Winning Super Bowl Coach Says Christ More Important Than Blackness

Indianapolis Colts, Tony Dungy, for saying his Christian faith was more important than his blackness.

After the Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears 29-17 in the Super Bowl XLI, Dungy made clear that Jesus Christ was more crucial for him than the hyped fact that for the first time in US history head coaches of both teams were black.

"I’m proud to be the first African-American coach to win this," Dungy said during the trophy ceremony in an interview with the CBS network, in which he reached out to the head coach of the losing team. "But again, more than anything, Lovie Smith and I are not only African-American but also Christian coaches, showing you can do it the Lord’s way. We’re more proud of that…"
 
Rush Limbaugh, who claims to be America’s most listened to talk show host, was among those
playing the clip. He said he had great respect for Dungy’s religious belief and that the coach had looked beyond the hype of the "drive-by media," a term Limbaugh uses for what he views as Liberal media outlets. 

CHURCHES BANNED

It came as news emerged that several churches were banned from showing the Super Bowl by the National Football League (NFL) amid concerns they would spread a Christian message or violate copyrights, Baptist Press (BP) reported.  

Among them Fall Creek, a Southern Baptist congregation, which was ordered by the NFL to change its plans or cancel the event as the NFL objected to the church’s "charging admission, using large, theatre-style screens, and advertising it," calling the violations a "misappropriation of our event."

The church planned to project the game onto a 12-foot screen and announced the event on its
website, viewed mainly by members, asking for a fee, explained by Fall Creek’s pastor John Newland as an offset for the costs of snacks. SBC records show Fall Creek has about 400 members, BP reported.

The NFL also said the church — if it held a Super Bowl party conforming with the law — would not be able to promote the church or Christianity. The church had planned on showing a video highlighting the Christian testimonies of Indianapolis Colts head coach Dungy and his counterpart, Smith of the Chicago Bears.

CHRISTIAN VALUES

"[Y]ou admit … that part of the benefit of using our broadcast to host such an event is that it may allow you to bring your message of Christian values to non-Congregants; i.e., you will be using the event to promote your church and its values," NFL attorney Rachel Margolies reportedly wrote. "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."

However, official events leading up to the game included the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration and the Super Bowl Breakfast sponsored by Athletes in Action, a Campus Crusade for Christ ministry. Both events were singularly focused in message, featuring Christian testimonies from players and coaches, active and retired, BP said.

Dungy has had a close relationship with Bears’ head coach Lovie Smith since 1996, when Dungy hired Smith to coach linebackers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reported WorldNetDaily.com, a
conservative website.

"My relationship, first, is with Jesus Christ, and he is the center of my life," said Smith when asked about his faith earlier this week. "I try to live a Christian life. I would like for players to know my faith based on what they see on a day-to-day basis."

DEVOTED CHRISTIAN

CBS anchor James Brown, himself a devoted Christian, reportedly told BP this year’s Super Bowl could be a welcome change in a sport that hasn’t had that many Christian players and announcers in the past.

"Personally, I’m gratified to see that change," Brown added. "I think their faith is a wonderful example to see and I think both men are sterling examples of what character coaches should be. That’s what we should be promoting."

Colts’ owner Jim Irsay reportedly credited God with the victory as he held the sparkling Vince Lombardi trophy in his hands. "Now there’s an awful lot of shining glory, even more than last time up here," Irsay said. "But we’re giving it all to God again because that’s what got us here … sticking together and believing that we could, and I know God has looked after us on this journey and bonded us into such a tight family."

Estimates of 90 million viewers allowed CBS to charge up to $2.6 million for a 30-second spot to such companies as Coca-Cola, Doritos and Chevrolet. However, "researchers estimate that 25 to 30 percent of Americans are evangelicals, meaning that the NFL risks alienating a significant segment of the population if the outcry continues following the game or if it possibly swells," BP commented. (With reports from the United States).