I wonder if this is kind of what McLuhan meant by "The medium is the message".  In other words (if I'm not materially oversimplifying), the substance is basically irrelevant in relation to the presentation.  That assumes, of course, that the point is not to sell Tebow as well as sugar water.  Having said that, I suddenly want to explore the hypothesis that McLuhan's concept is the opposite of Goebbels' "Big Lie". 

If you're wondering what the fuck is wrong with me, I'm afraid I don't know.  I DID catch a whiff of reefer on my late-night bike ride last night; can that trigger flashbacks?

Just yesterday I was walking in the book section of the store and saw a book with Tim Tebow on the front.  I didnt pick it up or even read the title but it looked to be an autobiography.  I dont know how good an autobiography can be after a single season in the NFL.  He might have a fine career someday but for some reason I think this guy think he has already made it.

Not really. Bush stayed out of it, just as he stayed out of Vietnam while Kerry served and earned medals. The RNC rounded up a bunch of veterans who may or may not have been in the same unit as Kerry to dispute his record, so the great military mind who rarely bothered to show up to protect the Gulf of Mexico from an invasion by the Viet Cong could get elected.

tkihshbt wrote:

No one may have thought he'd play in the NFL, but for chrissakes, Tebow was the Florida High School Player of the Year, Florida's Mr. Football and one of the top D-1 recruits in the country. That commercial sucks.

I didn't know all that. But I've been able to find out the previous Mr. Florida winners include Daunte Culpepper, Travis Henry, Anquan Boldin, Leon Washington and Jacory Harris. So the expectations were very much that he'd be a D1 player and an NFL draft choice.

"Also, this wasn't little Doug Flutie running around racking up awards"

I believe a slight correction is in order. That's "award" singular; not "awards," plural. Unless someone gave him a badge or something for being a member of the Lollipop Guild.

artie_fufkin wrote:

"Also, this wasn't little Doug Flutie running around racking up awards"

I believe a slight correction is in order. That's "award" singular; not "awards," plural. Unless someone gave him a badge or something for being a member of the Lollipop Guild.

Actually, "awards" is correct.

Career highlights and awards

Pro Bowl selection (1998)
CFL All-Star selection 1991-1994, 1996-1997
1984 Heisman Trophy
1984 Walter Camp Award
1984 Davey O'Brien Award
1984 Maxwell Award
1984 UPI Player of the Year
1998 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
3× Grey Cup champion
3× Grey Cup MVP (1992, 1996, 1997)
6× CFL's Most Outstanding Player (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997)
1983 Liberty Bowl MVP
2010 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award

I like how it takes about 2 seconds of the commercial for the camera to shoot a profile shot.

forsberg_us wrote:

"Has there ever been an athlete other than Tebow whose favorable press has been more disproportionate to his skill?"

If we can make this question gender neutral, I'm going to cast a vote for Michelle Wie.  That stupid Kia commercial of hers seems to air at least 3 times a game these days.  She was supposed to be a female version of Tiger Woods (in terms of golf ability, not sexual prowess).  Has she even ever won a professional tournament?  I remember it was cute when she used to make an LPGA cut as a 15 year old.  It doesn't seem like she ever got much better than someone who just makes the cut.

I know where you're going with this, and I certainly agree Wie's hype is disproportionate to her talent. She's won a couple of tournaments, and finished second in a major (yes, I had to look that up), so you'd have to put her at least one level ahead of Kournikova, who never won a singles tournament, ever.
The intangible, of course, for both of them is their appeal. I'm sure someone will argue this is unfair, but no one will ever give Tim Tebow any money because of how he looks in a bikini.

forsberg_us wrote:

I forgot about Kournikova, but that's a great call.  Her "talent" had nothing to do with her ability with a tennis raquet.

You've got to admit the intangibles were impressive, though.