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Retired Doesn't Mean Dungy's Taking A Rest

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By MICHELLE BEARDEN

mbearden@tampatrib.com

Published: January 30, 2009

TAMPA - His Indianapolis Colts didn't make it to the Super Bowl this year. But Tony Dungy, a former coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, just may be one of the hottest tickets in town this week.

He's on a frenetic schedule: interviews from ESPN to David Letterman to Rush Limbaugh; fending off rumors he may end up in the Obama administration as "fatherhood czar"; attending tonight's 10th anniversary Super Bowl Gospel Celebration at the University of South Florida's Sun Dome to receive the first Lifetime of Inspiration award.

Oh, and then there's the tour and the signings for his third book: "Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance" (Tyndale House Publishers; $24.99).

By now, Dungy, who recently moved back to Tampa to join his family, is getting comfortable with his role as an author. His previous books - "Quiet Strength," an autobiography, and "You Can Do It!" a children's book - are New York Times bestsellers.

He takes another direction with his new venture. "Uncommon" is about urging people to do what's really important in life, and not doing what society says you should.

"Don't get hung up on what car you drive or how much money you make," he said. "Concern yourself with things that are more long lasting. It the book urges you to step out of the mode of what society says is important."

The idea for it came from a conversation Dungy had with his 15-year-old son, who wondered about his life's direction and what he wanted to say with it. Dungy also got inspiration from the feedback readers gave him on his first book.

His Jan. 12 announcement that he would retire from professional football didn't surprise people who know him well. He wanted more time to devote to volunteer work.

"I was the beneficiary of a lot of great mentoring," he said. "I had a lot of people who impacted me and I probably took something away from a great number of them."

On Thursday, Dungy was asked by Fox News Studio B host Shepard Smith about Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh's suggestion the former coach be named spokesman for Responsible Fatherhood for President Barack Obama's new administration.

He told Smith that he never thought of himself as working in political circles.

"But I'm looking at where the Lord can use me," Dungy said. "And I guess I'm at the point where you never know."

Dungy Book Signings

7 to 9 p.m. Saturday: Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 11802 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa; (813) 962-6446

3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 6: Lifeway Christian Store, 12689 Citrus Plaza Drive, Tampa; (813) 792-1377

7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 6: Books-A-Million Lakeland, 1520 Towne Center Drive, Lakeland; (863) 688-6382

9 a.m. to noon Feb. 7: Ave Maria Book Store, 222 Bryan Road, Brandon; (813) 689-3561

Staffers Roy Cummings and Buddy Jaudon contributed to this report. Michelle Bearden can be reached at (813) 259-7613.

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