Early word is that Tony Dungy will be stepping down from the head coaching position he’s held in Indianapolis for the last seven seasons, and though it’s a sad occasion for this Colts fan, I want to say, “Thankyou Tony Dungy”. I think there are probably lots of fans of the game (sports in general for that matter) who, if they thought about it, would be saying the same thing.
Sure, we hear all the great things that Tony did while he was the head coach in Indianapolis (and in Tampa Bay), but we should also thank him for what we didn’t hear about. We didn’t hear about any of his players violating the league’s policy on banned substances, no domestic abuse cases, no dogfighting rings, no drunk and disorderly charges, no self inflicted gunshot wounds to the leg or elsewhere, etc.
Tony has managed to carve out a positive image in a league where the line for role models is woefully short, and I hope that aspiring coaches can take a page out of Tony’s book.
People talk disparigingly about how soft-spoken Tony is and how reluctant he is to get in a player’s face and scream at him when he would every right to do so, and some people might think that makes him soft, but I’ve heard it described more appropriately that, if Tony needs to yell at you, then you d0 not belong on his team. He is a man who demands and deserves respect – every bit of which he receives, he most certainly is worthy.
Tony has also made a city, my home town, very proud. For years we were the team that got kicked around and when other teams would see the Colts on their schedule for next Sunday, they would breathe a sigh of relief. Then it was, “well, they’re pretty good, but they never win the big game”. Despite the disappointing playoff loss this season, things have certainly changed in Indianapolis. Now Colts fans do not walk around with chips on their shoulders.
To tie these concepts together and to try and wrap this up, I would say that Tony Dungy’s style worked especially well in Indianapolis because he epitomized that midwestern, small-town ideal of hard work and self-determination, and he was able to channel that and project it onto his team for those seven years, and it was right in line with what those fans wanted. I think midwestern folks have always wanted to win, but they have always wanted to win the right way, and Tony Dungy made that possible and then made it happen.
Again, it is likely that he will announce his retirement, but he is a man who is thanked by a grateful Colts fan, a grateful city, and should be thanked by a grateful league for his accomplishments both on and off the field. Thankyou Tony Dungy.
Thankyou Tony Dungy
Early word is that Tony Dungy will be stepping down from the head coaching position he’s held in Indianapolis for the last seven seasons, and though it’s a sad occasion for this Colts fan, I want to say, “Thankyou Tony Dungy”. I think there are probably lots of fans of the game (sports in general for that matter) who, if they thought about it, would be saying the same thing.
Sure, we hear all the great things that Tony did while he was the head coach in Indianapolis (and in Tampa Bay), but we should also thank him for what we didn’t hear about. We didn’t hear about any of his players violating the league’s policy on banned substances, no domestic abuse cases, no dogfighting rings, no drunk and disorderly charges, no self inflicted gunshot wounds to the leg or elsewhere, etc.
Tony has managed to carve out a positive image in a league where the line for role models is woefully short, and I hope that aspiring coaches can take a page out of Tony’s book.
People talk disparigingly about how soft-spoken Tony is and how reluctant he is to get in a player’s face and scream at him when he would every right to do so, and some people might think that makes him soft, but I’ve heard it described more appropriately that, if Tony needs to yell at you, then you d0 not belong on his team. He is a man who demands and deserves respect – every bit of which he receives, he most certainly is worthy.
Tony has also made a city, my home town, very proud. For years we were the team that got kicked around and when other teams would see the Colts on their schedule for next Sunday, they would breathe a sigh of relief. Then it was, “well, they’re pretty good, but they never win the big game”. Despite the disappointing playoff loss this season, things have certainly changed in Indianapolis. Now Colts fans do not walk around with chips on their shoulders.
To tie these concepts together and to try and wrap this up, I would say that Tony Dungy’s style worked especially well in Indianapolis because he epitomized that midwestern, small-town ideal of hard work and self-determination, and he was able to channel that and project it onto his team for those seven years, and it was right in line with what those fans wanted. I think midwestern folks have always wanted to win, but they have always wanted to win the right way, and Tony Dungy made that possible and then made it happen.
Again, it is likely that he will announce his retirement, but he is a man who is thanked by a grateful Colts fan, a grateful city, and should be thanked by a grateful league for his accomplishments both on and off the field. Thankyou Tony Dungy.
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Filed under: Sports Commentary | Tagged: Arizona Premiere Living, arizona sports blog, coach, indianapolis colts, jim caldwell, phoenix real estate, retire, tony dungy