The Obsession With The Celebrity

The young man on TV, with the gleaming teeth, spoke to the people to his left and right – as they poured their questions out. He was a little frustrated as he answered the last question, “This is my last question I will answer about ‘the leg’….”

One of the questions caught my attention. The person asked, “When you go out to the Mall or the store what are people’s reactions to you being there?”

The young man looked at the questioner… and said, “I don’t go out. I don’t go anywhere. It is too difficult and you learn that it is just better not to go out. I stay home and do that a lot. That just comes with what I do.”

There was no follow up to that questioner’s question and answer.

Looking at the photo, do you have any idea of who this guy is? He is our latest and greatest hero. This weekend there will be only one other person that will be as popular in the United States. But as the TV cameras zoomed in closely – this is the man to follow closely this next Sunday.

This is Tom Brady – quarterback for the New England Patriots who will be playing in the Super Bowl XLII this coming Sunday. His Team has not lost a game – so every one is betting that they will win this BIG GAME.

This past week there has been nothing but Super Bowl Stuff on Satellite TV. It has taken over the USA Primary Election stuff. What a potential President for the USA might say that would change the world, stop a War, feed the hungry or provide health care for everyone – IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT TOM BRADY SAYS or DOES.

The intense scrutiny of Mr. Tom Brady is not only because they are a winning team – it is because he has his leg in a walking caste and has been seen walking with a limp from his car to his house. He was wearing a ‘hoody’ to protect his identity… and wouldn’t stop for reporters and cameras massed outside his home.

If the NUMBER ONE quarterback is hurting – IT IS NEWS! How will their chances of winning ever be solid as everyone predicted – if the main man is hurting…or maybe couldn’t play?

No wonder he didn’t want to answer anymore questions about his leg.
Now add to that… can you imagine his feelings and the stir he would cause by going to the Mall to buy a simple deodorant stick… or got out for dinner… or stop and buy an ice cream at the Mall?

Tom Brady is a “Celeb”… what he says… what he does…who he talks to…who he dates or is seen with is news.

Why – for goodness sake – does a young man mean that much to everyone?

Last night I was in a Drug Store before coming home… I turned around and bumped into an almost life size cardboard cut out. I was about to apologize – until I realized he wasn’t real. I stopped and came real close to his face to see him better. Too bad someone didn’t have a camera for that one… this old, tired, white haired minister that used to play football… with his nose up close looking at young Tom Brady’s cut out. I met the “Celeb” up close and my heart skipped a beat…a cardboard beat at least.

In a social setting a while ago the guys and gals were telling stories about their ‘close-encounters-of-a-Celeb-kind’. One person stated how they had a famous person come into their place of business. She saw the name on the credit card and confirmed that this was the Celeb she thought it was. The next person, not to be outdone, told of her two encounter with Celebs of different kinds. Before long we all realized that we had encountered Celebs everywhere…. We all had stories…except one person that weakly stated, “I saw our city mayor at a garden party one time…”

We realized that you aren’t somebody – unless you know something about a SOMEBODY – and if you have seen or talked to a SOMEBODY CELEB… you can climb out of your NOBODY HOLE for a short time… and become a little somebody.

That is my thought of why we are so fascinated with SOMEBODIES…

There is “ET Tonight”(Entertainment Tonight), the Oscars, the Actors, and all the TV shows that feature SOMEBODIES – doing something.

This weekend the Super Bowl XLII Football Game is only a small part of the major story – the real fact is that over 95 Million people will tune in to see it all happen. It is BIG BUSINESS!

Did you know that one 30 SECOND Advertisement run during this Super Game will cost $2.7 MILLION DOLLARS. Do you know what it is for… what they are advertising? They are pumping the “Tide to Go” cleaning pen. No kidding! $2.7 Million Dollars for 30 seconds time to tell whoever might be watching that the Tide to Go Pen that helps take out stains and dirty spots when you are on the go….

How important are the adds? Well – they know now that people will go to the bathroom during the actual game so that they will not miss the TV Advertisement at the commercial break. No kidding!

No wonder Tom Brady’s leg, Tom Brady’s deodorant, his trips to Malls, or whatever Tom does is SUPER IMPORTANT – CELEBS HELP OTHER PEOPLE MAKE AND SPEND MONEY!

The Football Jersey not shown here is $79 US – because it has Tom’s name on it. There is another one above that is worth far less – just because of a name.

And – OH YES – it does have something to do with Christianity and Church. Take the Name of Jesus(our Celeb) out of our mix and our product line… and we will lose our ratings real fast. Christians pretty much have only Jesus…and a bit of Football this Sunday.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Resources
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080130/superbowl_tv_080130/20080130?hub=Entertainment

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hD1xIttsNI6N9IrB9sLW7mO0rpogD8UHCDSO2