ESPN pundit pens Condescending, Idiotic Column of the Year!

And it's only February! Quite the feat. Clap, clap. So congrats to ESPN columnist Tim Keown, who not only disses Tim Tebow for having the gall to appear in a pro-life television commercial (that may or may not air during the Super Bowl), but manages to breathlessly imply that fundamentalist Protestants, home schoolers, Christians who believe in absolutes, and college-aged Christians are not only morons, but are out to—gulp, get this!—tell the world what they believe, which is the height of insensitive proselytism:

This has nothing to do with Tim Tebow's beliefs, or his intentions, or his vision of himself as a missionary for Christ. However, it's worth saying: Tebow should be careful. For his own sake.

Meaning...what? It's not entirely clear, since Keown is heavy with the vague insinuation and light with any persuasive argument. He apparently thinks that a twenty-something-year-old young man who holds to absolute beliefs about the sanctity of life must be a mindless pawn in the sinister hands of the diabolical Fundamentalist Right and its quacky pseudo-psychologist leader, Dr. Doom—er, Dobson:

It's difficult to imagine an athlete as susceptible to manipulation and exploitation as Tebow. Why? Because this isn't about something as transparent as crass commercialization; this is about causes and political battles and the prospect of saving souls. Tebow represents certainty, fortitude, resolve. There does not appear to be any visible gray area in Tebow's world, and there are times when those of us who see the world through shades of gray would trade places. It's got to be far easier to be so sure.

And so it is instructive to note that Tebow's first venture into the world of endorsements does not involve shoes or phones or video games. It involves a controversial Super Bowl anti-abortion ad funded and sponsored by Focus on the Family, which was founded and anchored by former leader James Dobson. The die has been cast.

Keown then writes, "Focus on the Family is a far-right, fundamentalist organization that does many good deeds and holds many views that are outside of mainstream thinking." Unsuspecting readers who assume that James Dobson got his degree from BobJonesQuickandCheapDegrees.com might be surprised to learn that Dobson earned his doctorate in child development from that great bastion of Fundamentalist learning, the University of Southern California, and was an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine for many years. He is a licensed psychologist in the State of California, he has some sixteen honorary doctorates, and was given the Humanitarian Award by the California Psychological Association in 1988. My goodness—the man received a special commendation from President Jimmy Carter in 1980 for his work with the White House Conference on Families, and has worked to fight child pornography, gambling addiction, teen pregnancy, and child abuse. And on and on and on.

Which is not to say, of course, that Dobson is perfect. Nor do I think Dobson is infallible when it comes to advice about raising kids, nor am I interested in running a fan club for him. No, I'm simply noting that Keown is carrying out a fairly obvious bit of character assassination, especially when you consider it can be reasonably argued that most Americans—the "mainstream", if you will—would agree with many, if not most, of Dobson's views about marriage, abortion, child molestation, pornography, homosexuality, "gay marriage," and related issues. However, I think Keown's idea of "mainstream" is more in line with the views of most media types (most sports writers are embarrassingly politically-correct and trendy-lefty)—that is to say, any and all recreational activities among consenting adults is well and good. Except sharing your religious and moral convictions of course; that is simply outrageous, even dangerous.

This attention to Dobson is made necessary because it seems clear the heart of Keown's case against Tebow being involved in the controversial (and still unseen) pro-life commercial is Dobson's involvement:

What does Dobson have to do with Tebow? In much the same way that Michael Jordan shouldn't have been able to plead ignorance on child-labor charges against Nike, Tebow shouldn't be able to distance himself from the seamier aspects of Focus on the Family. He is, after all, representing them on the biggest advertising stage in the history of man's epic quest for hyperbole. There's some responsibility there.

"Seamier"? It is always sad when a man who makes his living with words misuses the English language in order to smear the innocent. The words "seamy" and "seamier," for those keeping score at home, refer to actions and ideas that are sordid, base, morally degenerate and degraded, even perverse. Keown doesn't like Dobson's advice about spanking children and his stance against "gay marriage," so Focus on the Family is described as having seamy aspects. Who needs religious hyperbole when you can have secular hysteria?

But, for my money, the most arrogant and pathetic statement in Keown's screed is this:

Tebow is not an innocent, and he does not appear to be deluded. He may agree with everything Focus on the Family represents. But he's still a young man, still breathing the fumes of a home-schooled background with two parents who believe in the inerrancy of every single word of the Bible. Now, they could be right and I could be wrong on the Bible thing -- although it's going to be hard to convince me the whole belly-of-the-whale thing wasn't allegory -- but he could be setting himself up to be associated with causes and beliefs that may not be his own. All the qualities that make him admirable -- earnestness, devotion, a willingness to expound on his beliefs -- make him vulnerable.

