Coach Dungy well aware of what he said.

[RiverStone]

By Kevin Modesti
SPECIAL TO THE Seattle P-I
2/6/07

Tony Dungy responded to a question about race with an answer about religion on Sunday night, the first black head coach to win a Super Bowl telling network viewers he is prouder to have shown "you can win doing it the Lord's way."

This was more thought-provoking than the stuff you normally hear from a football coach. One thought it provokes is that Dungy has a lot of guts in that skinny body. I wouldn't have been surprised if the Indianapolis Colts coach, after talking about race and religion in polite company, had gone on to do a number on politics and sex.

It was no shock to hear religion come up at that moment; we're used to athletes crediting God for their victories. Moments before Dungy took his turn at the trophy ceremony, Colts owner Jim Irsay said the "organization" was "giving all the glory to God." And the famously clean-mouthed, soft-spoken Dungy had discussed his Christian beliefs all last week and for a long time before that.

But Dungy had to know when he told the biggest audience of his life that promoting his Christian identity meant more than achieving a racial milestone, he was poking a hornets' nest.

Link to full story here:


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/302552_voices06.html


* * * * * * * * * * * *


And for my own random musings on this...

Lets see...we have the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, the tragic war in Iraq, global warming, loss of life and property due to Katrina, and even today - 7 people have died to date from the recent very cold snap in the midwest. With all that and so much more, I'll never understand how folks (and in this case Tony Dungy) assume God "orchestrated" something that has anything to do with the Colts winning season? I'm sure there are many faithful Bears fans as well. That is, if one chooses to practice a particular religion at all. Of course, what do I know about the sports preferences of Gods or Goddesses - but if by chance or design, there is divine intervention in human affairs; I would assume there are matters of much greater importance then picking one team over another to win a football game, IMHO of course. :)

That being said, I do admire Tony's temperament and soft-spoken style; and my heart goes out to him and any parent, who endures the loss of a child (his son committed suicide last year).

BTW, what happens if both a devout pitcher and hitter pray at the same time for either a strike or a hit? Who gets that call? :think:




RiverStone




on edit: fixed per DU guidelines ;-)

[CatWoman]

1. first thing you need to do is edit your OP

before the copyright police get you.

[RiverStone]

9. Happy too - what do I need to edit?

I referenced the original article, writer, and source - though if I have missed something per DU guidelines, I'll fix it.

Added my own commentary after the link and seperated it by ******

Help CatWoman?

Thanks :)

[CatWoman]

10. nope

per DU guidelines, you can post up to four paragraphs of the original article, followed by the attribution and link.

P.S. FreeRepublic was sued for this very same thing.

You want that to happen to us?

[RiverStone]

18. OK - done.

Was not aware of the four paragraph nuance - I consider myself enlightened (well, on this point anyway). Thanks. :7


peace~

[treestar]

48. What a very nasty last line

When the OP specifically already said it was not intentional!

Wow, oh, just wow! There are no words.

[CatWoman]

52. oh, can it, Bizarro Stormy

[Connie_Corleone]

2. God had money riding on the game. The Colts had to win.

God loves football more than anything else that's going on in the world apparently.

[hatrack]

3. In a not-quite-direct answer to the question you pose above, HERE'S what happens!

[Joe for Clark]

4. Man, he is just a football coach -

and one of the best players of his generation.

I remember the Steeler days.

He can, we all can, believe whatever we want - it is up to us.

That said - I am shocked the Bears defense was so lame on Sunday - shocked, I tell ya.

Joe

[Goblinmonger]

65. You're blaming the defense?

Yikes. The offense kept them out there for most of the game. How about the offense taking off some of the heat? That might have helped things. Urlacher was very good in that game. Special teams scored. Defense had a pick. I think this is all on Grossman and an ineffective offense. Then again, I think Grossman is the worst QB to play in the bowl, so I might be biased.

[Joe for Clark]

68. I think you have a good point about Rex.

But you know they were running off tackle all day with a rookie running back.

How is it the Bears weren't ready for that??

[Goblinmonger]

72. I knew it was going to be a non-shutdown

for the Bears defense from the get go. The Colts have had problems with a 3-man front, but the 4-man front hasn't been as much of a problem, not to mention the fricken Cover 2 that I hate. Manning was able to pick apart that cover 2. I think it would have taken a complete overhaul of the Defensive scheme for the bears to shutdown the Colts like they have other teams.

That being said, it was up to the Offense to at least produce something in order for the Bears to win. Though I agree that the RB going off tackle successfully was pretty damn funny.

