While working as an artist in the Miami Herald newsroom in the early 1970s, Dave Cross took up photography as a hobby and began shooting Miami Dolphins games. Dave’s hobby developed into a passion, which ultimately led to a job offer from the NFL franchise. In 1984, Cross accepted and became the Dolphins’ official team photographer, a position he would hold for the next 30 years. Charged with preserving the team’s visual history, Cross has photographed every Dolphin from Bob Griese to Dan Marino; Larry Csonka to Ricky Williams; Bill Stanfill to Jason Taylor. While in The Tank, Dave explains how he made the transition from newspaper man to team photographer, reluctantly recalls a time where he forgot to put film in his camera before photographing Jimmy Johnson and his coaching staff, and details his journey with the 1972 Dolphins on their trip to the White House. Dave was also married on the team charter returning from Don Shula’s 325 th coaching victory, gave Harley Davidson riding lessons the Dave Wannstedt, and is a dead ringer for former Notre Dame head coach, Lou Holtz.

Raised in Oakland, California, Davone Bess starred at Skyline High School under the direction of Oakland area coaching legend, John Beam. Bess received a scholarship offer to Oregon State, however a post-graduation arrest led to the loss of his scholarship and more than a year in the Byron Boys Ranch Juvenile Facility. With help from Coach Beam, Bess overcame the odds and ultimately attended the University of Hawaii, where he would set school records with 293 receptions and 41 touchdowns in just three seasons. Despite his success at Hawaii, Bess went undrafted in 2008 and signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent. Bess not only made the team, but finished the regular season with 54 receptions, second most in NFL history for an undrafted rookie wideout. In one of the most powerful Fish Tank episodes to date, Davone candidly shares the details of his arrest after high school, as well as the lessons he learned while incarcerated. He fondly recalls his days with the Miami Dolphins, including barbeques at Paul Soliai’s house, and the camaraderie he shared with fellow wide receivers Ted Ginn, Jr. and Greg Camarillo. Davone is also extremely honest and vulnerable as he opens up about his post career struggles with depression.

While not widely recruited out of Tuscaloosa High School, a chance film room discovery by Bear Bryant led to Bob Baumhower playing on the defensive line for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Baumhower helped lead the Tide to a 31-4 record during his college career while earning consecutive All-SEC honors in 1975 and 1976. The Miami Dolphins took Bob in the second round of the 1977 NFL Draft and he was thrust into the starting lineup, making an immediate impact at nose tackle as a rookie. Baumhower would play his entire nine-year career in Miami, playing in 130 games with 129 starts, earning five Pro Bowl nods and five All-Pro selections (2 first-team; 3 second team) as well as he anchored the Fins Killer B’s defense of the 1980s. In 2008, he was inducted into the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll. In The Tank, Bob shared his unlikely path to the University of Alabama and how one conversation with the legendary Bear Bryant changed his life. He also recalled some rookie hazing from Dolphins great Manny Fernandez, enjoying the fun and sun of South Florida with the likes of Mark Duper, Nat Moore, and Hugh Green, partnering with Joe Namath in his first experience in the restaurant business that would lead to a life-long post-football career, and a trip to Lion Country Safari that resulted in an unexpected house pet.