Top '11' Stories of 2014 - CBS Sports Rejects Pledge of Allegiance Local TV Ad

CBS Regional Sports set off a brief, but fierce firestorm in September by rejecting a locally produced TV ad that featured an adorable little girl saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

It was WHY they rejected it that resulted in thousands of emails and phone calls to CBS Sports.

Windermere Real Estate produced the ad, featuring a the 4-year-old granddaughter of one of the Windermere founders. She says the Pledge, and the ad ends with a voice over simply saying "Windermere Real Estate" and giving their location.

A very powerful, simple and charming ad. But CBS rejected it, saying it was too political. As Newstalk 870 told you in September:

"A CBS official named Jordan Bradley had said in an e-mail that the ad was rejected because it was political in nature."

We might have incited some of the hubub because we published the national and regional phone numbers and email addresses for CBS officials, so YOU could call and email and show your displeasure....wink wink!

The ad was produced and supposed to be part of an advertising package around the CBS broadcast of the Wrangler Champions Challenge. It's a national tour of the best of the best PRCA rodeo competitors (many former and current World Champions) who competed in an "All-Star" only type rodeo. The ad was to run during the CBS broadcast of the Challenge that was filmed during their stop at the 2014 Benton Franklin Fair and Horse Heaven Roundup Rodeo.

The ad didn't contain any partisan or political message - simply the Pledge, which is why Windermere officials - as well as the rest of our region - were baffled by the rejection.

Watch the ad, and see for yourself. It was certainly one of the big stories of the year! As of December 19th, 2014, it had over 368,000 views on YouTube! (video courtesy of Windermere Real Estate of Tri-Cities)

To watch this video, click on button below.

Windermere video