WASHINGTON, DC - President Barack Obama honored the 1972 Miami Dolphins Tuesday, dipping four decades back to give the National Football League’s only undefeated team their traditional White House visit.
A sea of aqua green blazers filed into the East Room around 2:05 pm accompanied by several staff members of the historic ’72 Dolphins team. Soon after, the prestigious gold jacket Hall Of Famers entered the room including QB Bob Griese and fullback Larry Csonka, who’s trademarked mustache was still very much intact. Then the big moment — President Obama entered the room accompanied by Hall Of Fame coach Don Shula, who also currently holds the most career wins by a coach in NFL history. It was a surreal moment that Pro Player Insiders captured on film below (via my iPhone):
Minus any type of “Presidential entrance,” Obama got straight to business welcoming everyone to the White House. “Its mid-August, which means football is in the air. I love baseball, but SportsCenter is better when it also has some football on.” The President received a few “yeahs” and “amens” on that statement
“College football kicks-off next week, NFL regular season after that.” Obama continued. “So, today – this is to wet everyone’s appetite, I am proud to welcome the only undefeated, untouched football team in league history — the 1972 Miami Dolphins.”
The ’72 Dolphins, unfortunately, never had an opportunity to make that traditional trip to Pennsylvania Avenue for a White House Ceremony. As President Nixon faced the Watergate Scandal in early 1973.
President Obama – being the big sports fan he is – has found it necessary in past years to honor Championship teams that never had their White House visit. He even joked on Tuesday, “I hosted my ’85 Bears a few years ago, which I consider the greatest team ever — but take that with a grain of salt.” Obama, a Chicago native, was swiftly sized down when coach Don Shula reminded him what team kept the ’85 Bears from having a perfect season — the Miami Dolphins.
The East Room was full of jokes during the ceremony, most from President Obama himself — “I know that some people may be asking why we’re doing this after all these years. And my answer is simple: I wanted to be the young guy up here for once.”
But beyond that, the President emphasized the significance of the ’72 Dolphins historic season — “Winning the Super Bowl was not a forgone conclusion,” he said. “The Dolphins had to win in Pittsburgh just to make it there, and once they did, the still were slight underdogs to the Redskins in the big game.”
“Nobody can argue with this record,” Obama continued. “Nobody can argue with what all of you have gone on to do after you hung up the shoulder pads for the last time. Players from this team have gone on to become a minister, a mayor, a doctor, a state senator, a high school counselor, many successful businessmen … So these are all men of accomplishment and character, and it showed on the field and off the field as well. We want to congratulate all of them, and we want to make sure that they’re remembered for not only the history that sports fans will always remember, but also for all the countless contributions that they’ve made in their community as well.”
The ceremony ended with a brief statement from Don Shula, who also presented the President with his number 72 “Undefeated” jersey signed by all the members of that historic team.
Follow Us: @Manny_PPI | @PlayerInsiders