Yes, "still breathing the fumes of a home-schooled background", even after four (or five?) years at a major, secular university. Say what you will about fundamentalist Bible-thumpers, they sure do know how to brainwash their kids! (Unlike—wink, wink—kids who go to public schools and never encounter any sort of ideologically-driven and politically-motivated "education".) But, seriously, as someone who was raised in a staunchly fundamentalist home and church, I know fairly well the pros and cons of such an upbringing (I actually attended a public school, but my wife and I home school our children). And there is a spectrum within fundamentalism, which is not at all a monolithic entity, not even close. All of which makes for fascinating conversation, but it shouldn't obscure the fact that folks such as Keown are, in a very real way, just as much or more absolutist, rigid, and morally self-righteous as any so-called Christian fundamentalist.

• Joy Behar of "The View" spews sick, sexist, pro-abort stupidity (January 27, 2010)

Comments

[Evan]

Thanks for pointing this out... I'm usually contrary on your blog, and tend to be quieter when I agree and don't have much to say, so I thought I'd actually voice my appreciation this time. Like you I'm not sold on the whole FotF thing, but it's a shame that such a promising opportunity like this is getting so attacked by some quarters.

I think this column was probably well-meaning, and a good bit of it wasn't so bad, but you bring up some really atrocious mischaracterizations here. Thanks for that.

[Greg]

Carl, thank you so much for posting this!

I'm anxious to see how pro-life CBS let this Tebow/Focus on the Family commercial be. In any case, all those who are fuming about it have helped bring more and more attention to the story, which is great for the pro-life cause!

My favorite dose of publicity came at the end of this interview (see following link) when the current president and CEO of Focus on the Family said to the pro-abortion guest, "I'm glad your mom chose life".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4ePbkodDAQ

[catholic-vision.blogspot.com]

ESPN has an Ombudsman, maybe he would want to hear this. Probably not, but you never know.

[Titus]

There hasn't been an intelligent sports writer in this country in half a century, maybe longer. The entire industry can barely string together three coherent sentences when talking about sports. When they write on anything else, Katie bar the door.

[Ed Peters]

ESPN is infested with liberal anchor wannabees, and it’s really tiring to have my politics, and often Faith, routinely jabbed at by SPORTS ANALYSTS, for crying out loud, when I’m watching football. Chris Fowler is the worst. I always, always watch Fox sports when I have a choice, cuz at least I’m not going to be smirked at.

ESPN is really, really full of itself. I can barely stand it, and often, I just channel surf right past it. Life is too short for such gratuitous irritations.

[No Man]

This is validation for my practice of turning off the audio when watching sports events on ESPN.

[Kate]

I guess Keown would rather Tebow was less strict about his ideals and more like, say.... Tiger Woods?

[Greg]

All ESPN haters out there, please note that the following article was placed side-by-side with the one picked apart by Carl:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=hill/100202

[Gail F]

Greg, thanks for posting that other commentary, it is intelligent and well-written. While I don't agree with the author on everything, it's a nice summation and a good counter to the one Carl posted.

I for one think it's funny that ESPN is entering the fray here. Both writers talk about the dangers of sports figures taking a stand on a controversial issue (I guess that's reserved for Hollywood stars and popular singers), while simultaneously taking a stand on the same issue.

[Laura]

Thanks for another great post, Carl. I love your sarcastic sense of humor. It's amusing to watch the media -- sports writers and all -- make total fools of themselves when they talk about issues they have no clue about (fundamentalist, indeed! To the left, that word is used to label anyone who actually has some moral values). The sad part is that there are people who actually fall for this kind of writing and "thinking" hook, line, and sinker!

[Howard]

What we have here is a minor bit player (I listen to a lot of ESPN radio and watch the games, but I don't recall ever hearing of this guy) heroically toeing the (Disney, which owns ESPN) company line. Really, it's more pathetic than anything. He knows that Tebow's spot will be watched by hundreds of millions, but his column will be read by (perhaps) hundreds of thousands -- not the millions who listen to Mike and Mike in the Morning on their way to work. This is not the way to make a name for himself, though.

[Ed Peters]

Greg, that ESPN (doubtless under great pressure) actually posted something intelligent on a social topic, proves nothing.

Everytime Fowler, et al., weigh in politics, it is ALWAYS liberal and Democratic, and it is never rebutted. Once in a while, I admit, Herbstreit lets slip some surprise at something stupid Fowler says, but never disagreement. The rest just cheer him on.

I don't hate ESPN. I am sick of it. I tune in for sports. Not for jibes at conservatives. So, I rarely tune in ESPN anymore, and when I do, it usually get my voice over from the computer or a radio.

[Kmbold]

The Tebow ad nearly slipped past my husband and me. After it was over, we looked at each other in astonishment and said "That was it?" So that is "dangerous" but the other tacky, vulgar, ugly ads are uplifting? I can take only so much absurdity...

[AJ Mauldin]

NOW is protesting Tebow's ad because it advocates violence against women.