February 2008 - The Parklander Magazine

GUY TALKcredibility he will bring to the Dolphins franchise. Although I’m not aDolphins fan, I’m still thrilled to finally see a real plan in place to turn thingsaround. Parcells can and will do that! He will bring respect back to a oncecoveted organization.That’s a win, win situation for everyone.By Robert BaamondeThe title might imply that I’m writing a fishing article. But actually it’s aboutthe arrival of one of the most noteworthy personalities in sports history, Mr.Bill Parcells. For those of you who are unfamiliar with his nickname, it’s the“Big Tuna” or simply “Tuna” and he’s landed in South Florida. I’m sure thereare many sports fans that not only share my excitement, but realize the impactthat he will make in the local sports scene.Parcells is a former NFL football coach who has achieved major successwith every team he has coached, including the New York Jets, New EnglandPatriots, Dallas Cowboys and my New York Giants, where he won twoSuper Bowl championships. This man has the Midas touch. But perhapsmore important than his legendary field accolades is the winning attitudeand swagger he brings to every organization that he represents. I’m surethere will be skeptics who will criticize the Dolphins owner for bringinghim in as the new “owners representative”, calling him a hired gun. There’sno argument that at times he is painfully honest, but in the fierce world ofprofessional sports, you need to be able to “tell it like it is” and talk straight topeople. Most importantly he will deliver.I could go on for pages, citing volumes of statistics and accomplishments thatParcells has achieved over his National Football League career. But what’smost significant for the average South Floridian sports fan is the instantOver the years, Parcells has taken four losing teams and turned them intochampionship contenders, making the playoffs (or the tournament as he likesto say), every year.There is a feeling of confidence that goes with that type ofsuccess. It starts within the team and then transcends to the loyal fan base.Eventually, it turns into pride. The pride to, once again, don their teamjerseys and hats, while filling the stadium seats every Sunday! Nobody at anylevel likes to see their favorite team or heroes perpetually mocked for losing.It becomes personal. Parcells will change that. He will not settle formediocrity or lack of effort. The competitive spirit of the once greatDolphins franchise will be resurrected.It will take time and patience, but it will be worth the wait. I lived through itfirst hand in New York with the Giants and the Jets. Certainly the city ofBoston is still benefiting greatly from the plan Parcells put into motion andlet’s not forget the Dallas Cowboys recent return to glory. This winningfeeling needs to come back to South Florida, especially to the long timefaithful who have endured their fall from grace.The fans who still rememberthe glory years of the early 1970’s need this. So do the younger kids whohaven’t experienced the excitement of a winning team yet and those of us, likeme and my sons, who aren’t from South Florida but love sports and yearn forwinners at the local level. I’m just going to embrace the change and watchMr. Parcells do what he does best.Robert Baamonde, a native New Yorker, is a freelance writer living inParkland with his wife and two young sons.114 FEBRUARY 2008