Go Bears! (Colts coach Dungy supports anti-gay group)

[swag]

via Atrios

http://www.aolsportsblog.com/2007/01/29/dungy-criticized-for-supporting-anti-gay-group/

The homepage of the Indiana Family Institute features a picture of Colts coach Tony Dungy on the sideline during a game, promoting a fundraising dinner for the Institute at which Dungy will be the guest of honor.

The web site Bilerico.com, which describes itself as promoting "Voices from the Indiana LGBT community," is expressing "dismay and disappointment" that Dungy is associating himself with the organization:

The IFI is one of the leading proponents of SJR7, the proposed Indiana Constitutional amendment on marriage rights, and other legislative efforts to deny equal rights to LGBT folks. Under the guise of protecting traditional family values, it helps spread misinformation that fosters bigitory toward our community and our own families.

. . . more

[sniffa]

1. odd

i'd think he'd get more invoLved in suicide prevention, rather than groups that tend to further the number of suicides in an at-risk group.

[swag]

2. Excellent point.

[Kagemusha]

4. I absolutely refuse to make political hay out of his dead son.

I just won't go there, and invite others to be respectful as well.

[Bill McBlueState]

6. a post on DU isn't "political hay"

The poster makes a valid point; Dungy's support of this group is ironic.

[Kagemusha]

11. A valid political jab.

That's what you're saying, and I'm saying I'd rather not go there. Criticizing because he's supporting an unworthy cause is just fine to me. Saying, but he ought to be supporting anti-suicide groups because his son killed himself, gee, isn't it strange that he isn't, what a.. ..no, that's not a good road to travel. I'm voicing my opinion quickly and early before people pile on because I don't think it's helpful to use people's dead kids as examples for what they should and shouldn't do. It's rude, and doesn't tend to get the desired results.

[sniffa]

22. gee, heaven forbid someone point out the obvious

Let's say his son was murdered as a LittLe boy by a sedxuaL predator.. and Later, he was being used/honored/whatever by NAMBLA. wouLd you not point out the obvious?

yeah, he's gone through a Lot of pain, but shame on him for extending that pain to other famiLies. how many gay peopLe kiLL themseLves, and how is it not because of the fucked up societaL/famiaL views of their orientation?

and i'm not sure if you were trying to infer there, that i was saying his kid was gay.. but just in case, i was not.

[TornadoTN]

35. Especially since the group is known to target the youth with their anti-gay agenda

It's not surprising that suicide rates are high amongst youth who are having trouble accepting their sexuality. The fact that this group promotes the belief that it is "wrong" and uses the religious "high ground" to put the fear into these kids really proves that it is nothing more than a hate group.

[joeunderdog]

61. Obvious? How bout the "black" thing?

Didn't we apply the same *cough* logicto the rights of Tony's parents and grandparents?




PS--I have always liked Tony, and thought he had some great qualities. Too bad.

[TornadoTN]

33. Your sentiment is well-intentioned, but it doesn't really apply here

I understand what you are saying, but the fact that Dungy is a "face" for this organization that does more harm than good and may actually contribute to suicides among that demographic strikes me as being highly relevant.

Noone is saying anything about his son in a derogatory manner, they are simply saying that they find Dungys involvement here to be very odd since his own family has issues with suicide, etc. There's a correlation here that makes the topic important and merits discussion.

[petronius]

36. I agree - nicely said... (nt)

[Bluebear]

48. 'Here is another example of the media trying to bring down a good christian man'

http://www.aolsportsblog.com/2007/01/29/dungy-criticized-for-supporting-anti-gay-group

....My opinion of Dungy just went up a few notches. He's my new hero

....Good for him! It's all fine and dandy when someone supports gay rights, but the minute someone doesn't approve and stands up for how they believe, they're made out to be a bad person. You have the right to be gay....we have the right to disagree with you.

....Indeed, so righteous is my "not gay bashing" that I post the following Bible excerpts for your edification. Long live the glorious Christ!


