Posted on 01/26/2007 6:56:31 AM PST by Military family member
THE DUNGY WAY
Winning with Class More Important than Race, Dungy Says
INDIANAPOLIS – Tony Dungy knew what the topic would be this week.
The Colts’ head coach said he knows, too, that his status as one of the first African-American head coaches to coach in the Super Bowl likely will be a constant theme from now until kickoff in Miami on February 4.
But Dungy said this week something else is true:
That while he is proud that he and Chicago Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith have become the first two African-American head coaches to coach in the Super Bowl, he is equally proud of how they reached the game.
With dignity. With class.
Without putting football ahead of all else.
“I know the type of person Lovie is,” Dungy said as the AFC Champion Colts (15-4) began preparations to play the NFC Champion Chicago Bears (15-3) in Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on February 4 at 6:25 p.m.
“Lovie’s got the same Christian convention that I have. He runs his team the same way. I know how those guys are treated in Chicago, and how they play tough, disciplined football even though there’s not a lot of profanity from the coaches.
“There’s none of the win-at-all-cost atmosphere. For two guys to show you can win that way, I think that’s just as important for the country to see.”
Dungy, who gave Smith his first NFL job when he was the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1996, said he hired Smith not because of his race, but because he wanted a quality teacher.
(Excerpt) Read more at colts.com ...
“There’s none of the win-at-all-cost atmosphere. For two guys to show you can win that way, I think that’s just as important for the country to see.”
This is the REAL story of this years Super Bowl!
Wouldn't it be nice if we could get to the place where we didn't first look at the color of someone's skin...
I guess we can always "have a dream"
Lovie is a class act who politely acknowledged reporters statements while also stating that this historic event won't be commented on in 10 years. I agree. It's really about the content of one's character and not the color of their skin.
As a life long Chicagoan and Bears fan, I am thrilled to have a quiet, competent and classy coach for a generally incompetent organization (thanks to the McCaskey family). Mike Ditka saved the Bears 25 years ago, but Lovie is more of a coach and less focused on endorsements. (My mother will kill me for even hinting anything negative about Da Coach).
One of the rare SB's where I am torn as to who I would like to win. I like the NFC and usually root for NFC teams - with the exception of Dallas and Philly two years ago. I like Urlacher. I like strong, hard-hitting defenses. I also like Dungy - he is a class act. I think the Colts are a excellent second half team, making the proper adjustments and smoking teams in the 3rd and 4th quarters. The Colts - IMO - have two advantages over the Bears. 1 - Manning is a better QB than Grossman. 2 - even though they have not played in SB's, being in so many title games over the last several years gives them more experience for the big game. With all that said, I think the Colts will win, but my heart hopes Chicago does.
So now, I'm a dedicated Colts fan. My son is a fanatic, who has accumulated quite a collection of collectibles including
A Colts Blanket
Seven Colts footballs, three of them signed.
25 Colts posters, six of them signed.
Five Colts Pennants two of then signed.
A Bottle of Colts Ketchup
Three Peyton Manning/Marvin Harrison Wheaties boxes
273 plastic Colts Souvenir cups
A Colts key chain
A Colts Cell Phone Holder
A Colts Leather Jacket, with matching gloves and hat
A Colts Santa Hat
34 Colts hats
Colts Jerseys for Manning, Harrison, Freeney, Wayne, Doss, Sanders, Clark, (and three nameless players who are no longer Colts).
Colts Shoes and Socks
Colts Christmas Ornament and Helmet Lights
And much much more
My father is a Bears Fan, so my sons has been having a blast teasing his grandfather about the game. They've got a bet, but I'm not sure what it is.
It's not a race, it's a dumb ballgame.
Cool for you and your son. Let us know what the bet is when you find out.
Have a good time watching the Super Bowl!
The first FOUR black head coaches in the NBA all won Championships (Bill Russell, KC Jones, Al Attles and Lenny Wilkens) and all of them were head coaches over thirty years ago.
That is also a pretty classy group of men as well. I'd rather have dinner with any of them than, say, Bill Belichick.
To bad Tony works for a classless jerk like Irsay. GO BEARS!!
Jim Irsay is not a jerk, although his father was.
Jim is repeating his father's ploy of taxpayer extortion for another new stadium so he can enrich himself even more than his father.
which is probably why he didn't stay here in MN with the Vi-queens.
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