NFL: Super Bowl Fumble

“And there’s a fumble on the play” — The rich and powerful NFL, had a big miss this week as it gets ready for the most popular annual sporting event in the world.

Its lawyers sent a letter to pastor John D. Newland of Indianapolis’ Fall Creek Baptist Church demanding that the congregation cancel its Super Bowl party. What did the church do that caused such swift action by the NFL? The Church had organized a showing of Sunday’s Super Bowl matchup between the Colts and Bears on a 12-foot projection screen, and asked attendees to kick in a couple of bucks for snacks. Its “Super Bowl Party” was to include an evangelistic element: a video of Colts coach Tony Dungy and several of his players talking about Jesus.

NFL lawyers found the announcement on the church’s website and FedEx’ed a cease-and -desist order. The church’s large screen (only screens 55 inches and smaller are allowed), use of the words “Super Bowl,” and other plans violated copyright laws, the lawyers said. So does the evangelistic video. NFL assistant counsel Rachel L. Margolies wrote to the congregation, according to The Indianapolis Star: “While this may be a noble message, we are consistent in refusing the use of our game broadcasts in connection with events that promote a message, no matter the content.” There’s no word on how many other churches have been contacted by the NFL, or whether Lovie Smith’s own church, which was planning to show the game on a projection screen to up to 1,000 people, has special dispensation.