Monday, January 21

Dungy's back

Apparently Tony Dungy will coach at least one more year for the Colts, and I ask, is anyone really surprised?

On a sidenote, I really like Dungy. TD seems like a genuinely good dude, and a guy who takes coaching seriously, but has his priorities in order, too. Have you ever heard a player say anything negative about Dungy or heard of locker room problems between Dungy and his players? They love the guy. Plus, he wears a sweater vest, which doesn't hurt one's coaching ability...

11 comments:

Andy said...

I have no problem with Coach Dungy - good guy, good coach, but it still annoys me when media praise him as a "man of faith." That's a demerit in my book!

Anonymous said...

i usually also have a problem with the "man of faith" praise that some coaches get, it has nothing to do with football so why bring it up. However with dungy i think he is a little more subtle with it and is one of those guys who although i dont agree with the way he looks at the world, he doesnt seem to push it on any other people which is ok in my book. Certainly hes not as bad as joe gibbs when it comes to the whole religion in football issue.

- Wingy

Nick said...

I'm with Wingy on this one, Andy. One of the things I like most about Dungy is that he's not "in your face" with his religion; he doesn't advertise it, and he's not running a campaign to prove how devout he is. That's the right way to do it.

Andy said...

Nick, Wingy, two things:

1) Please read what I actually wrote. I explicitly said I had no problem with Dungy himself but instead with the media/popular perception that god-loving somehow makes him a better coach/guy, which contrasts sharply with my general opinion.

2) How is writing a book called Quiet Strength: Mens Bible Study not advertising one's religion?

Andy said...

OK, let me restate my point a bit more cleanly:

I like and respect Dungy because of his intelligence, dignity, respectfulness, and apparent commitment to helping other people. These are very strong qualities.

I do not, however, add any respect for this particular superstition of his.

Anonymous said...

Andy i was agreeing with your overall statement that the praise that he gets for being a man of god, along with any other person in sports for that matter, is pointless and annoying. I personally dont agree with him, but, as im sure you know, religious folks have a tendency to throw their ideas at your, and if they dont stick they just keep going. Dungy is a man, from what i have seen or read, that doesnt come at you with that same vigor that most of his beliefs do. Writing a book about it, which frankly i have never even heard of(which i guess proves my point), isnt a "in your face" as i thought joe gibbs was when they redskins were dealing with sean taylor. I may not respect his ideas but i can respect the way he goes about it.

- Wingy

Anonymous said...

Typo: Dungy is a man, from what ive seen or read, that doesnt come at you with the same vigor as those with the same beliefs as him do.

Andy said...

I like what you've said.

Nick said...

Funny, some atheists can be "in your face" about it too... :)

Andy said...

Unapologetically so, but this isn't about me!

The thing is, if I was an NFL coach, no one would laud me for my non-belief. No one would say "he's a great coach, well-respected, and strong in his commitment to science and reason." It's not symmetric.

Nick said...

Maybe they would, who knows?