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GOD’S PRESENCE CENTRAL TO SUPERBOWL: Two men of God had Kingdom building on their minds at the most pivotal moment in their career
What I will remember about Super Bowl XLI -aside from The Bears' Deyton Hester's unbelievable 92-yard rush to a TD from the opening kick off, the Colts coming from behind to take home the ring in a 29-17 victory making Tony Dungy the first African American Coach to win the coveted title, and Prince's half time performance of Purple Rain in the rain -- is the abundant religious related pre-game press associated with it.
Unofficially called the "Soul Bowl," as the first face off of two African American coaches, it could easily be a double entendre as the two head coaches' souls are anchored in Christianity. The frequent mention of God in interviews of the coaches placed Christianity on the starting line-up. Report after report articulated the brotherhood Lovie Smith (Chicago Bears) and Tony Dungy (Indianapolis Colts) shared because of their religious foundation and their faith forward leadership styles. At the center of the remarks was the fact that neither man fit the hot-headed, foul-mouth stereotype linked to many high ranking coaches. They have been appreciated for not yelling at their players and using profanity and conducting themselves as true gentlemen, sincere men of God. Other stories captured how the fascination with their professed faith energized evangelism as well as inspired some to capitalize on the over 8 billion dollar event.
I've summarized several headlines that aroused attention, putting God in the spotlight rather than the coaches themselves:
Faith a priority for Super Bowl coaches
The Christian athletic organization, Athletes in Action, was honored with the presence of Indiana Colts coach, Tom Dungy. The event took place in Miami, FL, a day before Superbowl XLI and being there to express his faith was apparently a priority for Dungy. You have coaches who have firm Christian values, and the country and the world need to see that this week," Dungy said. "I'm more proud of that than anything else."
Continuing in the same Christ-centered vein, fellow Superbowl coach and friend Lovie Smith stated in a video segment, "God has given us a perfect stage to confess our faith in Jesus Christ."
Dungy was the first-ever Super Bowl coach to attend their 19th Annual Superbowl Breakfast.
Further exemplary of their commitment to Christianity, both men appeared in a USA Today ad focusing on their faith, not the Superbowl, which was paid for by Campus Crusade for Christ.
Party interference
Many churches planned to fellowship at their own Superbowl parties, but were notified by the NFL that they could only do so with certain stipulations. Under NFL guidelines - and federal law - churches, schools and other public venues can hold football-viewing parties only if they use a single TV up to 55 inches. Finding this requirement unfavorable to a large audience viewing experience, many churches who wanted to use jumbo screens cancelled their parties. The most significant reason the league enforced the guidelines, which date back to the sixties is that viewership of one of the most-watched programs in the country is measured by households and would affect their Nielsen score. Use of the Superbowl trademark in promotion of the parties as well as some churches supposedly charging admission fees was also a complaint from the league.
Apparently sports bars didn't get that memo; businesses that show games to draw patrons are exempt.
Ticket to "heaven"
Mega-Church pastor Ed Young of Fellowship Church had "no shame in his game" with his latest outreach effort. In an obvious cry for publicity, Young offered two Superbowl tickets, airfare, and lodging during his Saturday and Sunday services in Grapevine, TX. He did not advertise at which service he would give away the tickets with hopes of drawing people who would not ordinarily attend service.
Young said he was speaking about joy and happiness and thought the winner of the tickets would definitely relate to the message.
