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Criticism about Dungy item is all ears

August 4, 2008 at 10:47PM

Today's batch of reader complaints and comments comes with a side order of big ears.

At least Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has got a sense of humor about those satellite dishes on the sides of his face.

Donna Arnold-Dungy insisted that her brother-in-law Colts coach Tony Dungy has nothing to do with her calling to complain about a column item that compared Obama's and Dungy's big ears. When the coach was at the MOA making people jump through too many hoops for an autograph on his children's book "You Can Do It!" I decided to ask Donna and Lauren Dungy, the coach's missus, whose ears were bigger. Our design department did an outstanding half Obama-half Dungy photo illustration that was perfect, except for not being big enough.

Donna gave me a Christian-toned butt-chewing.

"I'm sad about the conversation you chose to publish regarding myself and Alon [her son, who volunteered a comment when I was videotaping his mom] about TD," Donna said. "Out of all the conversations we had..."

I told her criticism was especially welcomed if she would tell me what she would have written instead. "Amen," said Donna. "I would have written more along the positive impact TD is having on the [black] community, the spiritual community. There [are] a lot of things I think I could have focused ... on versus the ears."

ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Writers are always gushing about Dungy being a lovely role model. I'm not trying to write what everybody else does.

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Donna said she'd watched me regularly on FOX 9. She noticed "there is humor in some of the things that you [say] but I don't necessarily hear you single something out like somebody's bodily parts."

Since ears are not typically dressed in say, pants, I don't think of them as an intimate body part about which you should never make reference.

"Sometimes when you say something [like what was written] it can cause challenges as far as communications," she said. "Do you think that when you write something along those lines that could have an impact on, for example, my son's interaction with his uncle?"

Now I'm disappointed. If lighthearted quips from Alon could have any impact on Tony Dungy's feelings for his charismatic nephew, that's an unflattering reflection on the coach.

'It's just ears' One reader, "Jamaican Babe," thought the ears item was funny. When told about the complaints JB said: "I see no reason to get fussy about it. Some people get to a point in their lives when they think they are so high and mighty you should genuflect to them. I don't think this is Tony Dungy, I think this is his family. It's just ears."

Dude looks like a lady A "Christopher Coen" said he knew exactly why I wrote about the obnoxious behavior of RuPaul, who kicked the camera of photographer Hubert Bonnet's and, by extension, butted his head when the diva was here for an appearance. "You're just jealous cuz she looks better than you," wrote Coen.

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My reply to Christopher: That's it!

Defending KG "Please don't try and tear a class act like Garnett down," wrote Scott Gilbertson.

Ah, Scott, there is so much more to being classy than laboring on a sorry team or playing on one that wins a NBA championship. Someday maybe Kevin Garnett will learn what those things are.

Fancy got the bum's rush "This is Christine Brown, I spoke to you years ago. I hope you didn't miss Fancy Ray when he was on 'America's Got Talent.' My God, I blinked and he was gone. He didn't even get a chance to do anything... Now ... I see why you call him Fancy Ray! Have a good day, darling."

Dear Mrs. Brown: I miss hearing that lovely accent of yours on 332.TIPS. But I must correct you on one thing. I didn't nickname him Fancy. He did that to himself. After his brief appearance on the NBC show, Ray told me there were youtube.com comments about how he got jacked. The most touching one came from his teenage son, Trevon, who lives in the Twin Cities.

Tribune to beloved Bob There were also these surprising voices on the tipsline:

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"Darcy from Channel 4. I just wanted to thank you for the [July 27] remembrance of Bob Rainey. It was a lovely tribute. I loved the story that you told. It was so him."

Right about Rainey "C.J. I called you years ago to say that I liked 70 percent of your stuff and I was annoyed by 30 percent. You have done a great job of holding the percentage. I'm sorry, I may sound like I'm fawning, but the piece you wrote on Mr. Rainey over the weekend was beautiful," said the caller I'm nicknaming Mr. 70 Whopping Percent Question Mark.

Sock sympathy "As I sit here reading your column in my 'lovely' white ted socks, I have empathy for His Purpleness. See, we both belong to a special club; those with hip replacements! I'm on the recovery trail after have the second leg done, and one of the recommendations given to me was to wear these most unfashionable socks while flying as they will help to prevent blood from pooling in the lower leg and the possibility of throwing a clot or two. Blood clots can be fatal, as you know, and I would guess the option of looking good or death is not a hard choice!

"Now, as for the wedgy flip flops, that fashion statement is a hard call, but at least Mr. Prince will prolong the life with the 'ted socks.' Now comes the 'kiss up'...I'm 60 and do enjoy your column....makes me feel at least 10 years younger knowing that I am on the cutting edge of the movers and shakers in this community. Thanks for that!!!

Kathie Teslaw, Apple Valley."

Thanks Kathie, but I don't think Prince has ever confirmed the hip replacement gossip.

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Dye-hard critics "AJ's hair -- hate it," wrote Karen B. Olson, while Ken Voight said, "Great article. AJ is a pot stirrer for sure."

This brings me to a curiosity and questions of my own.

I got e-mail only from readers who agreed with me regarding Pierzynski's hot mess of a platinum dye job. However on the website, the same 15 people who pounce on anything I write with comments mostly disliked the item. Has commenting on the Web meant you think you can't send me testy e-mails? And who are these people with the time to comment about what I write. Educate me. I also hope you babies can handle it when I start commenting on your comments.

C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. E-mailers, please state a subject -- "Hello" doesn't count. Attachments are not opened, so don't even try. More of her attitude can be seen on FOX 9 Thursday mornings.

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