.

[Obamanaut]

66. He's one. The statement was "...most athletes..." n/t

[retread]

80. Most athletes aren't fanatical nut-jobs either. n/t

[Tommy_Carcetti]

43. I've got no problem with it.

People are going to have opinions, whether you agree with them or not. Regular people, famous people, it doesn't matter.

As long as he isn't espousing hate or bigotry, I've got no problem with it.

[Blue_Tires]

50. I didn't know Oprah was supposed to use her show to advance Obama's agenda

but thanks for informing me...

and for the record, she has been vocal about social issues for a long while, but I'm getting the strange feeling you've never actually seen an episode of her show...

[mmonk]

51. All I have to do is look at this Supreme Court

and see what the pro-life side gives our "democracy". These radicals they helped put on our courts are not just concerned with "saving babies".

[lame54]

56. It's an anti-CHOICE ad where the mother brags about her CHOICE...

hypocrisy

[newspeak]

57. I'm with you

It's an anti-choice ad. They were talking about this, I believe on MSNBC, and someone stated that a pro-life ad was going to air on superbowl day. I thought there is nothing pro-life about most of these people--most are pro-war, bombing the shite out of other people's children, pro-death penalty, and pro-doctor killing. There is nothing about pro-life about most--but, those who are against war and the death penalty, at least I respect your position.

They thought there was something wrong during the pregnancy, but his mom still decided to have him. Great for her--she made the choice to have him. My mom from a strict religious family became pregnant with me and attempted to abort--being rather naive as a teen, the old wives tale methods didn't work. So, she had to face the repercussions and the guilt--and I believe, it affected her whole life. I've wondered about what would have happened if she did successfully abort--well, I wouldn't be here, but I wouldn't know--and, I'm not kissing the ground that I was spared. Because, it wouldn't have mattered to me being a fetus--but, it does matter to me that my mom had such a hard life and continued to make other mistakes because she felt she did not deserve to be happy because of her little "sin", me.

As he feels happy his mother made the decision to keep him--I on the other hand feel indifferent about it.

[Iggo]

59. Then maybe we need to start calling it a Pro Choice ad.

And start heaping praise and accolades on Tim Tebow for being pro-choice.

[lame54]

60. steal their ad while they foot the bill...

I love it

[slackmaster]

67. How do you know it's an anti-choice ad?

Have you seen it yet?

I haven't.

[lame54]

74. it's sponsored by Focus on the Family

[slackmaster]

75. AND...

You really don't know exactly what Mr. Tebow will say.

[newspeak]

62. I like your way of thinking

you're right, she got to choose.

[cry baby]

64. He has the freedom to say what he wants...his mother had a choice - that is a good thing. nt

[HuckleB]

69. The ad is funded by Focus On The Family.

We're talking some sick bigotry there. Sorry, there are stands, and there are stands. Tebow chose to go with an ugly, bigoted group to push this stand, and that makes this stand unethical.

[Initech]

70. I was trying to argue that point last night.

I don't give a shit what Tebow's stance on abortion is. The fact that he chooses to side with one of the most bigoted, hateful, insane groups in the country is just inexcusable.

[Coexist]

71. its supposed to be a recap of his mom's tired church tour story

about how the evil mds tried to tie her down and abort her fetus and THE RIGHTEOUS HOLIER THAN THOU god-fearing woman she was, along with help from her unborn superman, fought them all off so he could be birthed and save UF from mediocrity and blank eye black. i have friends in whose churches she has witnessed her 'lifeforce'

I say this a Floridian who has UF Gator Nation tags, an entire Gator tshirt collection, and someone who forked out over a thousand bucks to watch them play this year. I love the Gators. Love watching Tebow play football, and really do hope he gets to play in the NFL. I also say this as someone who wonders why a student majoring in group hugs is circumcising infants in third world conditions. That is weird, dangerous and just wrong (and why circumcision? couldn't the time/funds be used for something more important for these impoverished kids? are they Jewish and after the bris they try to convert them? I don't get it???)

Anyhow, word is down here, that FOTF has helped her do her gruesome church tour and she is returning the favor, sucking some publicity off the coaching talent of the University of Florida.

I think its kinda sick what she does... once he was old enough to understand, as a mom, I woulda' laid off the 'the docs wanted me to kill you in utero' speechifying. Geesh, no wonder the kid is hyper-competitive and is obsessed with showing the world he has a right to be here and can play wherever he wants with the 'undamaged' kids.

anyhow, thought I'd jump in.

[walldude]

78. Until a few days ago I didn't know what a Tim Tebow was

and now I care even less. Why people get all worked up about sports is beyond me.

[retread]

79. My hope is that he is drafted by a pro team with a shitty offensive line. n/t

[proteus_lives]

81. It's the way it works around here.

If he was filming a Pro-Choice commerical for the Super-Bowl, he'd be loved here and hated on FR.

But it's the reverse.

I could give a fuck. I disagree with his statement but he has a right to throw it out there.