Tony Dungy, by all accounts, is a good guy. People who've met or know him constantly stress his character, his amicable personality, his overall likability. In the cutthroat NFL coaching world, where reputations are there to be broken down by those looking to climb the ladder, nobody has a bad thing to say about him. Also, he's a great football coach.
But while you're being inundated with retrospectives, glowing portrayals, and an avalanche of goodwill now that Dungy has retired from coaching; while it's easy to let the media make you believe that Dungy is, just like deity he worships, infallible; it's important to remember that he is in fact a human, and humans are flawed. Dungy is no exception.
Let's go back to Dungy's 2007 appearance on Costas Now.
"I'm sure I would talk to him about my views on it, what the Bible says about it," he said at the time regarding the possibility of having a gay player on the Colts.
We all know how Dungy feels about his faith. And we all, obviously, know how Dungy feels about homosexuality; if the above quote weren't enough, he's also publically supported the Indiana Family Institute, which has sought to make gay marriage illegal in Indiana.
And that's just the problem: we shouldn't know these things.
Having faith, no matter what that faith is in, is an asset in my opinion. But it's rude to impress your faith on others unsolicited, and it's downright unprofessional and borderline disgusting when it's in the context of "saving" an employee because you disagree with a lifestyle that has absolutely nothing to do with said employee's ability to do his job. This isn't a matter of whether I agree with Dungy's definition of morality -- though I vehemently disagree with it. It's a matter of professional ethics. It's not Dungy's place to impose his values on an employee. Nor is it wise to publicly condemn a demographic of the business which has made Dungy millions.
It's beyond me why Dungy has largely gotten a pass on this matter, especially as the country keeps trending towards embracing diversity, despite the amount of good vibrations he's been able to foster with the media. If Terrell Owens or, worse, Al Davis were to publicly take Dungy's stance on homosexuality, the vilification wagon wouldn't be able to arrive quickly enough.
Being a role model is obviously important to Dungy, and I respect that. But there's a vast difference between being a role model and being a missionary. Being a role model is about inspiring young people to do great things with their lives. Being a missionary is about spreading the "good" word and converting the masses to your way of thinking. While Dungy may be a great guy, it's obvious which one of the two he leans closer towards. The problem? Maybe the "blasphemous" don't want to hear it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
1-12-2009 @ 8:36PM
BlueStarDude said...
Well said.
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1-12-2009 @ 8:39PM
Dave said...
I agree on this with Dungy. He stood up for what he beleives is right and was not afraid of what you or anybody said. Some people beleive one thing but afraid to say it due to what people may say or think. Bible clearly states that its immoral and people should stand up and say that its wrong.
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1-12-2009 @ 8:59PM
Adam said...
Believe what you want, and I certainly have my opinions, but I don't care about any of this in the context of football. If I were a football player, or the employee of any business, I'd be pretty ticked off if my boss took it upon themselves to give me unsolicited "moral" advice about my private life, which has nothing to do with the job.
As a fan of the game, I don't give a rats ass about the faith, morality or lack thereof of these guys. I'm sick of players, coaches, owners, etc. of acting like celebrities or politicians.
1-12-2009 @ 10:50PM
knidsrok said...
Dave: The problem with people like Dungy -- and you -- speaking out on behalf of their faith-based beliefs is that while the higher power they profess to speak for may be infallible, the messengers in question tend to be speaking from a place of ignorance, bigotry, and colossal egotism.
What else can you call the total B.S. the two of you spread about "God's" view on homosexuality? You clearly don't have the first clue about the supposed Biblical basis of your prejudice, or you'd be too embarrassed to suggest that your belief comse from one little line from Leviticus in between the forbidding of the eating of shrimp, and delineating how long after menstruating a woman needs to wait before entering a temple.
But what really galls me about it isn't the ignorance and bigotry -- it's the hubris-level egotism that Dungy displays. Dungy says he's sure he'd tell the player what God's view is. Well, I'm sorry, but all evidence points to the fact that Tony Dungy doesn't give a rat's ass about what God's view on things is. Unlike homosexuality, which was proscribed just once, the Bible teaches us that God thought that the sanctity of the Sabbath was SO tantamount to one's faith, that his COMMANDMENT to observe and keep it holy was inscribed and stone, and passed down to Moses as part of the TEN MOST ESSENTIAL TENETS that he COMMANDED mankind to live by.
So tell me -- where does Dungy get the gall to decide that God didn't really mean it when he told us, in the strictest of terms, said that the Sabbath was a day of rest, and you shouldn't work on it, but that God DID mean it when he mentioned homosexuality in a lengthy litany of things he was against, a list which includes such mortal sins as the eating of shellfish.
Basically, Dungy is saying that he knows better than God does which of God's laws are important, and how it's best to follow them. That's the kind of pride that got Lucifer cast out of heaven.
1-13-2009 @ 12:14AM
justaguy said...
This reply is for knidsrok. One problem with your position: You assume that because Tony Dungy might disagree with the homosexual lifestyle that he also must hate those who practice that lifestyle. Don't be confused by those "christians" who make the news for being "gay haters." God is love. He may hate the sin, but he certainly loves the one who might be sinning. Also, though we all still break it, the Sabbath is technically on Saturday, not Sunday.
