Hypocrite or saint? You decide on Coach Dungy
As if serving more to blot out the memory of the Colt’s crushing loss to San Diego, this past week all of Indianapolis and most of the NFL sports press held their collective breath as Coach Tony Dungy went into familial introspection to decide his return or not to coach the team with whom he has two years remaining on his $5million a year contract.
Hypocrite or not? Saint with a higher calling or leader of finely tuned physical athletes designed to win football games? Regardless of his intent, I take umbrage with Coach Dungy seeming to ignore his contractual obligations with the Colts. The man signed on through the 2009 season. He agreed to a contract. He should not be allowed second thoughts.
That being said I wonder if any and all coaches of major sports teams don’t all have some sort of introspective, why am I doing this days after the end of any season. Even those championship winning coaches must sit back after the hooplah ends and wonder, “Why not quit when I’m at the top?”
The ongoing spotlight on any sport via networks, blogs, web sites and you tube clips leaves little room for personal times. Any sports athlete, coach or owner is fair game for the sports press, who nowadays come with their own versions of Perez Hilton, Entertainment Tonight type reporting.
In economic crunch times like these with a war going on with a faceless enemy, sports idolatry ramps up as escapism flourishes. Every nuance, every police report, every injury and every false assault/rape charge is trumpeted before a teeming audience ripe for any tidbit true or false.
Is Coach Dungy the right man to lead the Colts next year? You betcha. Because after questioning his yearly sabbatical of self reaffirmation, you inevitably come to the undeniable conclusion that every season with Tony Dungy at the helm of our NFL team is a season assured of class, dignity, hard work, focus and vision. What else could a fan, a team or a franchise want from their player’s leader and inspiration.
Welcome back again, Coach Dungy. Enjoy your stay and thank you for being here in Indianapolis, regardless of how long being here will turn out to be.