Sunday, September 12, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
And That's A Wrap
After Scott and Stanfill answered some questions from Mandich and received their second standing ovation, Mandich turned the microphones back over to Joe Rose and Jimmy Cefalo.
Now it was time to honor the winners of the 2009 Team Awards, beginning with the Nat Moore Community Service Award. Moore himself presented the award to fullback Lousaka Polite, who made his way to the stage to a smattering of "Lou" cheers and a standing ovation. He was given a beautiful trophy with a likeness of Moore and a watch, and then gave a short acceptance speech before exiting the stage.
Next up was the presentation of the Don Shula Leadership Award to safety Yeremiah Bell and outside linebacker Jason Taylor. Shula again appeared via video message and passed the torch to Bob Griese to present the award.
For Taylor it marked the fourth time he received the Don Shula Leadership Award, and the first for Bell, who graciously accepted the word and thanked Taylor for showing him the importance of leadership. Griese took the opportunity to congratulate Scott and Stanfill as well.
Finally, it was time for the Dan Marino Most Valuable Player Award, and Marino himself took the stage to hand the trophy to Williams. But first he told a quick Jake Scott story about when the two played golf together in Colorado when Marino was younger.
Marino then welcomed Williams to the stage after pointing out that he is less than 1,000 yards away from becoming the franchise's all-time leading rusher. Williams thanked his wife, Christine, and then told the story of his first team meeting with Executive Vice President of Football Operations Bill Parcells and his message about not wanting trouble makers on his team and thinking he was on his way out. He then mentioned his one-on-one meeting with Parcells when Parcells told him he believed in him.
Williams made sure to thank his teammates and emphasize how this is a team game and he is a team guy and how excited he is for 2010.
Jimmy Cefalo wrapped up the program by introducing Dolphins Head Coach Tony Sparano and allowing him to say a few words. He tipped his hat to history and tradition by congratulating Scott and Stanfill and then congratulated his own players -- Williams, Polite and Bell.
Sparano is not comfortable talking about the past, so he ended by looking ahead to the upcoming season and thanking his coaching staff and all of his players before giving a little state of the union. He talked about "the long haul" that starts July 30th with training camp, and echoed Mr. Ross' sentiments about winning a Super Bowl in Dallas come February.
FinsWeekend continuues tomorrow morning with the Miami Dolphins Foundation Golf Tournament Presented by Hublot. Until then, have a great night!
AK
Now it was time to honor the winners of the 2009 Team Awards, beginning with the Nat Moore Community Service Award. Moore himself presented the award to fullback Lousaka Polite, who made his way to the stage to a smattering of "Lou" cheers and a standing ovation. He was given a beautiful trophy with a likeness of Moore and a watch, and then gave a short acceptance speech before exiting the stage.
Next up was the presentation of the Don Shula Leadership Award to safety Yeremiah Bell and outside linebacker Jason Taylor. Shula again appeared via video message and passed the torch to Bob Griese to present the award.
For Taylor it marked the fourth time he received the Don Shula Leadership Award, and the first for Bell, who graciously accepted the word and thanked Taylor for showing him the importance of leadership. Griese took the opportunity to congratulate Scott and Stanfill as well.
Finally, it was time for the Dan Marino Most Valuable Player Award, and Marino himself took the stage to hand the trophy to Williams. But first he told a quick Jake Scott story about when the two played golf together in Colorado when Marino was younger.
Marino then welcomed Williams to the stage after pointing out that he is less than 1,000 yards away from becoming the franchise's all-time leading rusher. Williams thanked his wife, Christine, and then told the story of his first team meeting with Executive Vice President of Football Operations Bill Parcells and his message about not wanting trouble makers on his team and thinking he was on his way out. He then mentioned his one-on-one meeting with Parcells when Parcells told him he believed in him.
Williams made sure to thank his teammates and emphasize how this is a team game and he is a team guy and how excited he is for 2010.
Jimmy Cefalo wrapped up the program by introducing Dolphins Head Coach Tony Sparano and allowing him to say a few words. He tipped his hat to history and tradition by congratulating Scott and Stanfill and then congratulated his own players -- Williams, Polite and Bell.
Sparano is not comfortable talking about the past, so he ended by looking ahead to the upcoming season and thanking his coaching staff and all of his players before giving a little state of the union. He talked about "the long haul" that starts July 30th with training camp, and echoed Mr. Ross' sentiments about winning a Super Bowl in Dallas come February.
