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I'm about halfway into Don Shula's biography and a lot of it are facts and history that I recall living through that time period. But, there have been some surprises.
Here are a few I'd like to share. The author of the book, by the way, is Carlo DeVito.
* After the World Football League went under, Larry Csonka wanted to sign back with Miami approaching owner Joe Robbie. Robbie apparently hated Csonka's agent and didn't get a deal done. In retrospect, Csonka said that he should have gone to Shula instead. Obviously, would have loved an earlier Csconka return to the Dolphins.
* Miami almost lost Bob Kuechenberg and Tim Foley to the World Football League. They had both signed contracts with a club, but ended up opting out.
* Interesting that both Shula and Bill Walsh worked under Paul Brown. Brown was a great innovator, coming up with the playbook, bringing black athletes into the game even before Jackie Robinson was accepted in baseball. Brown was also credited in the book as being the first to review game film.
* Shula's Colts nearly beat the Green Bay Packers in a playoff game with Tom Matte (sp), the halfback, playing quarterback. Injuries to Johnny Unitas and the backup (might have been Earl Morrall), forced Shula to go with Matte. The Colts won a playoff game with Matte and lost by a field goal to that famed Packers' team.
I'll share more as I go along. Just finished reading about the 1974 season, which was bitter sweet and basically the end of that great dynasty.
Here are a few I'd like to share. The author of the book, by the way, is Carlo DeVito.
* After the World Football League went under, Larry Csonka wanted to sign back with Miami approaching owner Joe Robbie. Robbie apparently hated Csonka's agent and didn't get a deal done. In retrospect, Csonka said that he should have gone to Shula instead. Obviously, would have loved an earlier Csconka return to the Dolphins.
* Miami almost lost Bob Kuechenberg and Tim Foley to the World Football League. They had both signed contracts with a club, but ended up opting out.
* Interesting that both Shula and Bill Walsh worked under Paul Brown. Brown was a great innovator, coming up with the playbook, bringing black athletes into the game even before Jackie Robinson was accepted in baseball. Brown was also credited in the book as being the first to review game film.
* Shula's Colts nearly beat the Green Bay Packers in a playoff game with Tom Matte (sp), the halfback, playing quarterback. Injuries to Johnny Unitas and the backup (might have been Earl Morrall), forced Shula to go with Matte. The Colts won a playoff game with Matte and lost by a field goal to that famed Packers' team.
I'll share more as I go along. Just finished reading about the 1974 season, which was bitter sweet and basically the end of that great dynasty.