Immigration Law

IMMIGRANT OF THE DAY:GARO YEPREMIAN - NFL FOOTBALL PLAYER

By Greg Siskind

It's Super Bowl Sunday and a day of dread for me. You see, I grew up in Miami and from the age of four until I left for college, I went with my dad to almost every Miami Dolphins game. I was privileged to see some of the greatest teams in NFL history coached by the legendary Don Shula. I was at what was arguably the greatest game in NFL history, the 1981-1982 season playoff match at the Orange Bowl between the Dolphins and the San Diego Chargers with the famous "hook and lateral" play involving Don Strock, Duriel Harris and Tony Nathan.

So why do I feel dread today? Because the long standing record of the heroes of my youth is on the line. The 1972 Dolphins are the only NFL team to ever finish the season with a perfect record and then go on to win the Super Bowl. This year as the Dolphins concluded the worst season in the team's history, its nice to reminisce about that great season.

Today, the New England Patriots will attempt to match that feat. I have no special dislike for the Patriots or like for their opponents the New York Giants. But I'm going to be rooting hard for the Giants tonight. The odds don't seem promising...

In honor of the game, I'm pleased to feature this week NFL players who are immigrants to America. Most people don't think of the NFL as being a sport that attracts immigrants, but they've been important in the sport for years.

I "kick off" the week with one of my favorite players from that '72 Dolphin squad, the great place kicker Garo Yepremian. The Cypriot Garo's most famous play was actually his most embarrassing. It was from the Super Bowl that the Dolphins went on to win, but as you can see, it was a bit of a fiasco and could have cost the team the perfect season.  Despite the disastrous play, Garo has remained one of the favorite players in team history.

Full post as published by Greg Siskind's Blog on February 03, 2008 (boomark / email).