Good Evening, Kossacks!
I'm not a frequent Diarist, and in the past few months I've been a pretty infrequent commentator as well, but today I saw something I feel is unworthy of DailyKos and needed to be responded to.
From today's (1/29/2007) Midday Open Thread:
The first question about the Super Bowl is whether the Bears will win by a squeaker, or whether they'll win in a rout. The other question is how much money people who bet on the Colts will lose.
It's not the trash talking I have a problem with, we Colts fans have big shoulders. There is almost literally a generation of Colts fans that have been waiting for this day (through rain, sleet, snow, scoreless games, scoreless seasons), we expect to be dissed.
Oh, BTW, Smart money is Colts by 6 pts.
No, my particular problem is with the the Drudge-worthy little snippet tagged to the end of the news brief:
(And somewhat related, why is Tony Dungy supporting a radical anti-gay organization?)
I cannot dispute the general premise of the article on bilerico.com, that Coach Tony Dungy is expected to make an appearance at an event hosted by the Indiana Family Institute (a notorious Dobson-affiliated organization: Extreme Rightwing Christian, Antigay, Anti-science), since the invitation is posted prominently on the IFI site:
(image posted without permission, but used under the considerations of Fair Use and Public Access, please contact the poster for removal)
But there is a lot of flash and little fire in this. Nowhere in the invitation does it say that Dungy is to be a guest speaker. Until some disputation is published elsewhere, the Coach is to be an honoree at a banquet. He'll probably be given some plaque and/or certificate, and possibley some honorarium, and be expected to make some short acceptance/thank you speech. I see nothing to indicate this to be otherwise.
Does this mean I like the idea of Coach Dungy attending an IFI fundraiser? No. But I also find nowhere on the their site that either Dungy or the Colts organization offers support for this organization or the banquet. And that is the crux of my problem with the blurb in the Open Thread: I think that "support" was and is the wrong word for this potential controversy.
My other nitpick over the article at bilerico.com:
And what does it say about his boss Jim Irsay and the Colt's front office's attitude toward our segment of its fan base? Take a look at the IFI announcement again. Tony appears fully engaged on the sidelines, wearing a blue Colts cap and jacket. The implied message of Colts and NFL corporate endorsement of the IFA's views is a very unsettling one.
Um...so the IFI booked Tony Dungy at an event and they get to use a file photo to promote it. Sorry, they paid for it, they get to use it, it sucks, but that's capitalism. Again, I don't find anything to stoke the coals.
Is Tony Dungy a Rightwing Evangelical Nutcase...I don't know. And it really isn't any of my business. What I do know about Tony Dungy is that he is a man of Faith, which is his right, and I know this:
His voluminous community works continue in Indianapolis. Dungy helped implement a local Basket of Hope program that benefits Riley Hospital for Children. He teamed with others in assisting All-Pro Dad, a family-based organization, and he was a spokesman for Arby’s Combo to benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Boys and Girls Club. Dungy’s reach throughout the area include works and appearances with the Black Coaches Association National Convention and Indiana Black Expo. He participated frequently in speaking appearances at area faith-based events and family football clinics.
He has done good work in my city, he has given us a reason to be proud through his leadership of the Colts, and I will not judge him without good cause (that being his words and actions).
Thank you ahead for any comments, I'll try to respond as best I can this evening. Go Colts!