The decorated football career of Ricky Williams is the stuff of legend, featuring an NCAA career rushing record, the 1998 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first player ever to represent a National Football League team’s entire draft class in 1999, and an NFL rushing title in 2002. It is Williams’s enigmatic personality, however, that has often stood out even more than his gridiron greatness. The combination of the two endeared Williams to Miami Dolphins fans around the world when the team brought him to South Florida through a 2002 trade with the New Orleans Saints, and resulted in confusion, hurt, and outrage upon his unexpected but temporary retirement from football just days before the 2004 season.
In May of 2020, Ricky took his first opportunity to Dive in The Tank and fondly recalled his years as a Dolphin, particularly his prolific first two seasons (9:13). He candidly detailed the decisions behind his retirement, including a surprising assist from an unlikely source (25:36), his conversations with then Dolphins Head Coach Dave Wannstedt (28:50), and how meaningful and self-healing his time away from football was (32:58). Ricky also covered his respect for Nick Saban (38:50), his special friendship with fellow Fins rusher Ronnie Brown, and of course talks the Wild Cat from his perspective (42:57). Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc and Miami Dolphins Productions. Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D.
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As senior director of publications for the New York Yankees, Alfred Santasiere III has seen, heard, and told no shortage of amazing stories in his 20 years working with the venerable baseball franchise. Before serving as editor-in-chief of Yankees Magazine or co-writing a New York Times best-seller, however, Santasiere fulfilled a life-long dream by interning with the Miami Dolphins Media Relations Department for the 2002 season, building relationships that allow him to continue to weave aqua and orange into his work to this day.
In the tank, Al explains how a kid from Jersey fell in love with the Miami Dolphins (2:35) before sharing an unbelievable interaction with Bill Parcells (12:00). He offers both pros and cons of working for “Big Seth” as well as Fish Tank legend, Harvey Greene (19:32) and reflects upon the unique opportunities he enjoyed during his Dolphins internship working with the likes of Zach Thomas, Ricky Williams, and a host of others (31:00). Al reveals the true motivation behind his groundbreaking “Art of Sport” series for which he has interviewed everyone from George W. Bush to Don Shula to our very own O.J. McDuffie (37:37), allows us to tag along as he and Dan Marino visit the Hall of Famer’s childhood home (41:17), and gives Dolfans one more reason to hold their breath as Buffalo Bills legend, Jim Kelly, drops back to pass (48:50). Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc and Miami Dolphins Productions. Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D.  Born and raised in Miami, Vernon Carey starred at Northwestern Senior High School before helping to make up one of the most decorated rosters in college football history at the University of Miami. Carey completed the South Florida football trifecta when the Miami Dolphins selected the offensive lineman in the first round of the 2004 draft, and he remained a Dolphin for the entirety of his eight-year NFL career.
In the tank, Vernon reflects upon fiercely competitive Miami Hurricanes practices (1:44) and working the parking lots for Dolphins games as a teenager (7:32). He shares what it was like to block for Ricky Williams (8:30), especially during the early success of the Wildcat (12:11), and clarifies his motivation behind giving close friend Channing Crowder his “welcome to the NFL” moment (14:35). Vernon also details his in-flight run-in with Keith Traylor (16:25) and explains the challenges and benefits of facing Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor in practice (24:46). Finally, Vernon shares why his sons chose basketball over football (27:12), opens up about the responsibility of being a #GirlDad (30:26), and discusses his vision for the Carey Family Foundation (34:30). Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc and Miami Dolphins Productions. Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vernon-carey-real-men-rise-to-the-occasion/id1409148022?i=1000552575407 |
