Dungy may be a lot of things, but I don't think "coward" fits.
He's about the only guy who's had the balls to say that he wouldn't want the distractions. You're naive if you think he's the only one who feels that way.
Of course he's not the only one. Should we laud those who are stand up enough to say blacks aren't smart enough to play quarterback?
Dungy is one of those Promise Keepers ass holes.
I'm not lauding anyone.
I think that saying someone will be a distraction (true statement) is way way way different than saying that blacks aren't smart enough to play quarterback. I don't see the connection at all.
Socnorb11 wrote:
I think that saying someone will be a distraction (true statement) is way way way different than saying that blacks aren't smart enough to play quarterback. I don't see the connection at all.
The connection is they are both dumb and patently false reasons to avoid employing someone. Michael Sam is not a distraction.
Both are excuses to be bigoted and discriminatory.
A bunch of MLB teams didn't want the distraction of Jackie Robinson. Don't defend Tony Dungy or call him anything other than a coward. You're on the wrong side of history.
It would be nice if Dungy could recognize the opportunities in the challenge of dealing with all the microphones every week. If I was a teammate I might get tired of answering the same question every city I went to and to every visiting press corps in addition to a local media that will probably tire of it slowly. Maybe/hopefully I'm wrong--but I bet it will get annoying, but I doubt it will become a meaningful distraction for more than a few teammates/coaches if that. But I'd also be grateful for the opportunity to think and speak on a critical issue and participate in what I think of as a nice social progression. Of course Dungy may feel differently, in which case he should probably just say nothing or mumble around it, which wouldn't be too difficult.
I do think people are being a bit too sensitive as well. The worst intent is still often assumed whenever talking about gay people. Even asking if someone is gay is offensive to some people. Does it matter? Of course not, at least most often. But it's a point of interest, like where is that band from or who is JLo dating.
And if Dungy's quote and the reaction is any indication, I think part of the principle of what he said is correct. Though again, I think 'distraction' is too heavy a word for it, and the annoyingness of it all wouldn't have kept me from drafting anyone I wanted. People keep pointing at Dungy/Vick, and there's a lot of validity to that. If the flashes of ESPN I catch are any indication, the 'distraction' of Manziel is going to be far worse.
Also, if Sam and Dungy are game, this could create a great moment of understanding and progression, or at least lip-service/public stunting to that desired effect. Next week on OWN...
Manziel gets more coverage than anyone, and no one ever suggested not drafting him. And calling him a distraction actually has some merit with his on and off field antics.
The "distraction" of Michael Sam is entirely perpetuated by the media and guys like Dungy. There's really no valid reason to continue to discuss his sexuality like it has any impact on his team.
cardsfansince82 wrote:Manziel gets more coverage than anyone, and no one ever suggested not drafting him. And calling him a distraction actually has some merit with his on and off field antics.
The "distraction" of Michael Sam is entirely perpetuated by the media and guys like Dungy. There's really no valid reason to continue to discuss his sexuality like it has any impact on his team.
But the fact that it is continually perpetuated, and will be for some time most likely, by the media and Dungy makes it an issue that every coach and organization has to consider--in today's world at least. As I said, I wish Dungy would want to take that on, and he could/should have handled that better, whatever his opinion or beliefs. I think it demonstrates poor leadership.
Socnorb11 wrote:
I think that saying someone will be a distraction (true statement) is way way way different than saying that blacks aren't smart enough to play quarterback. I don't see the connection at all.
The connection is they are both dumb and patently false reasons to avoid employing someone. Michael Sam is not a distraction.
haltz wrote:Both are excuses to be bigoted and discriminatory.
A bunch of MLB teams didn't want the distraction of Jackie Robinson. Don't defend Tony Dungy or call him anything other than a coward. You're on the wrong side of history.
