Shame on the NFL

link: NFL forces Church to cancel viewing of the Big Game

"The NFL is telling Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis that the church's plans to use a wall projector to show the game at a party for church members and guests would violate copyright laws."

Yes, BARS can display the game on a big screen, but churches can't. Yes, a BAR can make money selling food and alcohol to people who come to their establishment to watch the game, but churches can't even ask everyone to chip in five bucks to pay for snacks. Yes, a BAR can capitalize on having all those people in their BAR by promoting future events at said BAR, but a church can't invite people to come to church - or even mention Jesus - during the game.

As a result, you can go to a BAR to watch the game, but you can't go to church and enjoy it with your family.

Now, I think I have been very clear about my opinion regarding football; I don't like it, I don't care about it, if it was wiped off the face of the earth I probably wouldn't even notice.

That said, being so restrictive about who can display a television program on a big screen really ticks me off. Are we still living in America? Now the NFL has spies checking on what we are watching and how big our TV screen is? If I were an NFL fan, which I am not, and my family wanted to enjoy the game on a large screen surrounded by friends, I guess I would have to take them to a BAR.

The NFL is a family supportive organization? I think not. NFL officers, do your mothers know about this? If you were my kids, I'd be embarassed to claim you as my own. When you value the almighty dollar over supporting family togetherness, someone screwed up somewhere.

Oh, and the cowards have no direct email address. The only email contact I can find is for tech support for their website and to arrange to give them buckets of money to host some sort of sports party for you and your friends. Family friendly...right.

I did find their snail mail address:

National Football League

280 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

It is too late to help the Fall Creek Baptist Church with a letter-writing campaign, but maybe a few impassioned letters would encourage the NFL to rethink their policy before the game next year.

Get this: You can't use the word "Superbo**" in anything. It's copyrighted and they'll come after you. Welcome to America, land of the obsessively posessive and home of the litigious.

Shame on you, NFL.

NFL/Superbowl Saga Continues

Last year, I shared my annoyance with the NFL for not allowing churches to hold superbowl parties. I even sent them a letter.

My first entry with all of the basic information can be read following this link.

You can read the letter I sent to the NFL through this link.

They sent a rude reply to my letter. That can be read following this link.

Now someone has found a loophole to the "big screen" controversy. I sure hope this guy finds a church willing to take the NFL to task over this. The idea that BARS can have superbowl parties and not CHURCHES still bugs me. And I loather football!

Here's a short clip of the article:

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the reason bars and sporting establishments are permitted to show the game on larger screens is a legal exemption for organizations that use them year-round instead of for a one-time event. Baptist Press knows of at least one unidentified church that called the NFL earlier this year and cited the exemption for those who use large screens year-round. The church argued that because it uses its screen year-round, it should be exempted. The NFL allowed the church to hold the party without interference.

Super-Cool! I really hope a church steps up and makes an issue of this. I know it's not necessarily a hill worth dying on if you look at it on the surface. When you think about it, though, this is a basic right being denied Christians that bars can enjoy. Is it discrimination? I'm not sure, but it's something worth considering, IMO.

You can read the entire article by following this link.

Response from the NFL

A few months back, I read an article regarding the NFL intervening in a church's effort to have a superb**l party on their property. There argument was that a projection TV they planned to use would violate copyright laws, which apparently apply to churches but not to bars. The whole thing just ticked me off and I sent them a letter about it; something I am always threatening to do but rarely actually follow through with. You can read my initial blog about the issue and the letter I wrote by following this link. Sorry, but the original article is no longer available through the link I provided on my blog back in February.

To me, the whole thing is an issue of discrimination against churches. Churches are non-profit and are seeking family-friendly ways to gather. I was disappointed in the NFL when I read the initial article, but their flippant response to me annoys me further. I recieved this in the mail yesterday:

"The National Football League has absolutely no objection to churches and others hosting Super Bowl viewing parties as long as they do not charge admission and that the game is shown on a television of the type commonly used at home.

We are simply following copyright law and have done so consistently with regard to hotels, theatres, museums, schools, arenas and other such venues. [may I note no mention of bars here]

This is nothing new. It is a matter of longstanding policy and the law.

We have no rules that relate to viewing at home on any type of television.

Sincerely,

NFL Public Relations"

To me it is just another reason to loathe football. The church could only show the Super Bowl on smaller-screens. I can't remember the dimensions, but the size would have made viewing the game in a large group very difficult. Oh, and they were asking everyone to contribute $5 for snacks. In the NFL's eyes, that constituted charging admission. Do they restrict bars to certain sized TVs? Do they tell them they can't charge a two drink minimum during special events? NoOOooo. The whole thing just fries my cookies. Why can bars, who make a big profit on booze during the event, show the big game on a big screen, but a church, which only seeks to profit souls for the Kingdom, can't? Grrr. If you read my original letter you'll see they never even tried to answer that question. Public relations my foot.

Now I'm off to find my happiness again.

My Letter to the NFL

It's been stamped and mailed. Thought I'd share:

Dear National Football League,

After becoming aware of your organization’s policy regarding who can and cannot gather to enjoy your “Superbowl” program in front of a large screen television, I felt compelled to respond. While I respect your corporation’s right to preserve your legal copyright and any income that might be generated from it, I am disappointed in your methods.

I am aware that you pride yourself on being an organization that supports communities and encourages children to reach their full potential. Although those are admirable statements, I question whether your restrictive game viewing policy contradicts your purported values. The ultimate NFL event is arguably the Superbowl, yet your policy effectively places a barrier between your big game and the people you say you want to encourage. For children to see the Superbowl on a big screen, yelling and screaming with their friends and family, they would have to spend the day in a bar. Is that the message you want to send?

I am beginning to wonder if you might not have some sort of “arrangement” with certain beer manufacturers. They are major advertisers in every NFL televised event. If I, a simple woman from Bakersfield, am beginning to question where your true loyalties lie – the kids or the beer companies- I suspect the rest of America might be growing a bit concerned as well.

It would be a generous, kid-friendly, gesture if you made an exception to your “no big screen” policy for church and civic organizations who won’t be showing your game for profit, at least not the financial profit your organization seems to be concerned about. They are interested in showing it to profit the spirits and souls of the people attending. You say you want to make this country a better place. Do you, really? If so, set your desire for profits aside and let these kids enjoy the energy and celebration surrounding the Superbowl without having to be surrounded by the cursing and drinking associated with the establishments you have allowed to display your programming.

Thank you for your attention in this matter.

A REAL SUPERBOWL VICTORY!!

Churches can return to having Superbowl Parties beginning next year!

YAHOOOOOO!!!! Here's an excerpt from the article:

The NFL, which found itself on the receiving end of protests and controversy after it objected to churches showing the Super Bowl on big-screen televisions, has reversed course and will now permit the viewings.

In a letter to Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league would not object to "live showings -- regardless of screen size -- of the Super Bowl" by religious organizations.

In response to questions from Hatch, Goodell said in the letter, dated Feb. 19, the NFL will implement the policy starting with next year's Super Bowl.

Read whole article here

I LOVE THIS!!! Bring on the 7-layer Mexican Dip!! Better yet, I propose my church have a Chili Cook off next Superbowl Sunday!!! (Of course, I nominate Cynthia to plan the whole thing. I may not be able to pass a football, but I can sure pass the buck!)

Here's my blogging history regarding this issue. I can now put this issue to rest. Yay!!