I think this New York Times article is a bit simplified, as there is far more to fitness than the basic strength developed from doing push-ups. However, this article on the push-up as the enduring measure of fitness is quite refreshing for the mainstream media. The Conditioning Research blog has some nice comments on this article.

As the article states, Jack LaLanne did 1,000 push-ups in 23 minutes, which is mind-boggling.

As an aside, my favorite gizmo for working this exercise is the Perfect Push-Up, which allows for varied techniques (wide, narrow, one-arm assisted) without placing unwelcome strain on the wrists and joints. Unfortunately, I have joint "issues" which forces me to work out smart to avoid unnecessary, joint-damaging strain. This product is truly a useful tool for one's fitness arsenal - it is not a silly gimmick.