The answer to the question in this title is simple… HELL YES! Former Miami Dolphins tight end, and long time radio broadcaster Jim “Mad Dog” Mandich lost his battle with bile duct cancer last night, he was 62. Mandich was an All-American tight end at the University of Michigan, as well as the captain of the Wolverines’ football team. He played and fought his way to being the 29th pick (round 2) in the 1970 NFL Draft, the first pick made by then new coach Don Shula for the Miami Dolphins. He didn’t have the most prolific professional football career, but he won over his teammates and fans alike with his toughness and his willingness to give everything he had on or off the field. He spent all but one season with the Dolphins, and would retire after the 1978 season, his lone season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mandich was part of the 1972 perfect season, and picked up back to back titles with the rest of his Dolphins teammates in 1973. His last season in Pittsburgh brought him a third championship ring before he called it a career. In 1983 he took a job at 610 WIOD in Miami, juggling his radio duties along with his Hialeah based construction company, Lotspeich, was never an issue for a man with the passion and work ethic that he possessed. He became one of the mainstays of the South Florida sports scene right up until he left the airwaves in 2010 (which he concluded with 560 WQAM, starting in 1997). If you could poll Dolphins’ fans hearts, on who would be on the Mt. Rushmore of Miami Dolphins, it would be Don Shula, Dan Marino, Joe Robbie, and Jim Mandich. He meant that much to Dolphins’ fans both young and old.

During the 2009 season, Mandich began to feel stabbing sensation in his abdomen, but ignored the problem to finish off his broadcast season. In January of 2010 he took a leave of absence,  Mandich would learn of his condition, and begin aggressive chemotherapy in February. He gave up his daily radio gig, but was still on point and on fire providing the color commentary as only he could for the 2010 Dolphins’ season. His voice never wavered, when asked how he was doing his answer was always without hesitation; “never better”, and like always your emotions would rise and fall right there with him. He was never afraid to speak from the heart or shoot from the hip, and had a way with words that you just had to hear to appreciate. There are countless stories of him picking up tabs, taking the time just to talk to fans, and always willing to share a few “green lizards” (Heineken) with his fellow listeners and supporters. He was widely regarded as the most approachable sports figure in Miami. His response to friends when his condition was deemed to be fatal? “I guess they just called my number, gentlemen”. Fellow Dolphins’ broadcaster and friend Jimmy Cefalo was doing an interview this morning, and tells how Mandich during his final broadcasts was carrying a little box with him, and was asked what it was. He said, “it’s my breakfast, lunch, and dinner”, very matter of fact, and almost happily. He was on a feeding tube, and still wanted to come to work and electrify the fan-base.

My first exposure to Jim Mandich was through my Dad, who religiously listened to his radio show everyday that he could. The tone and cadence of his voice would capture your attention, and the words would keep you coming back. I grew up knowing his voice as much as a member of the family, and often would turn the sound on the television down, so we could listen to the radio broadcast while watching the game. That tradition ended when TV added the seven second delay to their broadcast, but I still enjoyed listening to him every afternoon on the radio. When his show would start it meant the end of the work day was near, and the drive home was much more enjoyable with the Mad Dog on the dial. No matter who the main play by play guy was, anyone will tell you that Mandich is, and always will be the voice of the Miami Dolphins. There was a two year stretch, 2005-2006 I believe, that he was not part of the broadcast team, and with all due respect it was just difficult to listen to without him. At least at that time, we knew he could come back.

What I wouldn’t give for one more “awwwright Miami!!!!!”.

Here is some audio from thefinsiders.com, featuring some classic Mandich: