I was a big fan of Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts. Many football insiders still consider him the greatest NFL quarterback ever. I actually remember watching him on black and white television in what’s called “the greatest football game ever played” in 1958. The Unitas-led Colts won the NFL Championship by defeating the New York “football” Giants with an exciting 23-17 sudden death overtime win. It’s hard to believe that was nearly 50-years ago.

So when Don Shula took over the coaching reins of the Colts in 1963, I quickly became a fan of Shula, too. While with the Colts, Shula won NFL Coach of the Year three times – in 1964, 1967, and 1968.

In 1970, Shula moved on to the Miami Dolphins, and I enjoyed watching Larry Csonka, Jim Kick, and Nick Buoniconti. When the Dolphins went undefeated in 1972, winning Super Bowl VII and later Super Bowl VIII, I thought Shula and his team were, respectively, the greatest of their time. His induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997 was certainly well deserved.

Shula has always been considered a class act, as his 1993 Sports Illustrated Sportsman-of-the-Year Award would indicate – despite that he and his 1972 team drink champagne after the last-standing undefeated NFL team falls each year. I’ve always felt that tradition to be questionable, but no big deal.

However, Shula’s recent “asterisk” comments about the possibility of the New England Patriots going undefeated this season is off base and causes me pause as to his sportsmanship image.

“The Spygate thing has diminished what they’ve accomplished,” Shula said in an interview with the New York Daily News. “You would hate to have that attached to your accomplishments. They’ve got it.”

Shula has certainly gained enough cachet in the NFL to have his opinion about “Spygate” deemed significant. However, to relate “Spygate” to this season and the Patriots’ run at becoming the second undefeated team in NFL history is irresponsible and appears more self-centered.

First, if the Patriots indeed go undefeated, it doesn’t remove the ’72 Dolphins from the record book. They will simply have to share that great distinction. And, secondly, if the Pats accomplish the feat, shouldn’t Shula and his Dolphins take the high-road as did Henry Aaron and show some class acknowledging the feat with congratulatory remarks?

As we all get long-in-the-tooth, we need to project wisdom more than bitterness.