[Joe for Clark]

73. I really think -

Not being the coach -

If the Bears could have crossed the blitz packages - without being so obvious, they had a chance.

Crap, I was picking up the packages from a tv screen 3000 miles away.

For the Bears to allow such a run offense - not expect it - I don't know.

Manning wasn't so great. That Adai on the Colts - he will be. The kid was really good.

Joe

[Goblinmonger]

75. Good point

I thought the same thing about the blitz packages during the game. How do you make it so obvious, especially when you are going against Manning who, I would argue, is the most "game intelligent" QB out there right now. He can see some pretty complex shit at the drop of a hat. If I am able to read the blitz, I'm pretty damn sure Manning can. And did.

[Joe for Clark]

76. When i watched the game -

Those few plays the Bears ran - where you really didn't see where the pressure was coming form - Maning folded. He did.

The thing that bothered me - at the end - is how in god's name they gave the mvp to Manning.

To the Colts running backs - they were good. To Maning - I don't think so.

[Goblinmonger]

77. My vote for MVP

would have been to the running backs as well. The run game was the reason for the win.

[Joe for Clark]

79. That rookie Adai - he will be great.

I want the Steelers to pick him up offseason.

We need a "Bus replacement".

Joe

[tabasco]

5. Seems like a lot of analysis for a friggin football coach.

Good grief. You'd think we were analyzing dicta from an important Supreme Court case or something. Dungy seems like a great guy. If it's his religious belief and he wants to express it in public that's ok with me. What the hell is the controversy all about?

[Initech]

6. That part after the game made me pretty uneasy.

Then watching ESPN and all you could hear was about how God won the game for them... :scared:

What is it about right-wing Christianity that has them feeling superior to everyone else? I don't get it.

[MichaelHarris]

7. It's simple

the Colt's God spent more recruiting than the Bear's God did.

[Joe for Clark]

15. Maybe so -

Personally i would have taken the spread and bet the Bears.

I didn't - but I would have.

Maybe God did have something to do with the final score - How come the Bears defense turned up so lame??

Don't tell me its cause the Colts offensive was so great - they were not great. Although I will say, that rookie running back they have should be a Steeler - the guy is very good.

Joe

[KenHodson]

8. I'm sure Dungy offended many by his "thanks" to God

But he is not a civil servant, and that is his right. Dungy has his civil liberties, and by-gum he is using them. Good for him, I guess.
For the record, I do not believe in the same God as Dungy here. But this is kind of what America is all about isn't it?

[blueknight]

13. i really dont think

god gives a crap about a football game:shrug:

[tabasco]

39. Why should anyone be offended by Tony Dungy's religious beliefs??

I just don't get it. :shrug:

I believe in religious freedom and tolerance. Is there something wrong with me?? :shrug:

[Zhade]

53. Yeah, I mean, aside from his homophobic support for the likes of Dobson...

...what's to be offended by?

[tabasco]

67. How has Tony Dungy given support to Dobson?

I didn't read it in the article.

[lectrobyte]

70. lots of articles on this, here's one...

http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=4148

Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy will be the honored guest at the March 20, 2007 annual banquet of the Indiana Family Institute (IFI), the state’s leading lobbying force against gay rights. The IFI prides itself on its sixteen-year history of “opposing all efforts to create or advance special civil or legal rights for homosexuals.” The IFI is closely aligned with Dr. James Dobson’s Focus on the Family, an anti-gay organization of long standing. On the Hoosier Family website, Dungy is prominently pictured in his Colts cap and jacket---confirming the team’s willingness to align with the IFI and giving supporters of gay rights reason to root for the Chicago Bears in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

[tabasco]

81. Yuck, Thanks for the info. n/t

[Zhade]

80. It's not in the article. It was posted on DU on SBS.

Americablog, maybe?

And I might be mistaking the Colts' owners with him, which if so I apologize for.

EDIT: link - http://americablog.blogspot.com/2007/02/superbowl-team-indianapolis-colts.html

[tabasco]

82. Blech, this tarnishes my opinion of him a bit.

I wonder if his employer pressured him to make these appearances.

Always seemed like a decent guy. I hope he stops visiting such hateful groups.

[trixie]

11. This is exactly why we don't participate in school sports

rife with Christian crap. Oddly enough the YMCA does not pray before games and does not mention Christianity principles except for "healthy minds and bodies". Parks and Rec does not troll for faith.

With that being said. He is a citizen and can say what he wants.

