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tonight, you're going to hear a lot of praise for Don Shula. You're going to hear how he has won more games than any other coach in National Football League history. You're going to hear about the only perfect season in NFL history. You're going to hear how he led the Miami Dolphins 25 Super Bowl appearances.

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They'll probably even say that Don Chua is responsible for Larry's uncle's job on American Gladiators and Dan Marino's star turn in Ace's Ventura pet detective. I will concede all of that. All of that is true, But let me add one more fact to this pile of truth.

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Don Shula is responsible for one of the worst days in my life. It was August 15 1978. I was running for governor. It was three weeks before the Democratic primary. It was my first statewide race. I was very anxious about how I would measure up in the eyes of Floridians.

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And then came the blow that nearly shattered my self esteem. On that mid August day, I was on a workday as an assistant equipment manager at the Miami Dolphins training camp. I was exhilarated here. I was helping to train some of the greatest players in professional football.

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And then midway through the day, I got the call. Graham coach wants to see you, yelled one of the assistant coaches. Bring your towels and key. I walked back to coach whose office he told me to take a seat. He trained that famous Don Shula, stare on me, and then he said, the words that haunt me to this day.

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Graham, you put the wrong pair of socks in Greece's locked Pack up your bags, find another team. I've been cut fired. My dreams of a future in professional football over that experience taught me a lesson about Dons, commitment to excellence and the straight talk. There are not sufficiently eloquent words to praise what Don Shula has meant to our community for the past quarter of a century.

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At a time when many young people in the greater Miami area throughout Florida across America are looking for positive role models, Don Shula stands out. He is a man of high integrity. He champions a never say die spirit, one that embraces the positive values of dedication and hard work, and through all of his charitable work, he reinforces the importance of reaching out to those in need.

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But perhaps the truest testimony to anyone's character is his Children. And on that score, Don Shula's life has been a perfect season. I'm honored to thank Don Shula for all of his service to the people of Florida. On a personal level, I'm even more honored to be his friend, his occasional golf and tennis companion and doubles partner.

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Even when he does bench me for missing a backhand or misplacing a pair of socks, Thank you, Don, for all that you have meant to me and what you have meant to our community into our nation and now another Don Shula fan, the president of the United States of America.