Fuck You Tony Dungy

[rufus dog]

You can't defend Michael Vick's return to the NFL based upon his talent, then years later claim Michael Sam may be a distraction and suggest it is a bad decision for the Rams.

You my man, are a fucking bigot.

[immoderate]

1. A distraction? Heavens to Betsy! Not a distraction!

I can't have that.

--imm

[Terra Alta]

2. Tony Dungy has always been very religious

so I really don't find this very surprising.

It's really a shame, though, that he apparently views abusing defenseless animals as a lesser sin than being in love with someone of the same sex.

[MADem]

3. He needs to figure out why he's distracted, and not bother the rest of us, who are NOT distracted,

with his personal conflicts. Maybe he should speak with someone who is understanding, in confidence, about these feelings of distraction that are troubling him so.

This is all about the person with the "distraction issue," and not anyone else.

Who here is "distracted?" Anyone? Buehler?

I'm not distracted at all--I wish the young man well and hope he's successful.

[mythology]

9. Michael Sam was planning a documentary before the NFL draft

Having cameras and film crews around would certainly cause a distraction. Look at how few teams actually want the HBO show Hard Knocks to focus on their team each year. In fact the St. Louis team convinced Micheal Sam to not have the documentary around.

That's the distraction, not the fact that Michael Sam is gay.

[MADem]

14. Lots of Golden Boys get documentary coverage.

I think if famous athletes making millions can't handle a few cameras, they don't belong in the public eye.

I am not buying that argument, not one bit. They do documentaries when Heisman winners fleet up to the NFL, no one cries about "distractions."

Could it be that some people only think it's only distracting if they're gay, perhaps? It is unreasonable to demand that no one mark this occasion. It IS a big deal, it is a milestone, it is a moment in history-- but crying about "distractions" and REDUCING this historical moment to nothing more than that is dog whistling, IMO.

[tishaLA]

5. Amen. nt

[KinMd]

6. Read this before deciding on Tony Dungy

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/tony-dungy-statement-on-michael-sam--he--absolutely--deserves-a-chance-174226901.html

[rufus dog]

11. Done

Can't say it changes my opinion. Had his original statement been, " he is a talent that could potentially help the right team, but said team will have to deal with the distraction of a film crew along with the pressure of being the first openly gay player,..." Then I would give him the benefit of the doubt about being taken out of context.

[rpannier]

15. I read the thing but I think Seifert at ESPN did a great job of dismissing that

1. I do, however, believe that the media attention that comes with it will be a distraction.
The NFL is one large distraction
Johnny Manziel is a distraction, Tim Tebow was a distraction, that reality series (Hard Knocks?) they do is a distraction
Every move any starter (esp qb, wr, rb) makes is a distraction

Great teams are able to deal with and diminish these problems
Crappy teams with poor management struggle

2. Kaufman says the interview took place "a week or two back" since the original article was published in the Tampa Tribune on Sunday.

Also, it should be noted that the series on Oprah TV had been cancelled before the interview

3. From ESPN (lest we forget):

Dungy caused a stir Tuesday when he accepted the "Friend of Family" award from the conservative Indiana Family Institute.
The coach told the audience he supported the group's efforts to amend the Indiana constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.
"I appreciate the stance they're taking, and I embrace that stance," Dungy told the crowd of about 700 people.

Dungy has been in sports and sportscasting long enough to know how to answer questions. To claim that there were no follow up questions shows he's not as good as people say or he's trying to weasel out of the whole thing


************
So color me skeptical.
But, I didn't like him when he coached the Buccs, I wasn't a fan of his when he was at Indy. I don't really think much of the guy.
So I admit to a bias.
And that was before all his Christian, anti-gay piffle
His inane comments over the years have just made it easier to dislike him

[JayhawkSD]

18. Fair enough, but...

Would he have drafted "Johnny Football?" There's a guy who is every bit as much of a distraction as Michael Sam, so why has no one asked if Dungy would have drafted him? Would not that answer clarify the situation a bit?

[KamaAina]

29. "He absolutely deserves a chance."

Just not with my team.

[alp227]

8. Meme format...

[chillfactor]

10. sorry but I am a Tony Dungy fan from many years back

when he coached the Minnesota Gopher football team...obviously you know nothing about Tony Dungy the man or you would not make such a stupid post...

