The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas and the Miami Dolphins continue to develop their mutually beneficial relationship with another edition of the Dan Marino and Friends Weekend.

The weekend’s itinerary, May 25-27, includes busy schedule events, giving Bahamian fans an opportunity to interact with legends of the closest NFL franchise to the Bahamas.

Following Thursday’s official welcome, action begins Friday with the Marino and Friends Golf Classic with a shot gun start for 24 teams at Ocean Club.

Each golf foursome includes the exclusive opportunity to play with a Miami Dolphins legend or celebrity.

The day on the course will be followed by the corresponding awards luncheon and the evening closes out with a “Bahamas Bash” hosted by the organisation.

The focus shifts to the football field, a familiar spot for the visiting iconic players at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

First up will be the Dolphins Academy Youth Football and Cheer Clinics. There will also be a mini flag football tournament featuring teams from Nassau, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Exuma.

The tournament will feature play in youth and adult divisions. Youth co-ed teams will feature play in the 6-9, 10-13, 14-17 age groups while the adults will play in men’s, women and co-ed divisions.

The highlight of the schedule will be the flag football game between the Dolphins Legends and the Bahamas Legends. A Junkanoo-themed celebration will close out the event.

In previous editions, Marino - the Hall of Fame quarterback - travelled with Dolphins’ president and CEO Tom Garfinkel and retired players Dirk Anderson, Mark Clayton, Troy Drayton, Mark Duper, Sam Madison, OJ McDufie, Nat Moore, John Offerdahl, Louis Oliver, Dwight Stephenson, Sean Wooden and others.

“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 said prior to the inaugural edition, “We are delighted Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins Legends can bridge our two communities in such a meaningful way.”

Marino, 55, still holds at least a dozen NFL records and is recognised as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.

Best remembered for his quick release and powerful arm, Marino led the Dolphins to the playoffs 10 times in his 17-season career. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

Nat Moore, who played alongside Marino and fellow Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese, outlined the goals for the immediate future of the programme.

“The Bahamas has always been pro Dolphin,” Moore said,  “You’ve been some of our biggest fans. We look forward to coming to Nassau and visiting with our fans and as far as were concerned the Bahamas is our family.”

In 2014, the Dolphins and the Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism launched their partnership of a five-year deal.

The promotion also includes the Bahamas Bash Zone at the Sun Life Stadium, home of the Dolphins, where the 100-level themed in Bahamian decor and prizes are offered by the Ministry of Tourism.