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I rarely do editorials or express my personal opinions on this page. But this made me angry. Shame on the Graham Company who are the developers of the City of Miami Lakes for removing Don Shula’s name from several of the city’s buildings and landmarks. If you’ve ever been to Miami Lakes, the city could have easily been called Shulaville. You may have stayed at the Don Shula Hotel. You may have played a few rounds at the Don Shula Golf Course. You may have dined at Don Shula’s steakhouse. But sadly, the Graham Company has decided to remove the legendary coach’s name from these buildings and structures. The developers decided to move away from the Shula name because it “wants a fresh start”.
When Don Shula came to South Florida to coach the Dolphins, he could have chosen to live anywhere he wanted. He could have chosen Miami Beach. He could have settled in Fort Lauderdale. But he chose Miami Lakes. It was where he and his wife Dorothy raised their five children, who all became upstanding citizens. Shula not only brought pride to Miami Lakes, he literally put South Florida sports on the map. He turned a struggling AFL expansion franchise into a legit NFL power. For years, the Dolphins were the only major professional sports team in town. He brought honor and pride to all of South Florida. Removing his name doesn’t bring a fresh start. It instead robs future generations the opportunity to learn about the man who brought so much to this community. Don Shula is synonymous with Miami Lakes. It’s unfortunate, the city’s developers have decided to sell its soul.
