What Matters To Tony Dungy? Really.

By C. Edmund Wright

For many years, former Tampa Bay Buc and Indianapolis Colt head football coach Tony Dungy has enjoyed the well deserved reputation as that of being a great guy and a devout Christian as well as being an accomplished football coach. His book Uncommon,

released today, reinforces that image as Dungy explains his world view and what is important to him above even the impressive stage of the NFL at its peak.

To put it bluntly, like many devout "born again" Christians in positions of notariety, Dungy professes that his faith is the most important thing in his life. This is a powerful testimony from anyone, but especially those who have accomplished so much on this earth and in this life. Thus, Dungy has been a powerful witness for the Christian faith for years.

Now let me say that I do not doubt Dungy's faith for one minute. Further, as a long time admirer of his and someone who shares that faith,  I have always looked forward to his interjection of his testimony at his various career pinnacles though I am not particularly a fan of the Colts or Bucs.

Having said that, in an interview today on the nationally syndicated Dan Patrick Radio Show. Dungy indicated by his words and actions that perhaps there is something even more important to him: skin color.  Now it is fine to consider skin color all important. And it is fine to claim that your faith in Jesus is top priority in your life. And it is fine to vote for and publicly support Obama.

I am not sure it is logically consistent, however, to claim all three in the same lifetime. And this inconsitency is what is so shocking from Dungy. Afterall, Obama has been mentored by a man whose most famous legacy is that of "God damn America" and so on and he has been elected on a platform of aggressive abortion rights including some extremely disturbing positions taken in Illinois on infanticide.

Consider the following quotes from Dungy today form the Patrick show regarding what he has done lately:

Well, I went to the inauguration - and that was a fantastic thing. I found out at the inauguration there really are a lot of things we don't get to take advantage of as coaches.

The speech was great, but the best ting to me was the crowd. Everybody was so excited about being there. I just thought for one moment in time the country was on one accord and people were excited about our government again and that for me was the biggest thing.

And apparently this is not the first time he has been very involved with a potential Presidential figure. When asked if he (Dungy) had thought about running for office, he said:

I talked to Colin Powell when people were trying to get him to run for President.--and he told me seomthing I'll never forget...he said right now everybody likes me, and if I run for president immediately half the people won't.

He also appears to have bought into the idea that a racist country like ours will likely try and kill Obama while believing on the other hand that Obama truly wants to reach out to the other side of the political spectrum:

I cant even imagine...I worry about a lot of things and pray for him. I think you have to have your convictions and you have to be able to stick to them and still have that sense that you're gonna listen to everybody and tryu to include everyone and I think that's what he's trying to do. And it's a tough time in our country right now.

I worry about his safety - number one--and I worry about his decision making and leading the country in some tough economic times...

It appears to me that Dungy is tone deaf towards a large number of his most devoted followers. These would be conservative born again Christians holding to the values consistent with what Dungy professes and which are very consistent with our constitutional principles. A constitution, I might add, that Obama said needs to be fixed. I guess he has no idea how his Obama relfections will play across the country.  This is an audience that understands instincitvely that neither Powell nor Obama are in our camp. That leaves only one thing they have in common with Dungy. Color. Sadly.