BringJoy

Conch Pride with Michelle Mira Cohen

• Joy Nulisch • Season 6 • Episode 70

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We sit with community champion Michelle Mira Cohen to trace how the Key West Junior Football League blends legacy, and service into a living tradition on George Mira Field. It takes a village keeps Conch pride alive.

• Legacy of George Mira and meaning of the field name
• 24 years of service and the league’s 63-year history
• Community outreach, celebrity chain gang, and volunteers
• Honoring coaches and naming the press box for Wayne Goldstein
• Giving back to the city
• All-star games, raffles, and travel support
• Family ties, alumni pride, and next-gen leadership
• School memories at Mary Immaculate and lifelong bonds
• What brings joy: family, kids, and service

If you enjoyed this episode, drop a review, share, and subscribe because there’s a lot of good stuff on deck. You can also follow Bring Joy on YouTube and Instagram, or check my website at joynulisch.com

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Joy:

Thanks for tuning in to the conks, a Bring Joy Podcast. I'm your host, Joy Nulisch. I'm a first generation conch raised by a fourth. What does that add up to? A whole lot of conk pride. And that's what this show is all about celebrating the incredible people of Key West and their stories from every corner of our conk community. So sit back and relax, cuz. Let's do this thing. This episode is sponsored by Sunset Watersports. And big shout out to Ayesha Osborne for keeping Conch Pride alive. How are we doing, Conch fans? I got a good one for you today. We're talking with Michelle Mira Cohen, a true conk who's dedicated to keeping Key West traditions and Kunk Pride alive. Welcome to the show, Michelle.

Michelle:

Thank you for having me.

Joy:

Hey, let's get right into it and talk about the Key West Junior Football League because I know you spent a lot of time and put a lot of heart into the league.

Michelle:

I sure have. I've dedicated 24 years to the league. I take great pride in the league. The field is named after my uncle, so I feel it's my way of giving back to my uncle's legacy.

Joy:

George Mira, a Key West native, was a multi-sport athlete at Key West High in the 50s, playing football, basketball, and baseball. He was a two-time state champion with the baseball Conchs, but turned down the baseball draft to play football at the University of Miami. Mira put the Miami football program on the map as an all-conference MVP quarterback, breaking records and earning national attention as a two-time Heisman Trophy candidate. Mira was nicknamed the Matador for his athletic play, a strong arm and quick feet. He couldn't be stopped. He's a member of the Hurricanes Ring of Honor, and his number 10 jersey is retired at Miami and Keywest High School. Mira went on to be drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and played eight years in the NFL, including two Super Bowls, one with the Dolphins and a win with the Colts. George Mira is a comp legend. Now what a legacy he has, right? Key West's greatest athlete, if you ask me. You say 20, 20-something years with the league.

Michelle:

Yes. I started when my daughter was two years old, out there as a mascot, and then somehow I got roped into becoming a board member, and the rest is kind of history.

Joy:

And is that what your role is right now? You're one of the board members.

Michelle:

Yeah, I'm the secretary currently.

Joy:

And I was reading that this is the 63rd year or 62nd year that the league's been around.

Michelle:

We've been in existence since nine since August of 63.

Joy:

Yeah, that I think the league is an institution. I know um when I was a kid, I was a cheerleader for Rotary. My sister was a cheerleader for Dennis Pharmacy. My brothers played. So spending Saturdays out there has been a key west tradition as long as we've been alive, right?

Michelle:

Exactly. I was a cheerleader all throughout my youth for um Dennis Pharmacy Falcons. Yes. My daughter cheered for Rotary, you know, and as the years went on, she went on to different teams. It seemed like back in our day you stayed with one team and it went all the way throughout for some reason, but now we change names as the divisions change.

Joy:

And one of the things that I noticed this year, and I wanted to give you um kudos for, is you really engage the community. You had an outreach program to say, hey, we need volunteers to help us run the day the operations out here on Saturday. Everything from the chain gang to the concession stand. Talk about that idea. How did that come about? And who are some of the conk celebrities that came out and helped you?

