# 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:** 6
**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, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/101 "2010-01-12T18:45:41Z")
I’ve read part of it. Then I realized it wasn’t going to be about football at all. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/102 "2010-01-12T18:49:28Z")
> [@Condescending\_Robot](#): > > Someone so unconcerned with his own family that his teenage son committed suicide–which many believe was due to Dungy rejecting his son for being gay. You are a drooling moron. From the [espn story](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2268593): > [@](#): > > James Dungy’s **girlfriend** found him when she returned to the Campus Lodge Apartments at about 1:30 a.m. (bolding mine). You’re just making shit up, aren’t you? We oughta get you and Glen Beck into a room and see what the two of you can invent from whole cloth. “The rise in homosexual teenage suicide bombers can be traced back to John Madden’s fundamentalist christian and socialist agendas.” ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/103 "2010-01-12T19:29:35Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Mine too. However, if he actively campaigns against gay equality initiatives, that would be a _huge_ **black** mark against him in my book. Racist. 😛 ---
**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, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/104 "2010-01-12T20:08:08Z")
> [@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”? He’s a Christian. That means he used his FAMILY VALUES mind control waves to kill his son, why can’t you understand that? Christopher Hitchens says it, so it must be true. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/105 "2010-01-12T20:19:15Z")
I don’t know shit about his son, but I do remember seeing some special on him on ESPN about his coaching days, and I was a bit shocked over how much his faith spilled over into his coaching … going on about team prayers and faith-based activities and Christainity this and Jesus that and the holy ghost other thing. It just rubbed me the wrong way. If I were a 22-year-old stud, 6’4 220 with a golden arm and the reflexes of a cheetah … I wouldn’t want to play for him, if it meant I had to either pray with team or be ostracized. The fact that he’s anti-SSM is hardly shocking to me. ---
**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, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/106 "2010-01-12T20:52:57Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > It just rubbed me the wrong way. If I were a 22-year-old stud, 6’4 220 with a golden arm and the reflexes of a cheetah … I wouldn’t want to play for him, if it meant I had to either pray with team or be ostracized. The number of ex players, coaches, and colleagues that came out to gush about him after he finally retired seems to indicate not many feel like you would. In fact, after Dungy left Tampa, the first game the next season Gruden dismissed a pregame meeting. Warren Sap called everybody back, stating they had prayed before every game for the past 6 years, and they weren’t going to stop now. Of course, Warren Sap isn’t 6’4". He’s not 220 either and his are definitely isn’t golden, but he still seemed to do OK. Heck, he’d even take a bullet for Dungy, as long as it didn’t kill him. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/107 "2010-01-12T20:58:42Z")
Yay. Christians like him. Who cares. Wasn’t my point. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/108 "2010-01-12T20:59:14Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Of course, Warren Sap isn’t 6’4". He’s not 220 either and his are definitely isn’t golden, but he still seemed to do OK. Heck, he’d even take a bullet for Dungy, as long as it didn’t kill him. 😛 He once took a double cheeseburger for Dungy. ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/109 "2010-01-12T21:01:52Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I > It just rubbed me the wrong way. If I were a 22-year-old stud, 6’4 220 with a golden arm and the reflexes of a cheetah … I wouldn’t want to play for him, if it meant I had to either pray with team or be ostracized. You might not want to play for him, but you probably would, if he had the best chance at taking a team to a championship. ---
**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, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/110 "2010-01-12T21:18:46Z")
> [@tacoloco](#): > > You might not want to play for him, but you probably would, if he had the best chance at taking a team to a championship. Well, considering that his reputation was somewhat akin to that of Marty Schottenheimer until 2006… ---
**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, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/111 "2010-01-12T22:32:39Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Yay. Christians like him. Who cares. Wasn’t my point. I don’t think Warren Sapp is a Christian. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/112 "2010-01-12T23:21:13Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > The number of ex players, coaches, and colleagues that came out to gush about him after he finally retired seems to indicate not many feel like you would.(snip) If you give the people what they want, they’ll turn out every time. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/113 "2010-01-13T01:37:46Z")
Aw, shut up and go plow your cornfield. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/114 "2010-01-13T14:01:05Z")
> [@tacoloco](#): > > You might not want to play for him, but you probably would, if he had the best chance at taking a team to a championship. I probably would as a rookie, if I didn’t have much other choice, but I guarantee I would not be comforfortable playing for someone whose entire method of coaching and interaction was centered around Christianity. I’m not a NFLer; I’m a data-analyst. But if my boss instituted mandatory prayers and faith-based activities … I’d go work somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/115 "2010-01-13T17:35:27Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I probably would as a rookie, if I didn’t have much other choice, but I guarantee I would not be comforfortable playing for someone whose entire method of coaching and interaction was centered around Christianity. > > I’m not a NFLer; I’m a data-analyst. But if my boss instituted mandatory prayers and faith-based activities … I’d go work somewhere else. Wait though. Remember the guy we are talking about. **Condescending Robot** is basing his assessment out of something he completely made up. Dungee never disowned his gay son. James wasn’t even gay, and seems to have had a good relationship with his father. So **Condescending Robot** is _completely_ full of shit. Sure, Tony Dungee led prayers in practice. But that’s it. The muslims on the team didn’t have a problem with it, and I’d bet the atheists and agnostics didn’t mind bowing their heads for a minute or two out of respect for the man. He wasn’t running a theocracy or trying to indoctrinate anybody. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/116 "2010-01-13T17:46:22Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Sure, Tony Dungee led prayers in practice. But that’s it. The muslims on the team didn’t have a problem with it, and I’d bet the atheists and agnostics didn’t mind bowing their heads for a minute or two out of respect for the man. Yeah, well, they’re not me. I’d have a problem with it. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/117 "2010-01-13T17:55:43Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Yeah, well, they’re not me. I’d have a problem with it. Really? Are you so fanatical in your beliefs (or non-beliefs, whatever) that you couldn’t humor a guy for one minute? Fucking A, man. If so, then you are as bad as the evangelicals. ---
**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 13, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/118 "2010-01-13T17:56:13Z")
How the hell can you read the whole thread, or even a single page of it, and not have cottoned on to how to spell _Dungy_? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/119 "2010-01-13T17:59:44Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > How the hell can you read the whole thread, or even a single page of it, and not have cottoned on to how to spell _Dungy_? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355/120 "2010-01-13T18:02:01Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Really? Are you so fanatical in your beliefs (or non-beliefs, whatever) that you couldn’t humor a guy for one minute? > > Fucking A, man. If so, then you are as bad as the evangelicals. Would you? If your boss demanded that you face east and pray to Mecca each morning before work, you’d be fine with that? Or if you had to burn incense to honor your relatives. Or if you didn’t have a choice but to offer a ceremonial sacrifice to Kali. Every day before work and your only choice was to say, “Ok boss, whatever you say,” and that would be perfectly hunky-dory. Maybe for you, milquetoast, not me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tony-dungy-is-a-loathsome-charlatan/524355.md?page=7)