[pampango]

12. He did not say that God preferred the Colts over the Bears.

Some people think that God orchestrates everything. If the Bears had won, he probably would have said the same thing.

I remember John Wooden, the coach of the UCLA basketball team, was quoted after his team won a national title that that win was not the most important thing that happened in the world that day.

Anytime you get some humility from a professional athlete or coach, or any of us regular people for that matter, it is an occasion to celebrate.

[devilgrrl]

16. God only likes winners - God CARES about football

If you don't win at football you suck and should fire a bullet into your skull - god hates you. If you're starving in Africa, god has no time - the game is on and should there be a "miracle" field goal that wins the game - god is behind it.

[pampango]

21. You may believe that God only likes winners, but don't think

that is what Dungy said. Look I think the phony Christian pablum that we hear a lot of is ridiculous. Just as I cannot stand all the "look at me" I am a great athlete or movie star. As long as Dungy is sincere, I can handle it.

We all believe in someone or something - God, Fidel, Hugo.

[devilgrrl]

23. Fidel, Hugo huh???

That's rich!

Fraud!

[pampango]

49. I mean believe in someone that can do no wrong.

Can't say that I believe in any of the three, but many do.

[MoseyWalker]

14. I don't promote my atheism or

the color of my skin, or my sexual identity or......any of those seemingly insignificant things.

I say insignificant because I have been through hell, and don't appreciate others who use the "hell" they may or may not have traveled through to promote separation.

I promote peace.

So, Tony Dungy is a xtian who gives thanks to his lord. Fine. Do it on your own time, buddy!

(am I going to get slammed for this?)

[devilgrrl]

19. You won't get slammed by me...

I'm sick of these gasbags proselytizing.

[tritsofme]

61. When would his own time be?

Like for instance, when some reporter asks him about it?

This is the type of silly thing that I never even would have heard about if someone didn't decide to complain about it.

[Clark2008]

63. Well, the game was over, so I think he WAS on his own time, at

that point.

:shrug:

[City Lights]

17. I wonder what Lovie did wrong.

Like Dungy, he supposedly did it the Lord's way, but his team didn't come home with a Superbowl trophy. Maybe Lovie didn't say the right prayer. What prayer does one recite in a situation like this? :shrug:

[devilgrrl]

20. Gawd hates Lovie...

he doesn't pray hard enough.

[Joe for Clark]

28. I know what he did wrong - Lovie does too.

He gave Mannings recievers too much room. They hit short passes with impunity.

Their blitz packages were predictible. No cross overs - and easily picked up by the Colts.

This has nothing at all to do with the Lord - just poorly executed defense by the Bears.

that - and the Colts did a great job running at the Bears - that Adai is really a great back.

Joe

[City Lights]

31. But if it was done the Lord's way, the actual play-calling had nothing

to do with it. That's my take on Tony's take anyway. He and Lovie did it the Lord's way, yet there was only one victor.

edited for typo

[Joe for Clark]

35. Well,

If you actually did do it "the lords way" - you have to count on yourself first.

I think the Lord must have been secrectly pulling for the Bears - they shouldn't have even been close by the begining of the fourth quarter.

Joe

[City Lights]

42. I like the way you think!

:hi:

[Joe for Clark]

44. You too - I think we both watched the same game.

Joe

[Blue_Tires]

22. i'm waiting for the day when

someone actually tries to SUE god for not hand-delivering the big game/lotto numbers, etc.

[mmonk]

24. Is football in the bible?

What way is the Lord's way? A Hail Mary?

[CatWoman]

25. and the Lord said

.........punt.

[City Lights]

29. I'm guessing it's in the Old Testament since it's a contact sport.

Baseball seems New Testament to me.

;-)

[mmonk]

40. Maybe, but I was thinking olympic sports were old testament (or Torah)

[Joe for Clark]

I think he runs between the tackle and the guard, personally.

That is funny mmonk.

Joe

[jgraz]

37. Let he who is without sin

cast the first screen pass.

[blitzen]

26. "The Lord's Way" to Victory: Force turnovers, a good running game mixed

up with lots of play-action passes and quick slants. I'm a believer!

[AnnieBW]

56. God Sent the Rain

As well as those good Christians putting a curse on that evil Jew, Rex Grossman. :sarcasm:

Seriously... my husband's family is from Indy, and I've found the town to be disgustingly holier-than-thou. I'm not surprised that Irsay (spit!) and company are so vocally Christian.

[Clark2008]

64. Rex Grossman is Jewish?

And they still let him play in the Southeastern Conference in college?

