The Tampa Bay Times ran a story today called, “Game show app to feature Super Bowl message that NFL rejected”
The article, by Howard Altman, Times Staff Writer, interviewed a former Marine who offered his thoughts on the situation where the NFL chose to reject playing an ad by AMVETS, the nation’s most inclusive Congressionally-chartered veterans service organization that represents the interests of 20 million veterans.
After AMVETS was prevented from airing their ad by the NFL they decided to partner up with Supers Squares™ to get their message out during the Super Bowl. Super Squares™ is an innovative sports game app for your smartphone and you play the game live during football games. As part of the gaming experience, players watch ads from sponsors and then answer questions.
Here is an excerpt from the article in the Tampa Bay Times. You may view the entire article at TampaBay.com.
![The live, app-based game show Super Squares will feature a 30-second commercial urging people to stand during the national anthem. [React LLC]](http://www.tampabay.com/storyimage/HI/20180201/ARTICLE/302019493/AR/0/AR-302019493.jpg?MaxW=2000 "The live, app-based game show Super Squares will feature a 30-second commercial urging people to stand during the national anthem. [React LLC]")
TAMPA — Former Marine David Shimkus calls it a “slap in the face to veterans” that the NFL rejected a bid to place an ad in the Super Bowl program asking fans to stand for the national anthem.
So as a senior executive with Largo-based media company React LLC, the former Marine firefighter offered an alternative way to get the message out: A smartphone app on a new sports-based game called Super Squares, where the object is to watch football, answer questions and win prizes.
“I knew that we had this awesome opportunity with the Super Squares app,” said Shimkus, 49, of Belleair Bluffs, whose company is testing the app. “We can put any kind of advertising we want. We are not beholden to anyone.”
Officials with Amvets, the veterans group pushing the ad, jumped at the opportunity.
“I think it is fantastic,” said Amvets spokesman John Hoellwarth.
Hoellwarth, also a Marine veteran, said the NFL deemed the organization’s print ad “too political.”
The ad is a response to players who have taken a knee during the national anthem, a practice begun during the 2016 season as a protest against what participants saw as police brutality against black people. Among those who took part were Tampa Bay Buccaneers receivers Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson.
Read the entire article here, “Game show app to feature Super Bowl message that NFL rejected“.
