Although many would envy his South Florida location, Dolphins CEO MIKE DEE will not be kicking up his feet and enjoying the sunshine this weekend. In addition to the usual game duties that come with hosting the Jaguars at Sun Life Stadium on Sunday, the franchise is celebrating its 40th anniversary of the ’72 undefeated season. The team has 45 former players returning from that team, along with coach DON SHULA and many members of that '72 staff.
FRIDAY NIGHT FUN: On Friday, we have a party on Ft. Lauderdale Beach for 450 people to celebrate what that the '72 team accomplished. I’ll usually enjoy a good glass of Sauvignon Blanc. I’m a big fan of Cakebread. It’s very good. Actually, last weekend we played the 49ers and we visited the Cakebread vineyards while we were there.
SPINNING THE WHEELS: I’ve got to go for a bike ride really early this Saturday because we have an 8:30am tee time. So I’ll try to get a quick ride in before sun up so I can be on the tee box on time. Saturday morning we have a golf tournament with a lot of local dignitaries at Trump Doral Golf Resort. I’m up at 5:00, 5:30am. I will generally have a cup of coffee and will be decked out in my Dolphins Cycling Challenge gear. I have a whole group that we usually ride with, but this weekend I’ll have to go a little earlier than they usually go. So I’ll probably ride solo. Usually we depart from Downtown Bicycles in Ft. Lauderdale around 7:00am with a group of 15-20. I’ll probably only get in 25 miles before I’ll have to cut it short to get down to Doral.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Saturday evening we have the world premiere of a movie that we just produced along with an independent film maker, Bombo Sports & Entertainment. It’s entitled “More Than Perfect: One Team. One Town. The Impact of the 1972 Team.” That’s premiering at the Gusman Theater in downtown Miami. A very historic place, blocks away from the Orange Bowl where that team played. I am not in the movie but was involved with our partner in making and sort of directing the content of the film. I was in “Fever Pitch,” which was the FARRELLY brothers movie about the Red Sox starring JIMMY FALLON and DREW BARRYMORE. (Editor’s note: Dee formerly served as the Red Sox COO.)
WIND DOWN: I’ll probably have a nice dinner on Saturday night after that with my wife and friends. We have a couple spots, but this time around we will probably go to Zuma in downtown Miami. I love the black cod and my wife will have something vegetarian.
THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM: Sunday morning is game day. I’ll like to get there no later than 7:30am. I like getting there early and my favorite game day moment is to walk the field really early in the morning before anybody’s here. Usually the grounds crew is out there and I like having a cup of coffee and walking around, kind of taking it all in knowing that in a couple hours the place will be packed. The energy level will be so different than what you experience at the peaceful, 7:00am moment. I love game day mornings.
HOW THE DEES DO: I spend as much time as I can between all that with my two boys and some type of sporting activity, whether it be throwing the football around or basketball or lacrosse or any of the above. I do have a boat and unfortunately, this weekend, there’s no time. But we spend a lot of time on the water. My boat is called the Jimmy Dee, named after my dad. It’s not a huge boat, but during the offseason we love taking the boat down to the Keys, either Islamorada or Ocean Reef. I love a good Friday night dinner with the family, whether that’s on the water. Typically, we try to go down to the beach and have dinner, enjoying the beautiful surroundings of South Florida.
