groundwork

Interview with Captain Donovan Campbell

I spend a lot of time in the car driving from here and there.  As a result, I have the chance to listen to a lot of talk radio.  During the past couple of months, I have found that much of talk radio has grown tiresome and downright irritating.

The exception for me is Bill Bennett's Morning in America program.  The only drawback is the early hours the show airs here in the Eastern Standard time period.  I guess that is why pod-casting exists!

Bennett had an excellent interview with Captain Donovan Campbell of the US Marines.  Captain Campbell is the author of a new book entitled Joker One.  From the contents of this interview, I am going to add this to my reading list.

The entire interview is available on Bill Bennett's website.  I recommend it highly.

Football was just a career path...

I was personally sad to read about the recent retirement of Coach Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts.  He has always impressed me with his calm demeanor, skilled leadership, and his seemingly decent character.

The fact is there are few sport figures or leaders who could be considered excellent role models. Coach Dungy seemed to be one attempted to set a fine example on and off the field.

In yesterday's article on his retirement, I found addition information that supported my impressions of him.  Dungy is one of those exceptional individuals who seems to possess a keen moral compass to keep his life priorities in line. 

A few key quotes from the article Dungy steps down:

Tony Dungy always considered football just a career path.

Not his life's mission.

Yesterday, Dungy began the transition from coach to full-time dad and devoted volunteer by announcing his retirement after seven years leading the Indianapolis Colts.

I admire a person who understands the present reality.  Dungy looked at his work as just a career path which was not his purpose or mission of his life.  The Coach is quoted later in the text of the article concerning his genuine interest in his family and in the needs of others.

What's next for Dungy is unclear. He has been involved for years in prison ministries, with Family First and as part of All-Pro Dads.

"Where my heart is, is really with our young men right now," Dungy said. "We have so many guys that didn't grow up like me, didn't have their dad there and that's something I'm very, very interested in."

In a world seemingly devoid of positive examples, Tony Dungy sets a standard that I find to be encouraging and enlightening.  The NFL will miss his solid example of character on the sidelines. On the other hand, he seems to break out of our normal selfish mindset in order to focus on the needs of others.

I, for one, can respect and admire Dungy for aiming for a higher purpose in life than football.