[Puzzledtraveller]

12. It is all over the place, the idiotic vitriol, foaming at the mouth hatred for Coach Dungy.

There is an element at work here which I have come to truly detest,it is not liberal, it is not pogressive.

[rpannier]

17. Oh please

It is liberal and progressive to not like somebody
The guy is anti-gay, jumped into the anti-gay marriage camp
There is nothing idiotic about not liking someone for their viewpoints

[Puzzledtraveller]

22. oh please, yes.

[rpannier]

16. Never liked him

Didn't like him at Tampa Bay
Didn't like him at Indy
Didn't like him before he became the face of anti-gay causes in Indianapolis
I agree with the OP

The man is anti-gay
The man is anti-gay marriage

Seifert at ESPN did a good take-down on this recent affair

[Strat54]

20. No..chill.... Obviously YOU know nothing about Tony Dungy

The guy is an Evangelical nutjob with a long history of support for Anti-Gay causes.

Him, the Irsays, and Peyton Manning are ALL a bunch of Right-Wing douchebags. They all also get showered with praise and accolades while they have only 1 Superbowl victory to their names. (Well... "Tony the Douchebag" actually has 2. He was on the Steelers team that won the Superbowl in 1979.)

No surprise to me!! I knew he was a RWNJ 10 years ago.

I am totally surprised by the commentors who say things like "Well you have to understand that he is a Christian..." as if that makes his bigotry totally OK.

[Are_grits_groceries]

19. Dungy is a hypocrite.

It took him years to become an NFL assistant coach. Owners and coaches were leery of hiring African-Americans. 'Things might happen.' It might make some players and fans uncomfortable. After that, it took him a while to become a head coach.

He had no problem mentoring Michael Vick who was a complete distraction when trying to find a team after leaving prison. Dungy lobbied other coaches to give him a chance. In addition, he had a few distractions while coaching. Marvin Harrison was one such player. He was accused of murder. So his 'distractions' are of a certain nature.

As far as his religious beliefs go, he must have forgotten that people used passages from the Bible to deny blacks their rights and call them inferior. Turning that around was when things happened and that noxious belief was generally put to rest.

Jackie Robinson was a huge 'distraction.' However, Branch Rickey was determined he would play and a barrier was broken. You better believe that his presence made a lot of people uncomfortable.

'Distraction' is a code word. It has a general, nebulous meaning and can be used against anybody. They don't mind the distraction of players with DUIs, drug convictions, domestic abuse allegations and I could go on. It's bullshit.

As far as the Oprah documentary, Dungy's timeline is very suspect. That entire project was called off before his comments were made. It was another convenient excuse. Except for an appearance at the ESPYs, Michael Sam has been invisible.

I have kept up with Tony Dungy for years. I have admired him for his work with others and as a coach. I was very surprised to see these comments. Dungy is well-respected in the NFL and HE is the one who has caused a distraction and done Michael Sam a disservice.

Since when is a religious conviction that is bigoted ok? Does your religion trump others rights? Make no mistake. He hurt Michael Sams chances. People will use Dungy for cover. Sam is already behind the curve as a 7th round pick when he should have gone in the 4th round at least. Any other SEC player with his credentials would have.

So keep defending Dungy! Keep defending the status quo. Let's not get distracted. After all, those distractions will doom a team to oblivion.

[DeSwiss]

21. Dungy's a conservative dickhead.

Always was. And probably always will be. Conservative dickheads have no higher brain functions.

- There have been studies.....


K&R

If I were Michael Sam, every week the opponent in front of me would be Tony Dungy.......

[Initech]

30. He likes shitty Christian cop movies, I know that much!

Judging from the copies of "Courageous" that are gathering dust on the shelves at my local supermarket.





No surprise he thinks Michael Sam will be a distraction!

[bluedigger]

24. He's the World's Worst Person in Sports

For today at least. Nice to see KO again.

[monmouth3]

25. Keith, as usual, says it well and to the point. Nice seeing him again..n/t

[joeybee12]

27. Slight correction...his name isn't Dungy...it's Dungheap...

Other than that, knr

[William769]

28. Kick & recommended.