Fast Break

NFL

Dungy won’t duck gay-union debate

Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy said he knows some people would rather he steered clear of the state’s gay marriage debate, but he clearly staked out his position.

The Super Bowl-winning coach told more than 700 people at the Indiana Family Institute’s banquet Tuesday night that he agrees with that organization’s position supporting an amendment to the Indiana constitution that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

Local and national gay-rights organizations had criticized Dungy for accepting the invitation to appear at the banquet.

“We’re not anti-anything else. We’re not trying to downgrade anyone else. But we’re trying to promote the family – family values the Lord’s way,” Dungy said. “IFI is saying what the Lord says. You can take that and make your decision on which way you want to be. I’m on the Lord’s side.”

The coach said his comments shouldn’t be taken as gay bashing, but rather his views on the matter as he sees them from a perspective of faith.

Boxing

King up close with Pope

Boxing promoter Don King got a front row seat at Pope Benedict XVI’s general audience Wednesday.

The usually flamboyant King, wearing a blue suit with his preferred high hair style primly flattened for the papal event, gave the pope a green-and-gold boxing belt and a handwritten letter asking for prayers for people ranging from President Bush to the world’s sick and aged.

“I was thrilled to be there. It was a deep spiritual experience,” King told The Associated Press after the two-hour open-air audience in St. Peter’s Square.

In Rome to discuss possible boxing matches in Italy, King had expressed his wish to meet with the pope.

King, who spent four years in prison for manslaughter, had hoped for a personal meeting with Benedict. Few nonchurch people, however, receive private time with the pope during his Wednesday audiences.