FinsWeekend continuues tomorrow morning with the Miami Dolphins Foundation Golf Tournament Presented by Hublot. Until then, have a great night!
AK
Quite A Privilege To Go On The Honor Roll
This is quite an honor, not just for me but for our defense. If you look back at the "No-Names" none of us had extended careers. Injuries knocked knocked me out after six years, but what a run we had and what memories I have.
Jake and I have to be setting some kind of record that two college roommates, we roomed together freshman and sophomore year, going into any kind of Hall of Fame at the same time. Nat Moore asked me what kind of roommate was Jake and I said Jake was a helluva roommate and he was a lot better than the one I got to replace him. He asked who was that and I said my ex-wife.
I came in a year before Don Shula became head coach. The game is quite a bit different today. In 1969, being the 11th overall pick in the first round, I had a $20,000 salary. Folks asked me if I would do it all over again today with all the surgeries I've had and with the salaries they are paying today, you bet I would.
- Bill Stanfill
Jake and I have to be setting some kind of record that two college roommates, we roomed together freshman and sophomore year, going into any kind of Hall of Fame at the same time. Nat Moore asked me what kind of roommate was Jake and I said Jake was a helluva roommate and he was a lot better than the one I got to replace him. He asked who was that and I said my ex-wife.
I came in a year before Don Shula became head coach. The game is quite a bit different today. In 1969, being the 11th overall pick in the first round, I had a $20,000 salary. Folks asked me if I would do it all over again today with all the surgeries I've had and with the salaries they are paying today, you bet I would.
- Bill Stanfill
Honor Roll Recognition Is Good for The 1970s Defense
Nat Moore was over at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii and he was scouting us out to see what was going on. It is a real privilege and a real honor and am really looking forward to the night it happens. Bill and I both feel that it is good for our defense of the 1970s. I don't think our defense of the 1970s got the respect it deserved. This really is a team honor and we really appreciate it.
It really is good to be back. Billy Kilmer and I went to a game back in the 1980s. We kept a house down in Seabreeze. He had a buddy with a box and it was when Dan Marino was playing. That is the only time I've been to a Dolphins event since I retired.
I really wasn't ever that mad at Don Shula. I think he was madder at me than I was at him. It was great to see him recently. It brought back a lot of good memories. and a lot of bad ones, too.
- Jake Scott
It really is good to be back. Billy Kilmer and I went to a game back in the 1980s. We kept a house down in Seabreeze. He had a buddy with a box and it was when Dan Marino was playing. That is the only time I've been to a Dolphins event since I retired.
I really wasn't ever that mad at Don Shula. I think he was madder at me than I was at him. It was great to see him recently. It brought back a lot of good memories. and a lot of bad ones, too.
- Jake Scott
Mad Dog Steps It Up
Without a doubt the higlight of the evening so far is seeing Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich take the stage after dinner and hearing his familiar voice behind the microphone.
After a highlight video of the 2009 season played on the two big video screens while everyone enjoyed their main course, Mandich stepped out from behind the curtain to a standing ovation and resounding round of applause.
Mandich gave a brief update on his health (Mandich was diagnosed with bile duct cancer back in January), revealing that he underwent a 15-hour chemotherapy session yesterday and that it appears the cancer has been maintained.
Then he quickly returned the program to football, introducing his fellow Michigan alum, owner Stephen Ross, and asked him a few questions about his first full year as a majority owner. Ross reiterated his goal of bringing another Vince Lombardi Trophy to South Florida.
After that interview, a trip down memory lane was in store before Ross introduced the 19th and 20th members of the Dolphin Honor Roll -- Jake Scott and Bill Stanfill. irst a video of the 18 other members of the Honor Roll was shown, including the 1972 Undefeated Team.
Bob Griese (1990), Nat Moore (1999), Dwight Stephenson (1994), Dick Anderson (2006), Bob Kuechenberg (1995), Dan Marino (2000) and Mark Duper (2003) all were brought to the stage to welcome the two newest inductees, with Hall-of-Fame Head Coach Don Shula doing the honors via video message. They took the stage to a standing ovation.
AK
After a highlight video of the 2009 season played on the two big video screens while everyone enjoyed their main course, Mandich stepped out from behind the curtain to a standing ovation and resounding round of applause.
