The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie admitted that he is not as big a Miami Dolphins or the National Football League as he is with the Los Angeles Lakers and the National Bahamas League.

But with legendary Dan Marino and and some of the former players of the Dolphins in town, Christie had to show some impartiality as he welcomed the most loved and appreciated professional football or basketball team by Bahamians.

The nation’s leader joined Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe, one of those die hard Dolphins fans, along with Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Dr Daniel Johnson on Saturday at a press conference at the new Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium to officially launch the Miami Dolphins Legends and the Islands of the Bahamas partnership as the official Island destination.

Marino, the famed quarter-back was here with Dolphins’ president and CEO Tom Garfinkel and retired players Dirk Anderson, Mary Clayton, Troy Drayton, Mark Duper, Sam Madison, OJ McDufie, Nat Moore, John Offendahl, Louis Oliver, Dwight Stephenson and Stuart Wooden.

Given the close proximity to the mighty United States of America, Christie said it was vital for the Bahamas to tip into areas like sports, religion and medicine to lure some of those tourists to our shores.

“We have sort a relationship with the Miami Heat. It was very difficult for me at first as I told Pat Riley, because I’ve always been a Los Angeles Lakers fan,” Christie said. “Not withstanding, it’s wrong for me to leave the Lakers know that they are down. You measure your loyalty when the going gets tough.”

For the Dolphins, Christie stated that every Sunday he would contact Wilchcombe, who is an advert fan and especially when Miami struggle as they have done this season, he trued to keep him encouraged.

“I had the pleasure of sitting with Don Shula on a number of occasions when he was the coach of the Dolphins,” reflected Christie, of an association that was developed through the late former Prime Minister Lynden Pindling.

 “In addition to demonstrating to our young people, many of whom could have the potential one day to become a star in the NFL, you are positioning the Dolphins and yourself into the context of tourism in our country.”

The Miami Dolphins Legends were in town to launch their partnership of a five-year deal that will make the Bahamas the official island destination. In term, the Sun Life Stadium, home of the Dolphins, will host themed sections on game days on a newly created ‘Bahama Bash.’

“This partnership is mutually beneficial for all the Dolphins fans we have eager to visit this island paradise as well as all the Dolphins fans we have in the Bahamas looking to connect with our team in Miami,” Garfinkel stressed.

“We are delighted Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins Legends can bridge our two communities in such a meaningful way.”

Despite never winning a Super Bowl Marino holds dozens of NFL records and is recognised as one of the greatest quarterbacks in American football history. Best remembered for his quick release and powerful arm, Marino led the Dolphins to the playoffs ten times in his seventeen-season career. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.