cover image Shark Among Dolphins

Shark Among Dolphins

Steve Hubbard. Ballantine Books, $25 (288pp) ISBN 978-0-345-41204-1

After a brilliant coaching record with Oklahoma State, the University of Miami and the Dallas Cowboys, Johnson left America's Team, having won two Super Bowls in five years. Meanwhile, Don Shula, the winningest coach in pro football history, seemed to be losing his touch in Miami as his demanding approach gave way to mellowness. When Johnson was chosen to replace Shula in 1996, no one was prepared for the revolution that took place when Johnson fired overpaid and lackadaisical stars, troublemakers and negative thinkers. Even more surprising was the new coach's concentration on the running game, because the Dolphins had one of the greatest passers of all time in Dan Marino, the quarterback around whom Shula had built his offense. When the smoke cleared, there were four rookies in the starting lineup and six more used often during the season. Still, the team did not excel, going 8-8 and missing the playoffs by a single game. Former sports journalist Hubbard, granted access to the Dolphins for the entire year, has written an objective, involving account of the players, of Johnson and of his debut with the Dolphins. (Sept.)