Michelle:

Well, we really focused this year on kind of revamping our image. We got a you know some negative feedback last year on on different parts of the league. So this year Ralph came back and we were thrilled to have Ralph Major come back. And it the celebrity service was his idea. So I have to give him all the kudos for that. And you know, we really reached out and you know, for Chain Gang. We started out with school board, or well, we started out with um the city commissioners, then we went to school board, then we went over to um the sheriff's department, to the Key West Police Department, we went to Take Stock, we went to Head Start, and then we did, you know, so we really worked at the Chain Gang. We got a lot of the kids from the baseball program and boy and girls basketball to do the chain gang. So, you know, a lot of community effort for sure. And then I had the girls from Kwis High School homecoming come out and be celebrity servers because four of the six girls were girls in my the league with us.

Joy:

Also, you you also highlighted some of the alumni from junior football league, so cheerleaders that have gone on to cheer at the college level. I thought that was really great, also.

Michelle:

Yeah, I thought it was pretty cool that I ended up with so many at that game. So I said, you know what, I'm gonna highlight the Florida State girls. So I did it, KWJFL to FSU. So that was pretty cool.

Joy:

Yeah. I thought that was great. And that and that's what you know, that's what this show is all about, right? Recognizing conks from all corners of the community who are keeping the conch pride and conk traditions alive. You mentioned that your daughter was a cheerleader, and uh you were out there helping her, and now she's she's since grown and doing her own thing, and you're you're still out there.

Michelle:

Yeah, so that's pretty cool, right? My kids always question why are you still doing it? You know, they're 30 and 26, and my answer to them is who called me Saturday morning to see if I woke up? Neither one of you also, why do you care where I spend my Saturdays? So, you know, that's my answer to them, you know, when they get on me about it. I I really enjoy it.

Joy:

And yeah, right? When where else would you rather be? Exactly.

Michelle:

And now that I have you know, my niece Lauren and my niece Ashley out there coaching and my nephew John, and then their children out there, so it's kind of like we're making full circle, you know, keep giving back.

Joy:

So I hear that your great nephew is a heck of a football player. He's he's yeah, he's got some potential, that's for sure. What are the age group of uh teams out there? I think you have flag football all the way up.

Michelle:

Flag is um four to six, then the next division is seven to ten, and then we have we stop at B division, which is like ten to twelve. Unfortunately, we've lost our A division, and that is a very big thing that I'm gonna try to get back. Very much so. I tried this year, I wasn't successful, but I'm gonna try it again next year. I'm gonna try to put flag division because flag is big, it's real big right now, and so we're gonna try to push for a flag division for the A division, the older kids, which gives them the opportunity to still play tackle at HOB and then flag with us, it doesn't interfere. So that's my goal.

Joy:

I was talking with Andrew Freeman, you know, the athletic director at Kewis High School, and flag football for girls is one of the fastest growing sports in the country right now, and girls are getting college scholarships to play flag football. So that may be another consideration, too, to open that up for some of the girls, the the older girls. Absolutely. So, about how many kids and coaches are involved in the league?

Michelle:

We have about 400 um kids. We have 11 teams, and we have 66 coaches, and I know that for a fact because I had I spotlighted them all throughout the season, you know, recognizing them, volunteering our their time to our community, and we appreciated them, so we gave them a spotlight. So we have 66 coaches.

Joy:

That's awesome, and like that's saying it takes a village, it takes a village, it really does. And what are some of the challenges with funding? I know that you know there's a registration fee, but what are some of the challenges? Because I'm sure it's not enough to cover all the needs of a league like that. So, what are some of the challenges? And is there any opportunity if anybody wanted to contribute to the league? Do you have a way for them to donate?

Michelle:

Well, I worked real hard this year on fundraising through ball sponsors and going, you know, I called myself the Avon lady going door to door. I went to the rotary clubs and I went to different organizations because we found ourselves in a bad situation this year when we started going through our equipment. We had to throw away like 80% of our shoulder pads and helmets. So that put us in a in a bind, but and we needed new uniforms. So I'm happy to say that we have all new helmets, we have all new shoulder pads, and we were able to do two divisions of the three. So next year I'm gonna be working again a little harder so that I can get the C division um new uniforms. But you know, I'm very happy with our A, you know, our B division and our flag. They have new uniforms.

Joy:

That's awesome. And is the season over right already?

Michelle:

We are over. Now we're rolling into all-stars. So we have all-star games here in Key West. Our flag division, we're having a red and black game, and that's the best two out of three. And then our older kids that are in pads, they're gonna play one here, and I think we're traveling away to two.

Joy:

Really cool. So if somebody wanted to donate, I think you have a raffle going on. Is that raffle still open?

