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President is vetoed by Saban on dinner
Dolphins coach Nick Saban, citing training camp commitments, declined an invitation to dine with President Bush at Joe's Stone Crab on Sunday.
BY ARMANDO SALGUERO
NICK SABAN: 'My obligation is to these players right now. Once we commit to camp, I'm out of everything.'
Dolphins coach Nick Saban doesn't consider himself a fan of politics, but he understands that when the President of the United States invites you for dinner, you oblige.
Unless that request comes during training camp.
That's the reason Saban politely declined an invitation to dine with President Bush on Sunday evening at Joe's Stone Crab restaurant in Miami Beach.
''That [would have been] a great experience, but it's a personal experience,'' Saban said Monday. ``My obligation is to these players right now. Once we commit to camp, I'm out of everything. This is what I'm doing, this is what I'm committed to, and I don't have to make exceptions for anything or anybody relative to what I'm asked to do outside of here.''
Though Saban declined, the Dolphins were represented at the gathering by former players Jim Kiick, Jim Mandich, Nick Buoniconti and Dan Marino. Actor Andy Garcia and Univision host Mario Kreutzberger, known as Don Francisco, also attended.
''When I got the call from the guy who said he worked at the White House, I thought it was one of my friends back in New Jersey [joking] around,'' Kiick said.
The men and their wives dined on frozen stone crabs -- because they're not in season -- steaks and Alaskan crab legs. Former coach Don Shula also was invited but could not attend.
MEETINGS AND FILM
Saban said he declined the invitation, in part, because he had team meetings and film study scheduled around the time dinner was served.
The coach might have considered moving Sunday's afternoon practice, but he had an out-of-town guest speaker scheduled to discuss hydration with the players, so rearranging things was not possible.
Though Saban asked the media not to criticize him for missing the meal, his decision gained him major points with his players, Republicans and Democrats alike.
''It doesn't surprise me,'' defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday said. ``Coach Saban is focused right now. I don't think any player or any assistant coach questions Coach Saban's commitment to this team. You see it every practice and after practice. He's all there, and he's trying to get everybody else to buy in.''
Saban said his decision to skip the invitation should not be taken as a snub or any political statement.
''There's nobody in the world that has more respect for the President of the United States, what he does, what his responsibility is, what our support for what he does is, regardless of who is in that position,'' Saban said. ``It was really a tough decision for us last night to stay here and work with our team and go to the meetings and do what we have to do in camp.''
GOVERNOR A FRIEND
Saban says his best friend growing up was Joe Manchin, now West Virginia's governor. But the coach claims no great knowledge of politics, and as proof he says he doesn't know Manchin's political affiliation.
The coach had met President Bush in 2003, when he visited the White House along with the rest of the Louisiana State University national championship football team.
Saban also met then-President Bill Clinton when Clinton gave the commencement speech at Michigan State, where Saban then coached. Saban said Secret Service men asked to borrow his couch so the president could take a nap.
''My claim to fame is President Clinton took a nap on my couch,'' Saban said.
Some players were impressed that Saban has run in such illustrious circles. The most famous person safety Yeremiah Bell has met?
''Coach Saban,'' Bell said.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/15166893.htm
Dolphins coach Nick Saban, citing training camp commitments, declined an invitation to dine with President Bush at Joe's Stone Crab on Sunday.
BY ARMANDO SALGUERO
NICK SABAN: 'My obligation is to these players right now. Once we commit to camp, I'm out of everything.'
Dolphins coach Nick Saban doesn't consider himself a fan of politics, but he understands that when the President of the United States invites you for dinner, you oblige.
Unless that request comes during training camp.
That's the reason Saban politely declined an invitation to dine with President Bush on Sunday evening at Joe's Stone Crab restaurant in Miami Beach.
''That [would have been] a great experience, but it's a personal experience,'' Saban said Monday. ``My obligation is to these players right now. Once we commit to camp, I'm out of everything. This is what I'm doing, this is what I'm committed to, and I don't have to make exceptions for anything or anybody relative to what I'm asked to do outside of here.''
Though Saban declined, the Dolphins were represented at the gathering by former players Jim Kiick, Jim Mandich, Nick Buoniconti and Dan Marino. Actor Andy Garcia and Univision host Mario Kreutzberger, known as Don Francisco, also attended.
''When I got the call from the guy who said he worked at the White House, I thought it was one of my friends back in New Jersey [joking] around,'' Kiick said.
The men and their wives dined on frozen stone crabs -- because they're not in season -- steaks and Alaskan crab legs. Former coach Don Shula also was invited but could not attend.
MEETINGS AND FILM
Saban said he declined the invitation, in part, because he had team meetings and film study scheduled around the time dinner was served.
The coach might have considered moving Sunday's afternoon practice, but he had an out-of-town guest speaker scheduled to discuss hydration with the players, so rearranging things was not possible.
Though Saban asked the media not to criticize him for missing the meal, his decision gained him major points with his players, Republicans and Democrats alike.
''It doesn't surprise me,'' defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday said. ``Coach Saban is focused right now. I don't think any player or any assistant coach questions Coach Saban's commitment to this team. You see it every practice and after practice. He's all there, and he's trying to get everybody else to buy in.''
Saban said his decision to skip the invitation should not be taken as a snub or any political statement.
''There's nobody in the world that has more respect for the President of the United States, what he does, what his responsibility is, what our support for what he does is, regardless of who is in that position,'' Saban said. ``It was really a tough decision for us last night to stay here and work with our team and go to the meetings and do what we have to do in camp.''
GOVERNOR A FRIEND
Saban says his best friend growing up was Joe Manchin, now West Virginia's governor. But the coach claims no great knowledge of politics, and as proof he says he doesn't know Manchin's political affiliation.
The coach had met President Bush in 2003, when he visited the White House along with the rest of the Louisiana State University national championship football team.
Saban also met then-President Bill Clinton when Clinton gave the commencement speech at Michigan State, where Saban then coached. Saban said Secret Service men asked to borrow his couch so the president could take a nap.
''My claim to fame is President Clinton took a nap on my couch,'' Saban said.
Some players were impressed that Saban has run in such illustrious circles. The most famous person safety Yeremiah Bell has met?
''Coach Saban,'' Bell said.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/15166893.htm