Fishing tournament concludes Miami Dolphins Fins Weekend

After a "hard day" at the golf course (please notice the quotations), nothing's more relaxing than a lazy day at sea, and that's exactly what the Miami Dolphins organization did as they concluded their 19th Annual Fins Weekend with a fishing tournament that had everyone expressing their confidence in their chances at winning, at least when their comrades weren't around to hear it.

"They're alright," said linebacker Chris McCain about his competition. "I don't really feel like it's gonna be too challenging."

McCain was actually unable to participate in the event during his rookie season, so this was his first time being able to take part in the biggest Dolphins event of the year.

"We got something else to be proud for," McCain said. "Now we can just challenge each other and try to weigh-in the best fish. I feel like this is basically us coming together and being a family."

Another individual who liked his chances of winning was former Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder, who strongly suggested that he felt he had the best chance to win.

"I make a big catch about two or three times a month," said Crowder, "I'm a fisherman, a real fisherman, so I would favor myself today."

Crowder jokingly favored himself as having two to one odds to win the tournament due to his fishing background, and he has several photos on his Twitter account that show him holding several impressive fish that indicate his seriousness regarding his fishing prowess.

"There's talk, and then there's action." Crowder said regarding his competitors' confidence, "I really fish, I know what to do, I know where they're at. These people are just riding around on a cruise."

Naturally the trash-talking was all good-natured in spirit as friends and family came together to laugh and enjoy the day with each other. The event has done a lot for the organization over the years, and it's done a lot for the people participating in it ever since it's creation nineteen years ago.

"It was benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation," said Jeff Peck, the chairman for Fins Weekend. "There was a young gentleman that worked in the Miami Dolphins office who had Cystic Fibrosis, and it was his dream to do a fishing tournament. His name was Scott Chate."

And although now the event is considered even by the organization as its biggest charitable effort of the year, that was not always the case.

"It had a tough start." said Peck. "The Dolphins didn't know anything about fishing tournaments so they weren't sure if they wanted to do it, but Ray Huizenga - Wayne Huizenga's son who was the owner at the time - went to Jimmy Johnson and said 'Hey Jimmy, what do you think of a fishing tournament?', and Jimmy said 'Heck yeah!' and we were on."

The event has raised millions of dollars over the years, and everyone who was talked to couldn't say enough about the significance of its impact in their lives for various reasons.

"Seeing guys that I've played with or seeing guys that I've been around when I was a player, just to feel that camaraderie, that's the best part about it." said former Dolphins fullback Lousaka Polite.

Fins Weekend finds a way to make an impact of the lives of people in the community and those involved with the Dolphins organization in more effective ways year after year. With next season being the 20th birthday of the weekend long get-together, Lord only knows what they'll come up with to take the next step.