The great game of football has three very specific phases. You have an offense, a defense and a special teams unit.
It’s rare in this game that in one given season, or one given game, that all three units operate in perfect unison.
Even in something as simplistic as a seven-day, Eastern Caribbean cruise, it’s not the easiest thing to operate in consistently smooth waters during such a special voyage.
Like football, this week had three teams operate for around 700 die-hard, loyal and aqua-and-orange-clad super fans from dozens of states, a few countries and representatives born and raised in each AFC East enemy territory.
On offense was a high-powered and high-octane aquatic rookie. A brand new tech-savvy ship. On defense, a third-party travel agency, which organized the massive event.
And last, but not least one very special team.
A gathering of Miami Dolphins through the decades joined fans in what was one of the most unique experiences for each and every one of their lives.
Metaphorical to a four-quarter game of football, each entity worked through the trials, tribulations and triumphs to deliver a run-away victory.
When the offense was steady, the defense had a rough first quarter. But what happens when you need a spark from your roster? A special team’s play saves the day.
Following a scheduling conflict unforeseen by the agency of organization, Dan Marino was onboard and enjoyed a few days with teammates and fans and had a pre-determined appearance at a sporting event in Georgia.
This is not the first time a Dolphins quarterback had to leave a game early. Fortunately, like on the field- it was next man up.
During an X’s and O’s session with wide receivers Mark Duper and OJ McDuffie, joined by linebacker Kim Bokamper, the trio told tales of their own as well as teammates, and, of course, the legendary and truly immortal Don Shula.
A side note.
I experienced the grace of royalty, as during a 70’s themed disco party, a defensive back from my childhood, and an incredible blackjack table partner, jokingly yelled to me from afar, “Get out the Way!”
As I moved a yard to my left, the sea of fans parted to greet Mary Anne Shula – the widow of the immortal Don of the Franchise. A philanthropic legend in her own right, Mrs. Shula walked the aisle to greetings of players, fans and yours truly. It was an honor to meet her and a joy to tell her the admiration I had/have for her late husband.
Back to “Bo,” as Kim is called by his friends and teammates, most especially, his “Killer Bees.” And, don’t let this just be a phonetic unit. As Bokamper says, and I’ll paraphrase, – don’t forget A.J. Duhe in that group – much to the nodding approval of Bob Baumhower a few seats down, as well as the look of joy, appreciation, and humbleness from No. 77.
The man who took three passes away from the New York Jets in the 1982 AFC Championship game on a sloppy field to earn a trip to the Super Bowl. As Duhe tells the hundreds in the audience, he switched to one-inch cleats after seeing the field in what would be dubbed, “The Mud Bowl” following a storm that left the Orange Bowl sloppy like a fall day’s horse track in Belmont in New York. My place of birth.
As I saw Duhe a night later, I introduced myself. He responded, “I read your work on DolphinsWire.” As I internally held an alligator tear much like Knowshown Moreno, I held it together, as Duhe talked about our family names and lineage, as he was curious as to mine.
My grandfather was the first born American in my family, whose father’s name was changed to Sarney when immigrating over from Romania, and my mother’s side is Hungarian. Born in the great city of New York, that 1982 Dolphins team wasn’t my fathers’ team, but those Jets teams of his friends were theirs.
Now to the Mayor of the Dolphins – McDuffie. If there were 700 Dolphin fans on this ship – he shook 1,400 hands, took hundreds of pictures, told dozens of stories to fan-fielded questions and made the author of this feel like a million dollars.
McDuffie led the NFL in receptions in 1998 and is currently the ambassador of the fan base and bridge to the past on his Miami Dolphins Podcast Network show, “The Fish Tank.”
McDuffie was nothing other than himself, a truly terrific person and friend, who, in my humble request to the organization if I could ever have one, should have his name in the team’s Honor Roll.
Paving the way for McDuffie was another pair of receivers on board. To no one’s surprise, they were constantly together, reminiscing, talking and remembering the glory days of the Mark Brothers. Clayton and Duper were funnier than the entertainers they were named after, and after a few conversations with Clayton, it’s a sin he’s not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Same goes for Richmond Webb and Bob Kuechenberg.
And now we come to the king – Larry Csonka. There was nothing more enjoyable than listening to the Hall of Famer talk about his teammates, his coach and those he feels belong in the Hall of Fame. Specifically, his defense of Kuechenberg was nothing short of a sermon.
Then there was Mercury Morris and his freestyle-esque rap about his Perfectville 1972 team which was a verbatim rendition of a song he wrote for his Coach. So, as the third quarter wraps up and everyone on board is about to go enjoy the fourth quarter of what is absolutely another Miami Dolphins victory I will conclude with this…. Nothing in life is perfect – except the Lord, and the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
Bon Voyage.
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