Yet another reason why I could care less about the NFL

NFL fumbles on church event

Blow the whistle. There's no need for further review. The NFL deserves a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The rich and powerful NFL, which on Sunday will stage what is arguably the most popular annual sporting event in the world, had the audacity to send a letter to pastor John D. Newland of Indianapolis' Fall Creek Baptist Church demanding that the congregation cancel its Super Bowl party.

The church's infractions? Members planned to project Sunday's matchup between the Colts and Bears on a 12-foot screen. The church also asked visitors to donate money for snacks. And the congregation planned to show a video proclaiming the Christian witness of coaches Tony Dungy of the Colts and Lovie Smith of the Bears.

The league stipulates that games may be shown to public gatherings on screens 55-inches or smaller. No donations. And no testimonies.
Sports bars, however, according to the league, are exempt from the TV-screen and cover charge restrictions. Presumably, the league also wouldn't object if the well-lubricated guy on the stool next to you stood up at halftime to talk about how football changed his life.

It was bad enough when NFL teams began holding cities hostage in demanding new stadiums. Now the league wants to dictate to churches the content of their own halftime shows.

The NFL should be sent to the end of the bench for this fumble.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...401/-1/ZONES04