Mandich gave a brief update on his health (Mandich was diagnosed with bile duct cancer back in January), revealing that he underwent a 15-hour chemotherapy session yesterday and that it appears the cancer has been maintained.
Then he quickly returned the program to football, introducing his fellow Michigan alum, owner Stephen Ross, and asked him a few questions about his first full year as a majority owner. Ross reiterated his goal of bringing another Vince Lombardi Trophy to South Florida.
After that interview, a trip down memory lane was in store before Ross introduced the 19th and 20th members of the Dolphin Honor Roll -- Jake Scott and Bill Stanfill. irst a video of the 18 other members of the Honor Roll was shown, including the 1972 Undefeated Team.
Bob Griese (1990), Nat Moore (1999), Dwight Stephenson (1994), Dick Anderson (2006), Bob Kuechenberg (1995), Dan Marino (2000) and Mark Duper (2003) all were brought to the stage to welcome the two newest inductees, with Hall-of-Fame Head Coach Don Shula doing the honors via video message. They took the stage to a standing ovation.
AK
The MVP Award Is Nice But I Am Focused On Buffalo Right Now
I really didn't have much of a reaction when I heard I won the MVP award. I am really just so focused on the upcoming season that last year is just an after-thought. I really don't like to think about last year because we didn't make the playoffs. To me, at least, it was a disappointing season and I am very excited about the upcoming season and getting ready for Buffalo.
Twenty years form now when I am looking at my shelf and I see two Dan Marino MVP awards it will mean something to me, but last year is in the past and I am ready for next season. I've won so many awards, I guess I am used to it and numb to them, I just want to win. We had a really good team last year and I believed we had an opportunity to go to the playoffs. I am excited about what the front office has done and I am looking forward to this season being really special.
The last time I won this award was such a long time ago. I am a different person than I was when I won this award in 2002. That was another lifetime. The trophy from 2002 is in my office. It is a nice trophy so I put it up high on the shelf. The Heisman has it's own section in the house.
- Ricky
Twenty years form now when I am looking at my shelf and I see two Dan Marino MVP awards it will mean something to me, but last year is in the past and I am ready for next season. I've won so many awards, I guess I am used to it and numb to them, I just want to win. We had a really good team last year and I believed we had an opportunity to go to the playoffs. I am excited about what the front office has done and I am looking forward to this season being really special.
The last time I won this award was such a long time ago. I am a different person than I was when I won this award in 2002. That was another lifetime. The trophy from 2002 is in my office. It is a nice trophy so I put it up high on the shelf. The Heisman has it's own section in the house.
- Ricky
Shedding Light On The Foundation And More
Dolphins CEO Mike Dee just stepped to the microphone to highlight all of the positive things being done in the community by the team and the Miami Dolphins Foundation as well as the partnership with Sun Life Financial.
He then introduced a special video showing great moments from 2009, including the trip to Haiti last month to deliver tents to those suffering from the earthquake. The video was played to the tune of Supertramp's "Give A Little Bit."
Then Sun Life Financial Senior Vice President and head of U.S. Marketing Priscilla Brown spoke for a few minutes before Dee came back, announced the goal of raising $500,000 this weekend and lightened things up by turning over the mike to Dan Beaver, a golf trick shot artist. He used famed Dolphins wide receiver Mark Duper as a volunteer on stage.
Beaver got the audience fired up befire asking Duper to lay on his back with a board placed on his chest at an incline to simulate a downhill lie. Then he had Duper roll over on his belly, face the crowd and placed the board on his back to simulate an uphill lie. Beaver made sure to not hit Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. There were plenty of laughs.
AK
He then introduced a special video showing great moments from 2009, including the trip to Haiti last month to deliver tents to those suffering from the earthquake. The video was played to the tune of Supertramp's "Give A Little Bit."
Then Sun Life Financial Senior Vice President and head of U.S. Marketing Priscilla Brown spoke for a few minutes before Dee came back, announced the goal of raising $500,000 this weekend and lightened things up by turning over the mike to Dan Beaver, a golf trick shot artist. He used famed Dolphins wide receiver Mark Duper as a volunteer on stage.
Beaver got the audience fired up befire asking Duper to lay on his back with a board placed on his chest at an incline to simulate a downhill lie. Then he had Duper roll over on his belly, face the crowd and placed the board on his back to simulate an uphill lie. Beaver made sure to not hit Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. There were plenty of laughs.
AK
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