Expect Soundbite Surgery: Dungy Says He's Proudest to Be Christian Coach

February 5th, 2007 11:26 AM
Victorious Colts coach Tony Dungy said to CBS sports anchor Jim Nantz on the post-game show last night that he and Bears coach Lovie Smith were proud to be successful black coaches, but more proud of being Christian coaches. How many media outlets will use the first half, and snip away the second?  
I tell you what. I'm proud to be representing African-American coaches, to be the first African-American to win this. It means an awful lot to our country. [SNIP!] But again, more than anything, I've said it before, Lovie Smith and I, not only the first two African-Americans, but Christian coaches, showing that you can win doing it the Lord's way. We're more proud of that.
The interview aired right around 10:13 Sunday night. Nantz's "social significance" question was fine, but he might not have liked the whole answer. Colts owner Jim Irsay also explicitly praised God for the victory, so the ACLU's teeth must have really been on edge at this lack of separation of church and sport.