I'm not sure why it hit home on that morning. Perhaps it was the kindness in his eyes, the genuineness of his actions, or simply the manner in which he performed his duties. But from that point on, I began to see him in a different light. Our friendship was not without its bumps and turns. When the players began the strike during the 1982 regular season, I found myself on many occasions sitting in front of Shula's desk discussing the fate of the league.
Free agency is a right of every American worker.
At times our meetings were terse. We argued and disagreed. But even though he was the veteran coach and I was the young player, he always treated me with respect. That strike eventually ended, nine weeks later. It was with great relief that I finally entered the Dolphins' locker room with the rest of my teammates.