Latest news with #LarryCsonka
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chris Perkins: Ricky Williams has one regret about his Dolphins career
MIAMI — A measly 301 yards. That's all that separates astrologer Ricky Williams, who is No. 2 on the Miami Dolphins all-time rushing list, from Hall of Fame running back Larry Csonka, who is No. 1. A mere 301 yards. Advertisement Csonka has 6,737 yards, Williams has 6,436. That bothers Williams a bit. Does that news surprise you? Well, it's true. Williams considers himself an astrologer nowadays. And a businessman. Williams is back in South Florida for a cannabis festival — Cannadelic Miami, a two-day event at the Miami Airport Convention Center. Williams was a speaker on an intriguing five-person panel entitled, 'The Psychedelic Locker Room.' Panelists discussed how methods such as plant medicine like as cannabis, psychedelics such as ayahuasca, and hyperbaric chambers can help the body heal, open awareness and lead to a better life in many ways and on many levels. Advertisement I spoke to him afterward. I reminded Williams of a chat we had back in maybe 2009 or 2010 about him reaching 10,000 yards rushing, which was an unofficial Hall of Fame stepping stone at the time. Williams said he had two paths he could have taken regarding the Hall of Fame. 'One path would have taken me closer to the Hall of Fame, one path would have taken me away from it,' he said. 'And I consciously chose to go with the one that was away from it, and I'm glad that I did because of all that I've gotten in return. 'The one thing that I do cherish is my time here,' Williams continued, 'and the only real regret that I have, honestly, is that I didn't finish my career here, because if I would have played my last year I probably would have been Dolphins all-time leading rusher.' Advertisement What was most obvious talking to Williams, who started his 11-year career in New Orleans and ended it in Baltimore, is how much he treasures his seven years with the Dolphins. 'It's where I had the most success as a professional, and I made a name for myself,' he said. 'I can say the ups and downs that I played 10 years plus, I ran for a thousand yards multiple times, and I was the NFL leading rusher and an All-Pro. All that happened in Miami.' Don't get it twisted. Being the No. 2 rusher in Dolphins history doesn't haunt Williams on a daily basis. He's moved on to another stage of life. 'Primarily I'm an astrologer,' he said. 'I do consultations, I write code for my app (Lila), and I teach.' Advertisement One of the things I most enjoyed about covering Williams, and that I enjoyed about talking with him, is that he never fails to enlighten. Football is only part of Williams' story. He's always known he had to go deeper, much deeper. 'I've always had a destiny to touch people,' he said. 'But football, it wasn't enough because the way I touch people, yeah, they'd be inspired, and their team won, or their fantasy team won or whatever, but it's like right after Sunday, after Tuesday or Wednesday, when the hype of the last weekend's game died off, I've got to do it all over again. 'That's not really sustainable.' Advertisement Williams is always seeking more, which brings us to another reason that he was in town. Cannadelic Miami is a combination cannabis and psychedelic conference and expo that unofficially started Thursday with a golf tournament that Williams hosted. The event features products and exhibitors, and includes guest speakers such as Williams, doctors, former athletes, legal experts and entrepreneurs, and includes wellness retreats that include breathwork, sound healing, yoga, integration circles and more. Williams is launching a cannabis line, 'Highsman.' Get it? It'll be featured locally at Goldflower, a dispensary opening in Miami on June 14. Advertisement Williams spends a good amount of time speaking and appearing at events such as Cannadelic Miami and exploring ways to help people find awareness. It's among the many things that make Williams unique even in his post-playing days. Listen to him speak about plant medicine and psychedelics. 'The plants and the medicine are tools that are giving us potential to study what's going on with consciousness,' he said. 'And I think as more people are willing to use these tools to expand their consciousness, we'll be able to study how consciousness works. And we're going to learn a whole lot.' For years it's been hard to pigeonhole Williams as a football player. Advertisement He's taught meditation at Nova Southeastern University. He went to the foothills of the Himalayas to study the origins of cannabis. As part of being an astrologer, he's got an app, Lila, that calls itself 'Timely food for thought' and says it 'is designed to help even novice users better understand themselves and their relationship needs using insights derived from astrology.' On Friday, just as he was in 2002, when he was traded to the Dolphins from New Orleans in a blockbuster deal, just as he was in 2004, when he shocked the NFL world by abruptly retiring on the eve of training camp, and just as he was in 2009, when he was named team MVP, Williams was captivating. Advertisement I asked if he had it to do all over again, considering the failed drug tests and suspension for the 2006 season, would he have smoked cannabis during his career? Williams doubled down. 'If I had to do everything all over again, I would have advocated more,' he said. 'I think it's easy to say in this day and age, but back then I didn't realize how many advocacy groups were out there, that if I consciously said, 'I want to make a strong case for this,' I was in a position at my level in the NFL that I could have started that conversation.' Williams' sudden 2004 retirement remains a sore spot for a segment of Dolphins fans. It might not be that way for players, though. Advertisement Tim Bowens, the former Dolphins defensive tackle who was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor in October, said he wasn't mad at Williams for retiring on the eve of 2004 training camp, and he said neither were most players. 'We were probably more confused than anything,' Bowens recalled Friday via phone, adding, 'But I didn't really have any hard feelings about it. Most of the guys were probably on Rick's side, man.' But Bowens thinks Williams, a daily cannabis user, might have been ahead of his time when it comes to cannabis as a healing agent. 'Rick is a smart man,' Bowens said. 'Everybody thinks Rick is a certain way. But, man, Rick's got a pretty good head on his shoulders. He's highly intelligent.' Advertisement One thing that was obvious talking to Williams, who remains as mellow as ever, is that for all of the attention he attracts for being a proponent of cannabis and psychedelics, he still has that competitive fire that all great athletes share. Being the best, being No. 1 means something. It always will. He wanted to be the Dolphins' all-time leading rusher more than rushing for 10,000 yards. He's proud that he rushed for 10,009 yards. He just wishes he'd have stayed one final year with the Dolphins instead of going to Baltimore for his final season in 2011. 'The 10,000 yards would have come with it,' he said of playing one more year with the Dolphins. 'I got the 10,000 yards, but I didn't get the all-time (record in Miami). I think just all the ups and downs with the Dolphins, to be on top of that list at the end of my career would have been better for me. 'That's the only regret, that I didn't play my last year here.' ____