:crazy:

[matt819]

27. Jeez

First random thought - wouldn't it have been a hoot if he'd been Muslim?

Second: Nice to have god on your side. What about your players? Where did they get their inspiration? Were they playing for god? For the fun of the game. For the thrill of it all? For their multi-million dollar paychecks? And doesn't the reference to god shortchange the actual folks on the field?

Third: Wouldn't it be nice every now and then to acknowledge that it's hard work, dedication, commitment, drive, etc., that allowed you to win? Ascribing it to a higher power is a cop out. So the other guy lost becuase god wasn't on his side? Shame on him. Maybe next time he'll pray harder. Not work harder. Not bring your team together to work better. But prayer, god, and things you have no control over. Sorry, folks, this is getting old.

[The Stranger]

30. Religion has often pacified those who could instead create systematic change for the better.

That is why Marx called it the opiate of the masses.

[cool user name]

32. Hmmmm

BTW, what happens if both a devout pitcher and hitter pray at the same time for either a strike or a hit? Who gets that call?

Depends. Does God create the strike zone?

[RiverStone]

38. As long as he/she is not a Yankee's fan...

I don't care who creates the strike zone! :P


Seattle Mariners fan here. After 3 years in a row of finishing in the basement, our team would settle for a miracle (getting rid of the GM would be a start).

[cool user name]

50. Texas Rangers fan here ... and trust me, I know about the basement.

:P

[theHandpuppet]

33. I was watching another post-Super Bowl interview with Dungy...

... in which he stated that all the adversities they were faced with this season (with regards to player personnel and so many rookies) was the Lord's way of preparing them for the playoffs.

You know what boggles my mind? That Tony Dungy really thinks the Lord cares about who wins his damn football game. That the Lord has taken a personal interest in his personnel roster. What hubris. Frankly, I think God has plenty of other matters to attend.

[City Lights]

34. More mind boggling...

...my co-worker actually rooted for the Colts because of Dungy's faith and the way he wears it on his sleeve. And she's from Chicago. The sheep really eat this shit up. :rofl:

[jgraz]

36. Can you imagine the outcry if Dungy was Muslim??

All Glory to Allah, etc, after a Superbowl win? We won and we did it Muhammed's way?

Or how about if he got up there and said: "We won by following science. This proves you don't have to believe in God to be a winner"? Dude would be burned at the stake.

[RiverStone]

47. Which reminds me of something one of America's greatest..

sports figures said:

I believe in the religion of Islam. I believe in Allah and peace.

Muhammad Ali


More Ali:


Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong.

Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change.

A rooster crows only when it sees the light. Put him in the dark and he'll never crow. I have seen the light and I'm crowing.

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/muhammad_ali.html

[damntexdem]

41. If God gets the credit for the Colts' victory, does that mean ...

that Miami is in for 37 more days and nights of torrential rain? And has it kept raining yesterday and today?

[spoony]

43. Get a grip.

Jesus. Seriously, how many fucking threads can there be about a man thanking God and two men eating a fucking candy bar.

[mmonk]

45. well this IS America

[spoony]

46. You're right,

I'm not sure this level of diversionary, exhausting outrage would take hold in a smarter country.

[Joe for Clark]

51. You are funny dude -

This is about football - it is VERY serious in our country - apparently more than the "stupid war".

I have this idea - lets get Jerry Falwell eating a snickers bar while dodging a blitz on a football field. Could be really entertaining - especially at the moment of impact.

You know - you are of course right - none the less - I'd pay to see old Jerry taking a hit from, say Mr Polamalu - I really would.

No football (to speak of) til August - it is pretty depressing to a lot of us - so give us our moment of regret for the past season.

Then bring on the Steelers.

Joe

[SaveElmer]

54. This is one of the reasons I have really lost interest in football...

Every game seems to turn into an evangelical revival meeting...

Every player thanking the lord for their victory...like God wouldn't have something better to do than interfere in a damn football game...

The big group prayers at the end...and on and on


I just want to watch a football game, without the players or coaches politics or religion being shoved down my throat!

[AnnieBW]

55. If Dungy Is Homophobic

and works with organizations that "cure" gays, makes ya wonder why his teenaged son committed suicide?

I'm just sayin...

[Neshanic]

71. Yes, I wondered about that too, or how did he square God's decision on that,

with a football game? I mean was his God more attentive to the game and not the plight of his son? What God is that? Does that God exist?