Michelle:

Yes, of course. Yes, and that's going towards, you know, travel expense.

Joy:

Okay, I'm gonna put the I'm gonna put the Venmo uh ID, profile ID there on the screen. So if anybody wants to donate, it's not too late, right? And you still have some yard signs, even though football season's over, you can still keep a yard sign out there, right?

Michelle:

Yes, absolutely. And then I'll push them. You know, we did really well with them this year. Of course, I still have some left over, so I'll push them again next year. But I'm very thrilled with our board. We worked really hard together um to you know better the program. And I think we were very successful with that. And it gave me great pride to, you know, see so many people give back. And then I was very proud that we did the plogging. And I just felt it was very important because we asked so many people from the community to give to us, and I thought it was really important for them to see us giving back to the community as well. So we we hosted one and we were it was wonderful. We were happy about it.

Joy:

That was really cool. And I think you guys, I think the junior football league raised the bar for the other city leagues now. You know, like I said, the community outreach, not just like you said, asking for support from the community, money and volunteer time, but also giving back and the plogging on Friday going out and keeping the community clean. That was that was that was really, really cool. You know, we you mentioned your uncle, the field is George Mira Field. What does that mean for you? You mentioned a little bit when we got started, but what's that what's that level of pride that you feel supporting the league, knowing that that field is named after him and his legacy as such a great athlete?

Michelle:

Anyone that knows me knows I'm all about family. There's nothing more important to me than family, and to be out there knowing that I'm, you know, continuing my uncle's legacy and letting that program thrive and succeed gives me great, great joy. It really does. And like I said, knowing that you know the next generation is stepping up is also giving me, you know, because I'm getting old, I got a torch pass the torch eventually. So I'm grooming them.

Joy:

Uh I love that. And I almost didn't wear a hat today, but I don't know if you noticed the one I'm wearing. I I got it right there, his autograph. What what an what an athlete he was, and and keeping his legacy alive is is so important. Um, when's the last time he was able to be out at the field?

Michelle:

Well, the field itself, a while since you he signed that hat for you, his health has you know declined a lot. So you wearing that hat also brought great joy to me because that was the last that my uncle, you know, was well.

Joy:

We'll all um hopefully maybe maybe somebody can get word to him that um he's loved and well thought of, and we'll we'll hope that he'll um be feeling feeling good soon.

Michelle:

Absolutely.

Joy:

And you you you also um recognized others, not not only your uncle, but last year there was a recognition for Coach Darelito, who coached for so many years, and this year you guys um named the press box for Wayne Goldstein, who I thought that was really cool. Yeah, share with me how all that came about.

Michelle:

Well, you know, I I've been trying this for a couple of years, you know. I felt I felt it was important. You know, Wayne Goldstein gave so much of his time to the kids and out there. So I've been pushing it for a couple years, and this year um I pitched it to the board, and they were all like, yes, which was great. And then, you know, I picked up the phone, I called Didi, I called Lisette, how do I make this happen? They told me what to do, and you know, and it got named after him, and it was great. I was very happy to do that uh for Jacqueline and Susan as well to see that.

Joy:

I was glad to see it. And there was a great write-up in the um QS Citizen Um Score magazine that Joey Cook does. Uh so I I thought that that was really special. Speaking of the press box, uh Dorian Cannon is the new voice of the league. Put a good word in for me because I've asked him to be on the show and we haven't connected yet.

Michelle:

I sure will. He is amazing. He's our announcer, but everything that he does for me extra is just amazing, you know. So he he does everything. I'm always coming up with a hair brain scheme, and he's like, I got you, I got you. And I'm like, you really do, and that's pretty impressive. And um, so yes, he's wonderful.

Joy:

And you mentioned Ralph Major already. He was my classmate. I know he's president of the league. He's doing all you've got pictures of him flipping burgers, doing cheers with the kids, putting shoulder pads together, whatever it takes. Who are some of the other board members and other people that work behind the scenes to make it happen out there at the league?

Michelle:

Ariana Corsi is our vice president. She is the one that runs the show behind the scenes. Without a doubt, we couldn't function the way we do without her. Destiny Johnson is our treasurer, and Shannon Butler is our equipment manager and um football director. He kind of took a double role there, a dual role. So when does the season run? It runs August this year. It runs nine weeks. It depends on when you start. This year we started early August and we ended um mid-October.

Joy:

Okay, real good. So you feel like you had a successful season and all-stars is gonna be a good way to end it off.

