Thoughts turn to two of sport's gentlemen [Tony Dungy and Elrod Hendricks]

Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | 12/23/05 | Jim Souhan

[rhema]

In 24 hours, death visited in entirely different ways.

For those of us who view sport as life writ large, an arena in which vibrant people pursue grand ambitions, death is a leather glove to a daydreamer's face.

Early Thursday morning, James Dungy, son of Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, was found dead in his Florida apartment. Wednesday, longtime Baltimore Orioles coach Elrod Hendricks died of a heart attack in Maryland.

There is no reason to link the two unless you think of Tony Dungy as the football man you most admire, and Hendricks as the baseball man you most fondly remember.

I am lucky to be in that position.

Tony Dungy spent his formative football years in Minnesota.

When Tom Moore coached at the U, he took a liking to a smallish, smart quarterback from Jackson, Mich. Moore took game films on his recruiting visit to Dungy's home, and they dissected the films like neurosurgeons studying synapses.

Dungy starred at quarterback at the U, then played for the legendary Chuck Noll with the Pittsburgh Steelers, earning a Super Bowl ring. He became the Vikings' defensive coordinator in 1992 and produced top-ranked defenses until getting his first head coaching job, with Tampa Bay.

Dungy rescued that franchise from the doldrums but got forced from the job the year before they won the Super Bowl.

In 2002, he landed in Indianapolis and was reunited with Moore. The old friends brainstormed again, this time engineering the ascension of the Colts to their current heights as Super Bowl favorites.

Through it all, Dungy has distinguished himself as the class of his profession, a man of patience and perspective who spoke most passionately about family and faith.

Dungy has the gift of making everyone around him feel important.

[ovrtaxt]

I love Tony Dungy. Not only is he the best coach we've ever had in Tampa, he's done much for our city. He continues to live here and serve through his church. He's an advocate for fatherhood and mentoring boys.

Prayers for his family, may God visit them with His grace and peace.

[battlegearboat]

Suicide seems so selfish.

[maestro]

Amen.....

ongoing prayers and tears for Tony and family......church family too.....

(Romans 10:17)

Maranatha

[rebel_yell2]

As someone who has been through that loss, I don't think that they are thinking about who is left behind. They are hurting so badly that they no longer want to live. Our failing is to intervene and let them know that they are loved, even if not by the one they are seeking love from so disparately.

[Miss Marple]

I have not heard the news here in Indy this morning. Has it definitely been ruled suicide, and was it dur to a break-up with the girl friend? This is so sad.

[dawn53]

Hi Miss Marple,

Here's a link to the St. Pete Times. They have several stories on Coach Dungy, his son's death and the investigation into the "apparent suicide." (I think one article mentioned the son had taken an overdose once before, so that is why I'm assuming they consider this a suicide attempt that succeeded.)

http://www.sptimes.com/

[UglyinLA]

and to Wayne Gretzky

[rhema]

and to Wayne Gretzky

Thanks. Not having had much browsing time online this week, I hadn't heard that news.

[Long Distance Rider]

Well said Mr. Souhan. There is nothing I could add. My sympathies to the families of both James Dungy and Elrod Hendricks.

[jwpjr]

re: Suicide seems so selfish

I am disturbed by the early, and constant, attribution of this death to suicide. Not with the way you use it here, but by the press. From the very first report they have been saying that they found nothing at the scene that would lead them believe the death was anything other than suicide. They've not once cited a single thing that clearly points to a suicide, but instead to the lack of evidence that would discount suicide. Seems to be a rather backward approach to me. I know they are usually very careful to avoid the word unless they have a good reason to use it, but in this case the talk has all been just the opposite.

Frankly, I would sooner think he had turned to a combination of booze and pills to forget his problems and simply got too much of one with the other. For some people the combination can be surprisingly fragile.

Again, I am not responding to your post to question your use of the term, but rather as a good post to glom on to to make the point that all deaths from pills and alcohol are not suicide.

In any event, my prayers and my heart go out to the Dungy family. I can not begin to imagine the pain they are suffering.

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[maestro]

.....one does NOT commit suicide BEFORE the Superbowl!

.....after,....possible.....

IMHO