Wait! It’s nowhere near Father’s Day yet. I know, but hear me out.
I’m surprised Tony Dungy keeps his job. Anyone who follows the National Football League knows who he is. Former college standout at the University of Minnesota, he went on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers and then a short stint with a couple of other teams.
Next Tony became a coach. Eventually, a head coach – for some 13 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then the Indianapolis Colts. Tony’s Colts team won the Super Bowl in 2006. He was also the first NFL head coach to defeat all 32 NFL teams.
His more recent claim to fame has been as a pre-game contributor on Sunday nights before NBC's NFL Game of the Week. He’s been in that role for several years. On TV in front of God and everybody.
Tony Dungy is outspoken about his evangelical faith. As a safety in the NFL, he’d never back away from a tackle. And he doesn’t step back when asked tough questions involving abortion or homosexuality. He speaks truth without apologizing.
Notably, Tony Dungy serves as the national spokesman for the fatherhood program All Pro Dad. He knows something about fatherhood – with 3 biological children and 8 adopted children. His oldest son died by suicide at the age of 18 – a crushing blow to any dad.
Recently, the Governor of Florida also made a bold move. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law providing $70 million to support fatherhood in the Sunshine State. Wow. Imagine.
This “Responsible Fatherhood” bill is intended to provide funds for “educational programs, mentorship programs, and one-on-one support to encourage responsible and involved fatherhood in Florida.” The legislation, HB 7065, also designates June as “Responsible Fatherhood Month.”
HB 7065 had no problem getting votes. The Florida House passed the bill in a bipartisan manner in February with a unanimous vote: 117-0. All present Republicans and Democrats voted “aye.” The Florida state Senate followed on March 4th, with a bipartisan unanimous vote of 38-0.
In a press release after the legislation was signed, Governor DeSantis said, “There are more than 18 million children in our country who live without a father in their home. This has a severe impact on children, and often leads to dropping out of school, crime, and substance abuse … I am proud to say we are doing everything we can to support involved fatherhood in Florida.”
Guess who got on board in supporting this? Tony Dungy. And guess who got criticized for his support? Tony Dungy.
Tony spoke for about two minutes while standing alongside Governor DeSantis at the signing of the legislation. He shared how wonderful it was to have his own father alongside him while growing up. He spoke of visiting inmates along with a person involved in prison ministry.
The big bite came here when Dungy said, “…I went on the first trip expecting to see grizzled, hard, tough older guys, and what I met were 19- and 20- and 21-year-old kids who looked like my boys. And I remember driving home from that trip and asking Reverend Brown, ‘How do those young boys get here?’ And he told me it’s not socioeconomic. It’s not racial. It’s not education. It’s none of that. Ninety-five percent of these boys did not grow up with their dad.”
The left-of-center mind can hardly handle such an insight. Sports and political commentator (and former NBC television personality) Keith Olbermann labeled Dungy a “fascist political prop.” Poor little Keith.
Olbermann has won numerous awards in his broadcasting life. Talent does not require wisdom and discernment. Those vital aspects for life come with an understanding and respect for the Almighty. Olbermann might well scoff at such an idea.
Next Tony became a coach. Eventually, a head coach – for some 13 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then the Indianapolis Colts. Tony’s Colts team won the Super Bowl in 2006. He was also the first NFL head coach to defeat all 32 NFL teams.
His more recent claim to fame has been as a pre-game contributor on Sunday nights before NBC's NFL Game of the Week. He’s been in that role for several years. On TV in front of God and everybody.
Tony Dungy is outspoken about his evangelical faith. As a safety in the NFL, he’d never back away from a tackle. And he doesn’t step back when asked tough questions involving abortion or homosexuality. He speaks truth without apologizing.
Notably, Tony Dungy serves as the national spokesman for the fatherhood program All Pro Dad. He knows something about fatherhood – with 3 biological children and 8 adopted children. His oldest son died by suicide at the age of 18 – a crushing blow to any dad.
Recently, the Governor of Florida also made a bold move. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law providing $70 million to support fatherhood in the Sunshine State. Wow. Imagine.
This “Responsible Fatherhood” bill is intended to provide funds for “educational programs, mentorship programs, and one-on-one support to encourage responsible and involved fatherhood in Florida.” The legislation, HB 7065, also designates June as “Responsible Fatherhood Month.”
HB 7065 had no problem getting votes. The Florida House passed the bill in a bipartisan manner in February with a unanimous vote: 117-0. All present Republicans and Democrats voted “aye.” The Florida state Senate followed on March 4th, with a bipartisan unanimous vote of 38-0.
In a press release after the legislation was signed, Governor DeSantis said, “There are more than 18 million children in our country who live without a father in their home. This has a severe impact on children, and often leads to dropping out of school, crime, and substance abuse … I am proud to say we are doing everything we can to support involved fatherhood in Florida.”
Guess who got on board in supporting this? Tony Dungy. And guess who got criticized for his support? Tony Dungy.
Tony spoke for about two minutes while standing alongside Governor DeSantis at the signing of the legislation. He shared how wonderful it was to have his own father alongside him while growing up. He spoke of visiting inmates along with a person involved in prison ministry.
The big bite came here when Dungy said, “…I went on the first trip expecting to see grizzled, hard, tough older guys, and what I met were 19- and 20- and 21-year-old kids who looked like my boys. And I remember driving home from that trip and asking Reverend Brown, ‘How do those young boys get here?’ And he told me it’s not socioeconomic. It’s not racial. It’s not education. It’s none of that. Ninety-five percent of these boys did not grow up with their dad.”
The left-of-center mind can hardly handle such an insight. Sports and political commentator (and former NBC television personality) Keith Olbermann labeled Dungy a “fascist political prop.” Poor little Keith.
Olbermann has won numerous awards in his broadcasting life. Talent does not require wisdom and discernment. Those vital aspects for life come with an understanding and respect for the Almighty. Olbermann might well scoff at such an idea.
Proverbs 22:10 instructs us, “Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.” (ESV)
Makes me wonder what Keith’s dad was like. Apparently, not like Tony Dungy’s. That man was a winner!
Cheers for those who raise a voice for responsible fatherhood!
That’s Forward Thinking. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.
You can find a number of YouTube episodes and podcasts of Mark’s program, Moving People Forward at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCosyuBzdSh1mXIas_kGY2Aw?
For more information on the Elfstrand Group, please visit www.elfstrandgroup.com
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