Tony Dungy is in a bit of hot water over a comment he made about Rams’ rookie linebacker Michael Sam, the first NFL draftee to openly acknowledge his homosexuality before he started his pro career. Coach Dungy said “I wouldn’t have taken him (Sam). Not because I don’t believe Michael Sam should have a chance to play but I wouldn’t want to deal with all of it…. it’s not going to be totally smooth…things will happen”.
Tony Dungy is greatly respected in the sports community and much beloved here in Indianapolis. His words carry a lot of weight. Coach Dungy is recognized as a conservative Christian and he is outspoken in his beliefs. He is considered a stand-up guy and someone who speaks from the heart. His comments about Sam could be construed as relatively mild criticism of the Rams for drafting the rookie in the first place and a number of people have taken offense at his remarks.
Right now, the effort to remove the stigma that surrounds homosexuality, particularly in sports and other high profile public endeavors, is just getting off the ground. The Minnesota Vikings have suspended special teams coach Mike Priefer for four games this coming season for a homophobic remark he made to former team punter Chris Kluwe last season. After Kluwe publicly expressed his support of gay marriage, Coach Priefer said that he thought “all gays should be rounded up and be placed on an island and then the island should be nuked until it glows.” Kluwe maintains that his release from the Vikings was due to his pro-gay marriage stand and not because of his performance as the team punter.
Of course Sam is not the first gay man to attempt to make an NFL team. As far back as 1964, a running back named Dave Kopay played in the league from 1964 to 1972, but did not acknowledge his true sexual orientation until several years after his retirement from pro football. Kwame Harris, an offensive tackle and 2003 number one draft pick of the San Fransisco 49ers has admitted his sexual preference and claimed the pressure to hide it affected his game performance and eventually caused his retirement. Again this was after his career was over. Michael Sam is the first player to come into the NFL and “come clean” about who he really is before his pro career has started. He will not be the last.
As much as I respect and admire Coach Dungy, I must admit that I feel he is totally wrong in even making this comment. It is beneath what Coach Dungy is as a person and therefore is incredibly disappointing. The only thing that should concern anyone about Michael Sam is “can he play football at a professional level?” Anything else is irrelevant. I am looking forward to the time when this will be a non-issue not just in sports but in daily life in general.
James Garner
The passing of actor James Garner hits close to home. Garner was a very popular and much admired screen personality. Handsome, talented, and possessed of a very dry wit. He became a movie and TV favorite and came to personify the best of American manhood. He forsook the Hollywood lifestyle and became a role model for the type of man we all wanted to be.
His strong relationship with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and his driving skills can’t be ignored either. Garner starred in the film Grand Prix in 1966 and impressed everyone, including the Formula One drivers with his natural racing skills. Dan Gurney said once, “ Jim could be a very competitive F1 driver if he wanted to be.” He discovered, like his friend Paul Newman, that he had a talent for and great love of automobile racing. He became a fixture at IMS during the month of May and a welcomed guest in any Gasoline Alley garage or in the main stretch pits. He became close friends with Mario Andretti, Parnelli Jones, and Roger Penske. Parnelli said “Jimmy knew what he was doing. He wasn’t a poser. He genially loved racing, the 500, and everything about it.” His skills were such that he was the official pace car driver for the race three times. In 1975, 1977, and again in 1985 he was behind the wheel of the pace car for the start of the race.
My own encounter with Mr. Garner came after the 4th qualification day on Sunday, May 23 1965. My Dad and I were out to see the Bump Day qualifications. Dad enjoyed the drama of the bumping and watching the unqualified drivers scramble for a place in the field. After the track closed and the field was set, Dad and I paid a visit to his old friend Howard Hillardes who was the gate captain of the Speedway Motel gate. Most all the 500 crowd, including the celebrities, used that motel gate to exit the track and go to their rooms at the motel.
While dad and I were talking with Howard and the other members of the gate crew we all noticed that a camera crew was setting up their equipment for a shot. When they were ready, who showed up and posed in front of the cameras but James Garner. Mr. Garner was modeling some sports jackets and shirts that he would be wearing in the movie Grand Prix. Between shots he moved to the side and stood observing the situation. Howard Hillardes said to me. “Why don’t you go get his autograph?”
I walked over to Jim and asked “Mr. Garner can I have your autograph?” pushing my 500 program book and a pen Dad gave me towards him.
“Son we aren’t gonna start this are we?” he said.
I said “It’s for my mom.” Which was a lie, of course.
Mr. Garner took the program and pen and said “Well okay, what’s your mom’s name?”
I resisted the temptation to say Steve and said “Betty” and he signed it “To Betty, best regards James Garner.” It was a great moment from my youth.
So what happened to the autographed program? Darned if I know! I didn’t give it to my mom but kept it with my prized positions in my bedroom. Of course, my friends thought it was a fake but I didn’t care. I had it for a number of years, but by the time I got married it had disappeared and now it belongs to the family legends. Anyway the moment will be etched in my memory forever. RIP James Garner and thanks for all the great memories.
snicewanger@yahoo.com