....GOD BLESS YOU MR. DUNGY. WHEN IS THE LIBERAL MEDIA GOING TO LEARN THAT THE BIBLE EXPLICITLY FORBIDS HOMOSEXUALITY??? ARE THESE "LIBS" WAITING FOR A SMOKING GUN IN TEH FORM OF A MUSHROOM CLOUD FROM JESUS?
===


There. Some people have added some counterbalance in support of Dungy. :eyes:

[Susang]

55. "Long live the glorious Christ!"

Does that strike anyone but me as being weird? Last I checked, Christ was eternal and unable to die. Unless, of course, they've changed things a lot since I stopped going to mass. :freak:

[K8-EEE]

32. That IS a really good point!

From a football-hating L.A. girl, I say.....GO BEARS!

[saltpoint]

3. Disappointed to hear of Coach Dungy's support for any anti-GLBT

group, but evidently that's the deal.

My football-insider connections tell me that the smart money is on Manning and the Colts this Sunday, but I'd prefer Dungy's politics to be a bit more evolved.

Go, Bears.

[swag]

7. Nicely said. Me, I don't know anything about football,

and one could always argue that this situation is analogous to enjoying the art, poetry, music, etc. of someone whose politics suck, and that the art should be judged on its on merits, not on the foibles of its creator.

So you could say the same thing about the game, I guess.

But still, Go Bears.

[saltpoint]

12. True. I know some die-hard conservative types who think Barbara

Streisand is a vile monster owing to her politics. But they never claim she can't sing.

I think Dungy's a much better model of a pro athletic coach than some.

I wish he was not attached to a gay-bashing organization (and/or gay rights-denying organization... whatever term I want there...?)

Also I don't know much about football. But I like that the Bears play outdoors as opposed to the strange inside-type joint the Colts play in.

Toward the end of the season I want to see snow falling on a football field.

[Stuckinthebush]

5. I was totally on the fence with this game

but I'll pull for the Bears now!

[MadHound]

8. Frankly I find basing one's sports preferences on the politics of one person

To be a bit foolish. OK, Dungy is anti-gay, I get that. But I'm willing to bet good money that there are equally homophobic people on the sidelines of the Bears. I'm also willing to bet that both organizations have members who are gay, and/or actively support gay rights. So when you are demonizing the Colts because of the opinions of one man, you are also demonizing a team that includes people whose views you agree with. What to do:shrug:

Frankly, I leave all such political matters at the door. I root for the team that I like best, regardless of the politics of its members.

[swag]

14. Sounds reasonable. Me, I don't care about football, so Go Bears!

[Seabiscuit]

34. Sounds reasonable to me too. I don't care about football, so Go Colts! :)

[KamaAina]

20. OK, how about the politics of two people?

Peyton Manning is a big ol' Bush donor, not to mention Corker (TN), which ought to leave Dungy, not to mention his African American teammates, a bit miffed.

http://www.newsmeat.com/sports_political_donations/Peyton_Manning.php

Then again, we're talking about a team that snuck out of its ancestral home, Baltimore, in the middle of the night, in the midst of various litigation telling them not to.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_Colts#Relocation_to_Indianapolis

Why is it a surprise that right-wing ideology would flourish in such an environment?

Ordinarily this would be more than enough to drive me into the NFC camp. The abuse heaped on Saints fans last week, however, precludes that. Time to start following women's hoops again, I guess (the UConn men having dropped from sight...)

[MadHound]

26. RW politics dominate most of sports quite frankly

Lynn Swan, Charles Barkely, Karl Malone, many, if not the majority of big time sports stars are conservative. It seems to be the thing to become once you are flush with money. If one was going to be ideologically pure, then you probably couldn't watch any sports events at all, because at least one major player or coach is a 'Pug. This includes women's basketball as well. Really now, do you want to limit yourself in what you watch to only liberal people? I would find that to be rather boring and counterproductive. I root for the Chiefs, because that's the team I grew up with. Yes, I realized long ago that Lamar Hunt and the rest of his family were RW assholes. I recognize that many of the players are conservative too. Yet that knowledge doesn't prevent from rooting for them because they are my team.

I can understand being resentful of the Colts for their move out of Baltimore. But being upset over the politics of team members:shrug: I don't care. I tune in to watch them play ball, not to test their political orthodoxy.

[MN ChimpH8R]

64. Barkley's no longer a Repig

A few months ago I heard him say (perhaps to Tony Kornheiser or Mike Wilbon) that he was no longer a Repig. When asked why. Sir Charles responded along the lines of "because they're nuts."

