Tony Dungy in town Sunday

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 7/17/2008

 

Former Gopher and ex-Vikings defensive coordinator Tony Dungy, the winningest active head coach in the NFL and the first Black coach to win the Super Bowl (in 2007 with the Indianapolis Colts), will be in town next Sunday, July 20. It won't be to scout on the Vikings — he will be at Living Word Church & World Outreach Ministries.

Dungy has written a new book called You Can Do It. It's a biblical book, principle-based and focused on children. Dungy and his wife Lauren will be reading the book in the main sanctuary of the church this Sunday. The public is invited.

Dungy was once a star quarterback for the Gophers, trying to follow in the big footsteps of the late, great Sandy Stephens. In 1993, while working for Vikings Head Coach Dennis Green, he had the NFL's number-one rated defensive unit.

After the reading this Sunday, Dungy will take questions from children and then sign his new book. Former Vikings star and current KFAN sideline ace Pastor Greg Coleman invites those with questions about the event to call 651-644-6929. Living Word Church is located at 640 Prior Ave. in St. Paul.

Dungy will be returning to the Twin Cities on Sunday, September 14, when the Minnesota Vikings play their home regular season opener against the powerful Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning.

Fitz Notes & Quotes

Former Major League Baseball umpire Bruce Froemming is the answer to a trivia question: Name the MLB umpire who worked the most seasons. Froemming still works for MLB, but for 37 consecutive years he was either behind the plate calling strikes or on the bases. Umpires good enough to make it to the big leagues earn between $115,000 and $400,000 per year.

In 1972, when I was in high school in Chicago, I remember when Milt Pappas of the Chicago Cubs nearly pitched a perfect game on September 2. Froemming was the home plate umpire that day. It took him 13 years to work his way up to the major leagues.

Since 1992, Major League Baseball cities have built 16 new ballparks. That's why even though the games have been overshadowed by widespread steroid and HGH use by some players under the watch of Commissioner Bud Selig, over that period he still was rewarded by the owners with a new contract extension.

Vikings All-Pro center Matt Birk, like Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, is a graduate of Harvard University. Birk is banking on the Vikings extending his contract before they open the regular season at Green Bay on Monday night, September 8, versus Brett Favre and the NFC North Champion Packers. Birk is already a wealthy man; in fact, he is part owner of Pinehurst Bank in St. Paul.

The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is coming to the Metrodome next March, the first and second rounds. The Dome, which in a couple of years will be losing its biggest tenants, the Twins and University of Minnesota football Gophers, is in contention along with 10 other cities to get one of the 2012 to 2016 NCAA Final Fours.

The Vikings' lease expires in 2011. If they leave the Dome, unlike the Twins and Gophers, they will be leaving the state.

This week, July 14-20, the Tournament Players Club (TPC) in Blaine will again host the popular 3M Championship for the 16th straight year. The world's best senior golfers, including defending champion D.A. Weibring and a strong field, will compete for a purse of $1,750,000.

arry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, and biweekly he commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). He welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-re corder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com