The time I hung out with Tony Dungy

I've written in other posts about my former life as a sports writer and the retirement of Colts coach Tony Dungy made me sad, but brought back a pleasant memory of the time I met him.

In 1997, when I was working in the sports department of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the editors sent me to Tampa Bay to do a feature on the Buccaneers, who were having their best season in quite some time. Dungy was in his second or third year as the Bucs head coach and was the primary reason the Bucs had turned things around.

I fly into town after setting up interviews with coaches and players through the Bucs PR department. I remember interviewing Warren Sapp, Warrick Dunn, Rich McKay who was the Bucs general manager, and some others. Finally, it was time to interview Dungy. Back then, the media worked out of these portables adjacent to the Bucs practice field. The PR person (can't remember his name) said he'd go tell Dungy I was ready to interview him. I remember thinking that I'd probably be summoned to his office. So I got my tape recorder ready and my notebook with the questions I wanted to ask.

The door opens. I hear somebody say, "Is he in here?" It was Dungy's voice. He left his office to sit with me in the dingy, dank, cramped media portable. "What a nice guy," I thought. To be honest, 11 years later, I don't remember a single question I asked him, but I do remember his demeanor. Calm. Cool. Classy. Gracious. He answered every question. And when I was done, I do remember him saying, "You sure you got everything you needed?"

Most guys I've interviewed are in a rush to be finished and give you half answers. That wasn't Dungy's attitude.

He will be missed.