[fishwax]

74. he donated 2,000 to Edwards primary campaign in '04

http://www.newsmeat.com/sports_political_donations/Charles_Barkley.php

[IronLionZion]

47. The Hoosier state is a bastion of radical right wing lunacy.

But what does that have to do with football? :shrug:

[LSK]

24. ok, and what if Jake Plummer was traded to the Colts?

Then what?

[MadHound]

27. Then the Colts are being stupid for picking up a poor quarterback

And Denver, damn their hides, got an albatross from around their necks.

Sorry, but I don't mix politics and sports, because if I did, I could never watch any sports because for the most part these big rich stars let the money get to their head and suddenly turn into conservatives.

Same thing with other aspects of entertainment, I don't let politics dominate my thought when I'm picking out a movie or CD. My foremost concern is whether I like said piece of entertainment. If I do, then I will put my money down, if I don't, I won't. Politics plays no part in such decisions the overwhelming majority of the time. Geez, I would be limiting myself waaaay to severly if I applied political criteria to my entertainment decisions.

[IronLionZion]

46. Excellent point, politics notwithstanding, Tony Dungy's Colts are going to win the Superbowl

If I were a betting man, I'd bet on the Colts. I think it's interesting that it's between two midwestern teams who are just 3 hours away from each other on I-65. Either way, they're a bunch of animals.

For some reason, I just gotta support the AFC.

Go Colts, beat the Bears!

[Ishoutandscream2]

77. Hooray for a rational post!!

Wonderfully said!:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[soleft]

9. You'd think with the # of gay teens who committ suicide

Dungy might have evolved some of his attitudes about supporting anti gay causes/groups.

Unfortunately a lot of gifted athletes/sports people come from ultra conservative/ignorant backgrounds.

[hippiechick]

10. wasn't he also a speaker at that 'all guy' church revival movement?

I can't recall their name but they were all over the media a couple years' back ... "traditional family" dudes filling stadiums to reclaim their religion and be all sensitive and vow to serve G*d etc etc ...

Folks like him who are culturally influential (especially in a brain-dead area like Central Indiana) really give me the heebs.

His postgame statement vs. the Patriots about he and Lovie Smith both being 'Christian Coaches' foremost really creeped me out, too.


:scared:

[pepperbear]

13. You may mean the "promise keepers" n/t

[Bill McBlueState]

15. pretty much everyone else forgot the name, too

It was probably the Promise Keepers; that was a flash in the pan if I ever saw one.

The thing about Christian coaches -- It's nothing special for Christian coaches to be in the Super Bowl. I'm not aware of any coaches who practice a religion other than Christianity, so it probably happens every year.

[qazplm]

16. as close as the two coaches are

(Lovie Smith and Dungy) I suspect the Bears coach thinks similarly on this issue so saying "Go Bears" without even knowing if that is true or not seems a little silly to me.

It's sports. Everything doesnt have to be about politics, and just like I find it crazy to listen to right wingers bash actors and musicians as someone to be hated for their politics, dont like it any better when its the other way round.

[madinmaryland]

17. Lets not forget about Mike Ditka OF THE BEARS

Who was going to run as a REPUB against Barak Obama. His views sounded alot more right wingish than Dungy's supposed beliefs.

[swag]

19. Sounds like both guys suck. I wish both teams could lose.

[madinmaryland]

Ditka claims to be an "ultra-ultra-ultra conservative"

:puke: Sounds worse than "W"

[Bill McBlueState]

29. Ditka's a moron

Listen to the guy talk. He might be a football savant, but he sounds like a moron when he opens his mouth about anything else. He can barely string a whole sentence together.

[grace0418]

51. He sounds like a moron even when he *is* talking about football. Probably because

he IS a moron. I am so sick of that guy. He got lucky coaching a really awesome team. I kinda think any coach who knew the slightest thing about football could probably have coached that particular team to the Super Bowl. I just wish he would fade into oblivion where he belongs.

[swag]

62. Translation: "Fuck anybody who ain't me."

[Raskolnik]

21. Let's not forget that Mike Ditka hasn't coached the Bears for 15 YEARS

And has virtually nothing to do with the organization now.

