Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady wasn't the only one who fumbled at the Super Bowl Sunday night. NBC football analyst Tony Dungy also "fumbled" when he let his Christian faith seep into his remarks about Eagles' quarterback Nick Foles. That's the opinion of free speech "cop" Kyle Koster, senior writer for The Big Lead blog.
Koster took exception to Dungy's on-air remarks that Foles played well, in part, due to his Christian faith. Was Dungy doing analysis or evangelizing? Koster asked. He suggested Dungy's remarks should have been censored by NBC:
"Dungy expressing his beliefs on his personal time and platform is one thing. And even if I disagree with him sometimes, I appreciate his candor and willingness to open himself up for criticism. But when his beliefs seep into his analyst role — either unintentionally or otherwise — they should be checked, both by NBC and the public."
Here's more evidence of Koster's anti-Christian bias:
"Dungy, a very public and proud Christian, pushed a narrative favorable to Christianity that may or may not be true. His possible agenda should come into play here, just as it would if an outspoken vegan was trumpeting Tom Brady’s revolutionary diet or an outspoken atheist crediting Arian Foster’s worldview for his performance."
So it would be best for all if the broadcasting booth is the exclusive domain of non-Christians. You know, reliable "self-censors" like Al Michaels and Bob Costas who never let their personal beliefs seep into their remarks!
Ignoring the irony of the lane changing now so prevalent in his own profession, Koster cautions that we are reminded to "never discuss religion and politics." The reality for narrow-minded people like Koster is this: sports media can mix politics and sports, but Christians cannot mix sports and religion.
Responding to unidentified critics after the game, Dungy issued two tweets:
Those Twitter remarks further set off Koster, who wrote the "outspoken Christian" Dungy is paid by NBC for his opinion. But there's a problem when he's "trumpeting the benefits of faith" while "wearing an analyst’s hat." Koster insists Dungy's "long history of evangelizing must be weighed" and he asks if Dungy would have credited another faith for a quarterback's inspiration.
Turnabout is fair play. Would Koster have objected to Dungy expressing admiration for Foles if he was a Muslim who prays five times a day! An atheist who never prays? Two chances of that happening: slim and none.
In conclusion, it's a fact that Christianity is a big part of the lives of professional athletes and, yes, even some broadcasters. Several Eagles' players and coaches knelt and prayed on the field and in the locker room after winning the Super Bowl. The faith they share with Dungy shouldn't be treated as a negative or worthy of censorship.