1-12-2009 @ 9:04PM
Kurt said...
He is an extremely good football coach, that's all. Who cares what he thinks about gay marriage!!!!!!
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1-12-2009 @ 9:20PM
Todd said...
Something tells me that Coach Dungy's christian beliefs are far more important to him that his NFL career. He chose the NFL as his way to speak to the masses.
If you think a player's morals and private lives have nothing to do with their football careers, look at Pacman and tell me that his personal life has not affected his career.
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1-12-2009 @ 9:26PM
Tom Mantzouranis said...
Adam,
Please tell me you're not equating Pacman's thuggish behavior, which has resulted in a man being paralyzed and putting many in danger of death, with being gay?
If you honestly believe these two aspects of "private life" are equal, then I don't know what to tell you.
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1-12-2009 @ 9:59PM
Todd said...
They are not the same, but maybe if Pacman had a coach or parent like Dungy in his life at an earlier age, he wouldn't be the thug that he is.
I guess my feeling is that the positive influence he has on the people around him is a result of his christian beliefs. Based on your article, I think he hadled the question well. Anything less would have been hypocritical of his beliefs.
1-12-2009 @ 9:27PM
Tom Mantzouranis said...
I meant to address that to Todd, not Adam. Apologies.
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1-12-2009 @ 9:28PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
Nice post.
Funny how his horrid playoff record isn't a big deal either.
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1-12-2009 @ 9:37PM
Dave said...
It says a lot about our society when disagreeing with the idea of two man being "married" is seen as a character deficiency. Get a clue - our society has the highest divorce rate of any society that's ever existed; half of our adult popluation either has or has had an STD; we have rampant addiction to pornography, and an increasingly higher level of overall dissatisfaction with life. So it's absurd that a small, non-thinker like yourself should criticize someone like Tony Dungy who is the epoitome of class and virtue, and call him deficient, because he refuses to say the emporer isn't naked. We blindly follow these stupid "Oprah like" teachings (someone who can't discipline her own eating habits or maintain a relationship) because they sound right - yet never reflect on the fact that they just don't work. Thank you Tony for not being a hypocrite or for taking the easy way out by avoiding offense at all costs.
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1-12-2009 @ 9:42PM
horatiowrd said...
I think the thing your missing is, Dungy didn't say he'd go on some witchhunt and inquire as to who each player shares their bed with, he just said if it was so placed before him he would share his views. I doubt Dungy cares but if you asked him what he felt, he'd be honest with his beliefs and explain where his beliefs come from. He didn't say he would try to "save" anyone.
Exactly whats a Christan to say? Like the Fanhouse post says, Dungy paused as if shocked that it would be asked, cause its really a weird thing to ask someone who is devout. Costa was trying to provoke a sound bite and Dungy thought he did a good job avoiding it.
For a guy as devout as Dungy, a for a guy who was once live to the entire world, he has been far from missionary. His off time is his own, but he has always made football time about football. When the worst thing you can say about a guy is "he sure does follow his faith" I mean comon.
Remember, lets not be stupid Dungy has undoubtedly played with and coach atleast one gay player. Has there been a peep of him trying to save anyone?
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1-13-2009 @ 10:01PM
Aaron said...
Come on man. Put your religious beliefs aside, and let an awesome coach retire. He's a christian, doing his duty.
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1-12-2009 @ 9:49PM
horatiowrd said...
as for his playoff record.....10 straight years. Will I get that winning the big one is important, in these years of parity, free agents, team cancers, salary cap, to be for 10 straight years one of the top 12 teams, meaning to pick in the bottom 12 picks in the draft to me is better than being Mike Martz. Only coach I would put better is Belicheck but theres no -gate attached to Dungy's legacy.
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1-12-2009 @ 9:58PM
Theo said...
Tony is a class act unlike you. You have the c & l missing in your act description.
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1-12-2009 @ 10:47PM
Mel said...
Obviously the administration of the Colts didn't have a problem with Tony Dungy voicing his views. Tony was the boss, and generally the boss has the priviledge to voice his views when and where he wants. If a player doesn't like it...well, take your football and go home.
Besides...If my child is going to grow up idolizing someone in football, I'd prefer it be the likes of Tony Dungy, and not the Terrell Owens' or Pacman Jones' of the NFL.
Enjoy your retirement Coach!
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1-12-2009 @ 11:33PM
Courtney said...
That was not well said at all. If a person wants to take his faith deeper and apply it then why not let him. You need to stand up for what you believe, and he should not be looked down upon for having a strong faith. Dungy is an AMAZING guy so why do you have to put him down like that?
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1-12-2009 @ 11:00PM
dch200 said...
I hope we don't get caught up believing that to be christian means that you have to be homophobic and anti-gay rights in our country.
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1-12-2009 @ 11:20PM
DAVE said...
1 CORINTHIANS 6-9 DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT THE WICKET WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD? DO NOT BE DECEIVED: NEITHER THE SEXUALLY IMMORAL NOR IDOLATERS NOR ADULTERERS NOR MALE PROSTITUTES NOR HOMOSEXUAL OFFENDERS.
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