[swag]

31. I didn't know that. Go Bears!

[Ignacio Upton]

40. In fairness, Ditka no longer coaches the Bears

Just curious...isn't Manning also a conservative?

[Bake]

18. I try to keep politics out of sports.

Which is why Limpballs didn't make it on Monday Night Football. But I digress...

I'm disappointed with Dungy's politics, from what I see here. But he's not the only person associated with a great team (i.e., THE COLTS). When I watch Peyton Manning play, I frankly don't give a damn about his politics. I watch football to get a BREAK from politics.

GO COLTS!!!

Bake

[jobycom]

23. I need an ideological breakdown of all players and coaches on each team

and a formula to weight the level of committment to each party for each player, so I can arrive at a reliable rating for each team, before I begin basing my sports preferences on politics. For all I know, the Bears might have stronger anti-gay feelings than the Colts.

Until then, I'll choose on more mundane levels. Peyton Manning is from New Orleans, his father is from Mississippi. Go Colts.

[swag]

25. Sounds perfect for SQL Server.

We could build in dynamic ideological updating and reporting.

Trial memberships with ad revenue for 30 days, then switch to subscriber services with an additional "premium" level for those requiring ad hoc reporting and the like.

[guruoo]

28. So now I'm supposed to root for the Bears, eh?

How childish.

[swag]

30. True. It's at least as childish as rooting for the Colts.

[K8-EEE]

37. Rec #5 For Dear Swag!

Because I adore him, and this is pretty interesting!

[swag]

38. I adore you too, K8-EEE.

It's a fun thread.

I wish Daune and KurtF could join in!

[K8-EEE]

39. LOL!

I DON'T! Swag refers to our lunatic fringe aquaintences....blech!

[merh]

41. So, the Bears' fans condemn and mock the victims of Katrina

I think their offense is greater than the coaches, their numbers are greater.

[Feron]

50. Indeed.

http://deadspin.com/sports/chicago-bears/sick-is-a-nice-word-for-what-bears-fans-are-yeah-231005.php

[Bjornsdotter]

57. Bear's Fans

...are more than the few who held a tasteless and cruel sign. Those who had that sign should have been removed from the stadium, but don't lump us all in the same group.

Cheers

[MrSlayer]

42. The NFL is overrun with fundie nutcases.

So this is no surprise.

[swag]

43. I'm glad I don't support the NFL.

[Jamastiene]

44. What an asshole.

I'm glad now that I don't watch football at all. :thumbsdown:

[swimboy]

45. Listen, people.

I'm Sally Struthers and I'm here today to ask all people of compassion to root for the Bears.

Won't you, please?

[OKNancy]

49. I was going to, but not because of this. It's stupid

to equate politics and sports. Toby Keith loves the Sooners, therefore I should not support my alma mater??? NO!! That's just dumb. Whatever these people do off the field has nothing to do with the game.

[grace0418]

52. It always especially disappoints me when someone from a minority group

chooses to support the discrimination of another minority group. Not that it's okay for rich white men to be bigots, but I just think anyone who has been discriminated against should *really* know better.

Here I am feeling happy for the two friends (Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy) making history as the first and second black head coaches to make it to the Super Bowl, and now that is tainted. Of course, I'm not stupid, I know the NFL is full of right-wing ignorant meatheads. And I know Indiana is a bastion of the KKK, but those two coaches in particular seemed a little classier than most. At least as compared to idiots like Mike Ditka.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised though.

[Fenris]

53. This is the stupidest thread you've ever started.

I'm starting to suspect that you're a Von Mises troll.

Troll.

[swag]

54. I'm a little hurt that you overlooked my many "shoe blogging" threads

in choosing the stupidest of my threads. They were plenty stupid too and at least deserve consideration. Attention must be paid.

As for the von Mises thing, you are probably onto something, but saying as much makes you sound like a suspicion troll. And this causes me great concern.

[Fenris]

56. I think as a moderator I'm required to be a suspicion troll.

If you start posting essays on socialism's failure to "do the math" when it comes to economics, I will become more concerned. You do have a very healthy portfolio, and that makes me nervous, since we're all supposed to be impoverished around here. And don't think we haven't seen your photo in the Lounge.



