I understand Tony Dungy is set in his ways when it comes to a few religious beliefs, but this is just a harsh comparison from former NBA center Jason Collins.
Last summer, NBC analyst and former Colts coach Tony Dungy said he would not have drafted Michael Sam, the first openly gay NFL draftee. Of course Dungy used the vaunted “distraction” angle as a reason for passing on Sam.
“Not because I don’t believe Michael Sam should have a chance to play,” Dungy told the Tampa Tribune, “but I wouldn’t want to deal with all of it.”
Collins is still upset about that, and compared Dungy to former Clippers owner, Donald Sterling.
“If you were to ask Tony Dungy if he feels like homophobia is in his level of thinking or if he’s homophobic, he’d say no,” Collins said. “Well, if you were to ask Donald Sterling if he sees how his comments are racist, he said no, too. Some people don’t recognize their own racism, homophobia. His awareness, and people like him, are the problem.”
I see where Collins is coming from, but Dungy is nothing like Sterling. Name calling and comparison’s from Collins only do more harm than good.
Collins just made himself a part of the herd of people who critical of Dungy for having his own opinion. Jason Collins is free to be gay — just as Tony Dungy is free to not agree with the lifestyle.