Yes, that God does exist for people, people like Dungy, or like a fundy minister who used to be my best friend before becoming religiously insane. The easy is explained as God's will, the difficult is explained as God's mystery.

Football is easy. Death is not.

[FredScuttle]

57. There's an easy answer to your question

"what happens if both a devout pitcher and hitter pray at the same time for either a strike or a hit?"

Whom does God favor with his blessings? Why, it's.....



STEVE GUTTENBERG!!!

[RiverStone]

59. I thought it was...

I mean, did not Bugs always kick Elmer Fudd's ass? Even in baseball?

[Cell Whitman]

58. Ok, here's SORT OF the answer to one of your questions

BTW, what happens if both a devout pitcher and hitter pray at the same time for either a strike or a hit? Who gets that call?


Not exactly as you worded your question but here is the answer to the general premise...

Ernie Johnson, longtime, now retired, announcer for the Atlanta Braves used to tell this one a couple times a year...

During a spring training game Ernie was sitting next to a Catholic priest. A rookie from the Dominican Republic steps up to the plate and does the sign of the cross.

Ernie looks to the priest and asks, "Father, does that really do any good?"

To which the priest replied, "Not if he can't hit!" :7
__

OT: back in the days of no meat on Fridays -- I once had a priest tell you could eat a steak on Friday if you could get it through a straw. :7

[and-justice-for-all]

60. Just goes to show ya...

..just how diluted those people really are.

Anyone with half a brain would realize that gawd is never in the equation. Obviously gawd could give two shits about Dafur, War and all the other plite in the world (Must be old Testament gawd). But when it comes to answering Dungy's pray to win a superbowl, you bet gawd was listening..(king James version gawd). Apparently there are two gawds running around, one who enjoys the worlds suffering and one who really likes the Colts and/or American Football.

Praying get you nothing. If it did produce results, I would be praying instead of typing to end Cancer, AIDS, Homelessness, Wars and for money trees. But since praying is an utter waste of time and you get absoluty nothing from it, I can not see how Dungy's Xtian behavior won them the superbowl. How the Colts won the superbowl was through hard work and determination, not by praying. These folks need to give themselves the credit and not the invisiable man in the sky.

[Clark2008]

62. Could he have meant that he won it without being a shit?

Head coaches, by and large, are known for being total, inconsiderate assholes in order to win. It seems they feel they either have to be or that profession just attracts them.

However, Dungy isn't.

Maybe he didn't really mean that the Colts won because he and half the team are "God-fearing." Maybe he simply meant that his form of Christianity includes civility (don't we wish all people who alleged they are Christians were civil?) and he didn't have to be like Steve Spurrier or Bobby Knight or insert name to win. He could be a really nice guy.

One of my local radio jocks was talking about this - a religious fellow - and he concurred that God doesn't waste His time on football games and the like, but God DOES act through others and perhaps Dungy's decency was more the testament than winning the game. Sounded reasonable to me.

[Bill McBlueState]

66. about Irsay

It's pretty typical that a rich person like Irsay would thank an invisible god, instead of thanking the people who actually did the work.

[AnnieBW]

84. He should have thanked Mayflower Movers

For their help in sneaking out of Baltimore... :mad:

[qanda]

69. As an African-American Christian

I have to say that I think you all are making too much out of this. Tony Dungy has faced a lot of adversary in his life and in his career. He feels as if it was God who helped him achieve what he has and there's nothing wrong with him stating that.

[Bill McBlueState]

74. if that's the case, there's also nothing wrong with criticizing him

Dungy and Irsay went further than to say that their god helped them overcome adversity in life. The claim was that by doing things "the Lord's way," they were able to win the Super Bowl. Sure, they have the right to say that. And others have the right to talk about the disturbing implications of a god that helps rich people win football games while poor people go hungry.

[Warren DeMontague]

78. God clearly has a problem with Chicago Sports teams.

Although he made an exception for Michael Jordan.

[L A Woman]

83. I don't think that's what he (or any other sports figure) means...

...it has to do with asking for strength to achieve what you set out to achieve - it doesn't mean God is cheering for a particular sports team. They are thanking God for giving the health and the strength to work hard to get to that point.

From what I have heard about Tony Dungy, he doesn't use profanity or raise his voice or demean his players in any way, and neither does Lovie Smith - I suspect that is what he meant.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

85. If I was a Colts' player, I'd have been pissed

I guess the months of hard work, a year of brutal physical punishment, the mentally numbing and time consuming preparation and a player's natural talent have NOTHING to do with it.