# Tony Dungy is a loathsome charlatan **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 10, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355 "2010-01-10T03:10:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/81 "2010-01-11T19:06:07Z")
Knocks him up a few points in your book, eh? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/82 "2010-01-11T19:11:17Z")
Careful, there - we wouldn’t want to drive off such a fine exemplar of the thoughtful, reasoned conservative viewpoint that is under such constant attack here. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/83 "2010-01-11T19:13:14Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Knocks him up a few points in your book, eh? That inspires a mental image I could just as well have done without. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/84 "2010-01-11T19:14:16Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Careful, there - we wouldn’t want to drive off such a fine exemplar of the thoughtful, reasoned conservative viewpoint that is under such constant attack here. That will be quite enough of your content-free, snarky one-liners! ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/85 "2010-01-11T19:30:33Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So Obama is a liar **and** a bigot. Fair enough. > > Regards, > Shodan This is why most people around here think you’re mentally retarded. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/86 "2010-01-11T19:32:45Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > such a fine exemplar of the thoughtful, reasoned conservative viewpoint that is under such constant attack here. Wow. Excellent. At first I thought this was just a typically dig at **Shodan** , but it is actually a quite succinct response to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/87 "2010-01-11T19:39:00Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So Obama is a liar **and** a bigot. Fair enough. No, he’s a liar _or_ a bigot, you tit. ---
**Author:** ![capeo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@capeo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capeo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/88 "2010-01-11T19:57:13Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Now that we are at almost 2 pages, is anybody actually going to provide a quote or cite of any of his ‘anti-gay rhetoric’? Come one, if he’s really activist, it should be all over the place, right? He publicly supported a change to the Indiana constitution that banned gay marriage. His words: \*“I feel like telling people when they look at this issue of same-sex marriage . . . I’m not on anybody’s side,” Dungy said at a 2007 banquet sponsored by the Indiana Family Institute, a conservative Christian group associated with Focus on the Family. “I’m on the Lord’s side.” At the event, Dungy said he “embraced” the Indiana Family Institute’s support for the gay marriage ban. “IFI is saying what the Lord says,” Dungy said, accepting the group’s Friend of the Family Award. “You can take that and you can make the decision on which way you want to be.” “We’re not trying to downgrade anyone else,” Dungy added. “But we’re trying to promote the family—family values the Lord’s way.”\* From [http://www.usnews.com/blogs/god-and-country/2009/03/31/exclusive-former-nfl-coach-tony-dungy-invited-to-join-white-house-faith-council.html](http://www.usnews.com/blogs/god-and-country/2009/03/31/exclusive-former-nfl-coach-tony-dungy-invited-to-join-white-house-faith-council.html) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/89 "2010-01-11T20:53:46Z")
That’s not exactly activism - he was at the banquet to accept an award for unrelated work, and just busted out with his opinion on gay marriage. It’s not like he went out and publicly stumped for a bill, although I still find it distasteful. ---
**Author:** ![LunarPlexus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LunarPlexus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LunarPlexus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/90 "2010-01-11T22:29:53Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Wonder if he’s ever heard any “dung” jokes. What’s brown, hates gays, and sounds like a bell? ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/91 "2010-01-12T00:28:22Z")
> [@LunarPlexus](#): > > What’s brown, hates gays, and sounds like a bell? Osama bin Laden? ---
**Author:** ![dug313](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@dug313](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dug313)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/92 "2010-01-12T02:34:32Z")
Tony Dungy seems to be a person who calls things as he sees them . I have no reason to believe his son was gay. He was found by his gf when he died. I don’t know Tony or his son personally, but Tony has pretty much consistently been true to his personal convictions. You may agree or disagree, but the man is who he says he is. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/93 "2010-01-12T02:43:41Z")
> [@Condescending\_Robot](#): > > So you’d be OK with, eg, David Duke or Fidel Castro calling games for your favorite baseball team? Wouldn’t impede your ability to enjoy the sporting event at all? While this thread has sort of devolved into uselessness, I just wanted to say that I think I might actually pay money to listen to a sporting event where Fidel Castro did play by play and David Duke was the color man. I think that might have tremendous unintentional comedy potential. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/94 "2010-01-12T06:46:07Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > “What if _STALIN_ was announcing the Superbowl? Huh?” OMG, I would sooo tune in to that! ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/95 "2010-01-12T13:10:34Z")
> [@Mullinator](#): > > David Duke was the color man I see that! ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/96 "2010-01-12T16:55:39Z")
Being a resident of the Tampa Bay area and a Bucs fan, I never thought I’d see the day that someone would pit Tony Dungy (pronounced "DUN-jee for those inclined to make fecal related jokes). I know that’s not very helpful to this thread but I wonder if other Florida residents had to do a double take when they saw the thread title. I have never heard about any antigay activism on his part, though knowing he’s a devout Christian, it would have been obvious to me he does not believe in SSM. That is if I gave a shit ,which I don’t because that has fuck all to do with his coaching or commentating. I disagree with his views on some points but then again my moral compass isn’t predicated on the words or beliefs of a total stranger whose only role in my personal life is to run commentary on a ball game. The rumor about his son being gay is a new one on me and is probably quite surprising to his girlfriend :rolleyes: As to the bullshit theory about parents’ responsibility for their childrens’ suicides, I can only say shame on you for putting forth such a stupid, hurtful, baseless load of crap. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/97 "2010-01-12T17:29:41Z")
\*\*WOOKINPANUB \*\* Not a resident of Florida and not a Tampa Bay Bucs fan, but I agree with your points. I really felt bad for Tony when Tampa let him go after he’d built up the team, only to have Chucky come in to take them to the Superbowl. Tony came back though with Indianapolis and got some justice. I think he’s a great coach and guy, but does get kinda boring in his ‘analysis’. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/98 "2010-01-12T17:38:42Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > Well, I guess since you have such convincing proof that he caused his son’s suicide He’s responsible, just as he was responsible when his team lost during his coaching days. In the immortal words of James T. Kirk. “I’m in command – that _makes_ it my fault.” ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/99 "2010-01-12T17:40:39Z")
He was in command of his son? James Dungy was 18 and didn’t live with his parents. In what sense was Tony “in command”? ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/100 "2010-01-12T18:28:47Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > He was in command of his son? James Dungy was 18 and didn’t live with his parents. In what sense was Tony “in command”? Have you read his book at all? If you aren’t Christian, you probably wouldn’t like it a lot, but it gives a lot of insight into his character. The audio book version is self narrated, and hearing him break up when he talks about his son is heart breaking. He obviously was very close to his son and had a great relationship with him. That’s why this thread is so simultaneously hilarious and despicable. It’s pretty obvious the OP knows nothing about Tony Dungy at all, except maybe seeing him witness after the Super Bowl or something. Evidently, that was enough to enrage him so that he goes out and strawmans him into being some evil gay-hating activist that cause his own son’s suicide. I guess it just goes to show that some people will stop at nothing in order to attempt to demonize people who don’t agree with them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355.md?page=6)