Very unnerving, Sir.

As for your shoe blogging threads, those hardly qualify, in my opinion. This is far more stupid.

[swag]

65. I'll fully admit that I can, in the rare lucid moment, distinguish

between that giant sucking sound and Larry Kudlow misquoting Joseph Schumpeter.

But yes, even accruing interest counts as a hobby, but not as much of one with longer rates still so low, and with spreads still so goddamned slim. Fucking liquidity glut.

PLUNGE PROTECTION TEAM, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY RISK PREMIA! See, suspicion troll, we're still all on the same side here.

[Fenris]

68. Are you implying Kudlow has read Schumpeter?

I suppose that's entirely possible, but I also have to assume he no longer remembers it on account of the 1980s, when he did copious amounts of cocaine and converted to Catholicism.

[swag]

70. Yeah, I liked Larry better then.

[AwakeAtLast]

58. You are entitled to your opinion

But I want to enjoy my week. There are other fundie NFL players and coaches who made it to the Super Bowl. I am keeping politics out of this game.

GO COLTS!!!

[swag]

59. Have a good week!

[AwakeAtLast]

60. Thank you!

:)

[nickinSTL]

63. I'm all for the Bears winning...

because I'm a life-long Bears fan.

I'm not happy with Dungy's support of the group, but I suspect that a significant number of Bears coaches/players are likely just as conservative. I don't watch football for the teams' politics.

(although I believe the Bears' 3rd string QB, Kyle Orton, is a liberal)

[swag]

66. See? Kyle Orton! Go Bears!

[frogcycle]

67. screw ideology!

can no-one ever ignore their pet hot topic for even a second? JH Christ!
This is like the house thing - no, its worse.

I don't give a rats ass if Dungy is anti-gay or if he has sex with male donkeys. Its a football game!

I bet one of the Bears is anti-gay! Maybe even two of them!

Get a frickin life!

[swag]

69. So a big sports contest between what are essentially

two corporations ("teams") based, geographically at least, in different localities is maximally important.

These corporations, excuse me, sports teams recruit very highly paid employees ("players") from disparate geographical locations and somehow (even given the beyond-tenuous local connections of the teams and their players) manage not only to foster (fundamentally jingoistic) loyalties from local and regional populaces, but also to grab the rapt attention of a national consumer base for the primary purposes of leasing platinum airtime to sell foul watery beer, high interest rate credit cards, wardrobe malfunctions, converged network gadgets, and ugly loud gaseous motor vehicles with big tits.

So I guess I see what you're saying: equal rights is a "pet hot topic" compared to such a precious thing as that.

[frogcycle]

71. what i am saying is

go root for whatever you want or don't want for whatever reasons you have, but don't drag your pet hot topic into every nook and cranny and try to preach at everyone else about it. You quite accurately characterized the "game" as a big-business entertainment presentation. I can almost guarantee I don't have much in common with ANY of the people involved on either side. Probably couldn't stand them. I bet there are right-to-lifers; I KNOW there is at least one gun nut (currently under house arrest for violating probation for having several loaded automatic weapons in his apartment) on the Bears. I think I'll watch to see who can run the fastest, throw and catch. Why the fuck do you care who wins? Ignore it. Shun it. Disdain it. It isn't the presidency. Slapping a PC label on every damned aspect of life is like, well, carrying on over someones house size instead of whether he might actually, say, respect the constitution.

Crap, I might actually vote for someone for President that I didn't agree with on an important issue.

[swag]

72. Go Bears!

[frogcycle]

73. Let's not forget the Bear Fans

with the big sign at the New Orleans game proclaiming "Finishing what Katrina Started" and hollering
epithets about "go back to your swimming pool" and such.

I understand Peyton Manning is (or at least was) a big bush supporter. So that's two strikes against the Colts I guess. I live in Chicago. You'd think that would be three. But I have been a fan of Manning's talent and work ethic for a long time, since i saw him in his first college game, and I want to see him finally win the big one. Then Al Gore can become president and I can die happy.

[cboy4]

75. Wow, and to think I didn't care who won the game. Now I do:

[Bzzzz]

76. Go COLTS!!!