CBS News
14-02-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Dolphins Cancer Challenge returns to South Florida. Here's what you need to know for DCC XV
MIAMI — Thousands of people are expected to walk, run and ride throughout South Florida this year as part of the Dolphins Cancer Challenge. The annual event, which will be in its 15th year, raises funds for innovative cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, a part of UHealth — the University of Miami Health System. DCC XV, which the Miami Dolphins organization sponsors, is the No. 1 fundraiser in the NFL. Last year, DCC XIV raised $12 million with the support of 6,000 participants and over 400 of them were living proof that these funds went on to help save lives. The DCC's purpose is to improve people's lives through financial support for innovative cancer research at Sylvester. Ranked among the top 50 of U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals in 2022, Sylvester is South Florida's only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. The Dolphins' leadership has pledged that the Dolphins Cancer Challenge would raise $75 million by the end of 2026, which they have already raised so far since the event began in 2010. Here's everything you need to know about DCC XV. When and where is DCC XV? Dolphins Challenging Cancer is held every February at the Miami International Autodrome facilities at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. This year, the annual event will be on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, starting at 4:30 a.m. for participant packet pickup and ending around 4 p.m. as the last participants cross the finish line in the longest route. Though registration is closed for participants, anyone can still attend DCC XV as a spectator. Tickets start at $15 for people between ages 10 and 20, and $40 for anyone 21 and over. Children under 9 years old can attend Dolphins Cancer Challenge for free but every guest must have their own ticket. Visit to get your tickets today. What are the DCC XV routes? DCC XV will feature five different routes, four are named in honor of different Miami Dolphins players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, that circumnavigate South Florida. The new rides will be accompanied by an adjusted event timeline for participants to have a more inclusive finish-line experience. Here is a breakdown of each route: DCC 5K: Presented by Amazon, the 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) route will wind through the Miami Grand Prix racetrack from Turns 4 to 10. This race begins at 10:45 a.m. Dan Marino Ride: Presented by Aetna, the 13-mile route has become the largest of all the races the DCC hosts. Walkers, runners and riders will travel throughout Miami Gardens. This race begins at 10 a.m. Larry Csonka Ride: Presented by MyVenue, the 39-mile route is the only point-to-point option the DCC hosts, starting at the University of Miami and ending at Hard Rock Stadium. The route features scenic Miami-Dade areas, including Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Brickell and Biscayne Boulevard. Participants will go over the Julia Tuttle Causeway overlooking the Venetian and Sunset Islands, and onto Miami Beach, heading north on Collins Avenue, through Surfside and Bal Harbour before reaching the home of the Dolphins in Miami Gardens. This race begins at 8:30 a.m. Zach Thomas Ride: President by Guardant Health, this 54-mile route is one of two that encompass both Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. Participants begin their first 10 miles heading east toward Golden Beach before heading north for the next 16 through Downtown Fort Lauderdale and Fort Lauderdale Beach. Then, they travel through Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and Las Olas Boulevard before arriving at State Road 84. The second half of the route takes participants through Davie, Cooper City, Pembroke Pines and Miramar before returning to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. This race begins at 8 a.m. Jason Tyler Ride: As the longest route at just under 100 miles, participants will ride throughout all of South Florida. The 99-mile route kicks off at Hard Rock Stadium, taking participants through Miami, Coconut Grove, Brickell and Biscayne Boulevard. Then, they'll ride over the Julia Tuttle onto Miami Beach, before riding north on Collins up to Surfside. From there, riders will traverse Downtown Fort Lauderdale and Fort Lauderdale Beach, and take a lap through Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and Las Olas before taking SR-84 back to Miami Gardens. This race begins at 6 a.m. How to donate to DCC XV Whether you're running or riding in the race or supporting someone who is, there are several ways to donate toward cancer research. Online: People can donate online via credit card or PayPal by either registering to create their own fundraising page or finding a DCC participant to donate to. You can also send your donations through CBS News Miami's fundraising page as well. Venmo/Apple Pay: Click here to donate through your mobile device. Mail: Donors can send a check(s) with a contribution form to Dolphins Cancer Challenge and mail them to 347 Don Shula Drive, Miami Gardens, FL 33056. Phone: People can also donate by calling (305) 943-6799. The phone line is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gifts of Securities or Bank Wire: DCC does accept gifts of stocks and securities as donations. To review transfer instructions, contact DCC Director Abbey Sutton by calling (305) 943-6684 or emailing asutton@ Matching Gifts: Your employer may match your contributions to DCC. When making online contributions, search for your company to see if you are eligible for matching funds. In-Kind Gifts: As needed, Dolphins Cancer Challenge accepts Gift-In-Kind from donors to help offset operational expenses. If interested in becoming an in-kind donor, email ridedcc@ All dollars raised directly fund cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dolphins Cancer Challenge is a 501c3 Organization (Federal Tax ID # 45-4808311), meaning that any gift is considered tax-deductible. Please consult your tax advisor for more information. Gift receipts will be issued automatically via email for all online gifts.
