As an avid Green Bay Packers fan, one of the things I enjoyed most this past NFL season was watching my Packer beat the playoff bound Chicago Bears, coached by Lovie Smith. Since Lovie’s first stated goal was to beat the Packers, I enjoyed seeing them lose to my Packers. I have also reveled in the past as my Packers defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers year after year when both teams were in the old NFC Central division. Back then Tony Dungy was the Bucs coach. Today Dungy and Smith lead their teams into Super Bowl XLI. But while I have enjoyed seeing their on-field failures at the hands of my Packers, I am glad to see their success this year.
These two men will forever be linked as two brothers who coached in the same first Super Bowl – the first time both teams were each coached by black, head coaches. Before anyone gets upset that a white boy like me refers to them as brothers, I’m talking about their ethnic heritage, which is getting most of the attention. I’m talking about their spiritual kinship as brothers in Christ and members of God’s team.
I am thankful for their success because, first I am a believer who loves to see fellow believers get a national stage to show off their faith. I am also a person who loves to see the underdog make it to the top, as these two African American men have done so well. As a Christian and one who supports minority rights, bravo to Mr. Dungy and Mr. Smith.
But in the end, I’m also a sports fan. So here’s hoping that Tony Dungy gets to express a faith in the midst of joy and victory and Lovie Smith gets to express his in the midst of total defeat. And if you don’t understand why, then you are not a Packer fan.
See this excellent Biblical Recorder article for more information on the faith of these two fine Christian brothers.
