Miami Provocateur

This upcoming Saturday marks the end of a 72 year tradition as the University of Miami plays its last game at Miami’s Orange Bowl stadium. The University of Miami’s relationship with the Orange Bowl began January 1, 1935, when the university played in the first Orange Bowl New Year’s Day game. The stadium served as the site of the Orange Bowl Classic game until 1996. The University of Miami football team has won five national championships, three of those (1983, 1987, and 1991)at the Orange Bowl stadium.  The Hurricanes hold the NCAA record for the longest consecutive home winning streak of 58 games from 1985-1994 at the Orange Bowl. Nonetheless, the Orange Bowl stadium also hosted five superbowls, and its greatness lies in its walls, set in the center of one of Miami’s older neighborhoods it echoes and shakes. The Orange Bowl has been referred to as the 13th player for its aura and ability to shake up the visiting team with its thundering roar of echoing cheers. The Orange Bowl, Miami’s little citrus volcano with the heat and noise of Miami’s loud bravado flowing out. First the Dolphins left and now the University of Miami will bid farewell.

I love Miami however, I can recognize that it isn’t the sports town Boston or Chicago are and many of our teams aren’t as beloved as others and clearly neither are our landmarks. Many will argue it’s progress and to those many I would say progress can often be had without turning our backs on historical landmarks which hold as much tradition and history as the city itself. Sometimes I feel Miami turning into a vast suburban sprawl, mini mall, town where everything is torn down every 20-40 years and in its place some meaningless new building with too many floors and not enough windows you can actually open. The magic of this city is slowly fading as we lose that citrusy, tropical lush charm Miami has always had with that splash of spice and exciting fun, palm trees and warm weather that matched the locals’ zest as they inhabited a beautifully, glamouros yet intimate city on the water.

And speaking of water ….

Could someone explain what is in the water this year in Boston…. first the Red Sox, then the Patriots, and now the Celtics just ripped apart their season opener against Washington. What’s going on? And can we ship some of that magic down here? And maybe also ship down some of that love for tradition and history.