Ah the Super Bowl—the great American event that gave us the “wardrobe malfunction.” Every year, it promises some new controversy thanks to a halftime performer’s shocking exposure, or a particularly bad call, or at least, one very heinous commercial.
This year, even before the game has started, Super Bowl commercials are sparking an uproar over which ads CBS—the network airing the game—will run and which ads it won’t. The network’s choices have led to claims of political bias and censorship, and generally a whole lot of hullabaloo and name calling. These and other brouhahas have filled the dead air time before the big game. There are still a few days to go, but here’s a list of the biggest Super Bowl controversies so far.
1. Focus on the family’s “anti-abortion” ad.
This accepted 30-second spot stars handsome and well-spoken University of Florida football star Tim Tebow. It tells the story of how his mother decided not to end a pregnancy—despite suffering from amoebic dysentery—and how that decision produced handsome and well-spoken Florida football star Tim Tebow. The commercial never mentions the words “abortion” or “pro-life,” but if you connect the dots, the message is pretty clear. The ad’s contentious nature is rare for Super Bowl commercials, and many believe CBS risks a major blow back by agreeing to show it.
Common Sense 360 says: The network will face mounting pressure, but won’t back down: how can you say no to Tim Tebow?
2. Man Crunch’s same sex dating ad.
A gay matchmaking site, Man Crunch, submitted an ad that showed two men kissing. The ad was rejected allegedly for its content, although there is some speculation that the company did not have the $3 million necessary for the ad and was just looking for some easy publicity.
Common Sense 360 says: Football is all about manly slaps on the behind, man hugs, and huge pileups of guys grabbing each other, but it’s just not ready for two dudes kissing—regardless of finances, CBS wouldn’t have shown this ad.
3. GoDaddy.com’s ad with effeminate football player.
Another rejected ad came courtesy of GoDaddy.com, the invariably provocative web hosting company. They sent CBS a commercial featuring a fictional football player named Lola, who changes careers to become an effeminate lingerie designer. GoDaddy said the Ad received huge approval ratings on its website, but CBS took issue with the commercial’s “stereotypical” nature.
Common Sense 360 says: GoDaddy’s women-in-underwear advertising strategy means the well-publicized rejection will cause a jump in 16-year-old boy web-traffic to their site. The company will be happy to settle for this.
4. Super Bowl tickets too expensive for everyday fans.
It’s become an established fact that most people actually attending the Super Bowl are members of the media, very rich and their families, and incredibly famous. The NFL does make an effort to counter this, by providing a little less than 15% of tickets go to the Super Bowl teams, who raffle the “rights” to buy them off to season ticket holders. Winners get a chance to buy tickets at face value for between $700 and $1,000. Another option is using ticketmaster to buy a $1,425 ticket (currently the cheapest one).
Common Sense 360 says: Average fans will be happier watching the game at home with family and friends than they would with Super Bowl tickets next to some jerk from AIG.
5. The New Orleans Saints stole their slogan?
“Who dat, who dat, who dat say gone beat dem Saints?” The cheer has accompanied the Saints march to the Super Bowl, capturing the lively, resilient spirit of New Orleans, while provoking the anger of some long-time Cincinnati Bengal fans. Cincinnatians, it seems, used the cheer “Who dey, who dey, who dey say gone beat Dem Bengals?” in 1981.
Common Sense 360 says: It may not be entirely original, but who can really begrudge New Orleans a cheer after persevering through hurricane Katrina, and so many decades of very bad Saints’ football? Bengals fans should concentrate city-wide outrage on their team’s latest nickname, “the Bungles.”
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Man, I’m getting really tired of Katrina being the excuse for anything. I was on the fence for who to cheer for, but you helped me decide. Go Colts!
First of all, Cincy started using “who dey” after the saints. 2ndly, Tim Tebow and urban meyer fuck eachother
Agreed, Eric. . . The Saints have been using the “Who dat?!” slogan for at least a year longer than the Bengals had been using “Who Dey?!” In 1980 and 1981, Double Dutch Bus released the single “Who Dat?!” and it was used by both the New Orleans Saints, and the LSU Tigers basketball team. In 1981, the LSU basketball team, with Rudy Macklin, Ethan Martin, Howard Carter, Greg Cook, DeWayne Scales, and Willie Simms went to the Final Four but were defeated by Indiana in the semi-finals. “Who Dat (Say Dey Gonna Beat Dem Tigers)?!” was a huge hit in Louisiana for fans of LSU basketball. Thus, in my opinion, Cincy stole the slogan from LSU.