Michelle:

Yeah, we haven't had cheerleaders travel with all-stars in a lot of years. I I'd say probably six, seven, maybe even nine. Anyway, so we brought cheerleaders back to travel with the all-stars. So we're excited about that, and they're excited as well.

Joy:

I'm sure they are. Well, well, thank you, and thank the board for for everything that they've doing to keep that program alive. Like I said, it's an institution in Key West. I think every family has been out there for you know Saturdays at some point in their life. You spent from the morning till night out at the league. Um, which which reminds me of of one thing. Because when I was a kid, you went and you played football, you did the whole thing out there, and then you went and had pizza at Pizza Huddle. Is there any Mira that's gonna open up the pizza shop again? Can that happen?

Michelle:

Listen, I that is a dream of mine, but um, I don't know that it's a reality, but it definitely is a dream. And there is no better place on earth than George Myers Pizza Huddle, in my opinion. You're right. It was just it was just a thing. Finish baseball, finished football, you ended up at George Myers Pizza Huddle.

Joy:

Absolutely. We should pass a hat and see if we can get it going.

Michelle:

I would love, and I have my the I have the secret ingredient for the spaghetti sauce. So, yes, maybe I can make it a go one day.

Joy:

That's really good stuff. Hey, you know they're doing a um the Art and Historical Society is doing a big exhibit on Key West food. You should you should somehow get one of the menus over there. You gotta hang on to that. That's priceless. So, so let's shift gears a little bit. I had Coach Juddwise on a couple months ago. We had a great episode, and he was sharing some of the highlights from his 40-year career in education. And one of his highlights that he shared was class of 86, Mary Immaculate. And I know that was your graduating class. Talk about going to school with Mary Immaculate. Who were some of your classmates and teachers that other people may remember?

Michelle:

My classmates, you know, there were 18 of us, nine boys and nine girls, and we're still to this day very close. I ended up in Mary Immaculate because I couldn't follow the rules. And um, I went from public school, I came home on a Monday, and my mother told me you start Mary Mac you start Mary Maculate on Tuesday. I said, You're joking. She goes, Go in your room, and there in a uniform was hanging on the closet. And that was the second first nine weeks of eighth grade, and the rest was history. I ended up graduating from Mary Macalet, and you know, although I'm a conk at heart, obviously forever, but you know, Mary Immaculate are my people as well. I made some good friendships and family through them.

Joy:

No, for sure. And it's funny because my dad, George Carey, he was one of the first, I think he was the first male class to graduate from Mary Immaculate because he and his friends kept getting in trouble and they were gonna put him out. And so my grandmother and Miss Ruth went to the nuns and because they had nuns back then, and you know, they worked out something. So they had a boys, a group of boys that graduated. I don't remember what year it was, but and now they have a high school again.

Michelle:

Are you involved with that high school at all? Their first graduate their their first graduating class is on the anniversary of our 40th. So what we're doing is since they're the first and we're the last, we're buying them their cap and gowns as as a jackal. Yeah. So we we are planning some stuff because that is our reunion as well. So we are planning some stuff with them. We just are working out the details. But um, we had George Riaseco in my class, Wayne Elliott, Ruben German, Louis Scarmuzzi, I know you know that name. Scott Elliott, Scott Atwood, excuse me. Scott Atwood. Um so yeah, there's you know, quite a bit of us, and then as far as girls, Evette Casada, Carrie Mann, Lisa Garcia, Cheryl Revis, Brendo Taro. So, you know, it was a good group, and we're still, you know, like I said, we're still close, and that's really nice.

Joy:

Yeah, definitely. And and besides Coach Wise, I believe Miss Axford, Miss Terry Axford, who was recently retired from Monroe County Schools, I believe she started her career there also.

Michelle:

She was our principal. She started out as a teacher and our principal, and we had, you know, Miss Pappy, Mrs. Ma, and we had some good teachers, and like I said, you're a small school, so you end up being like family. You know, you we stay the boys stay in contact with Coach Wise, they have a very good relationship with him.

Joy:

That's awesome. So, so speaking of family, you know, this show is called the Conchs, right? So let me let me hear the conk connections, Michelle Mira Cohen. That's that's a that's a name that's got deep roots right there. So who's some of your people that you connected to?

Michelle:

Let's see, the Cabo's, Danny Kabot. He's my my mom's first cousin. I'm a fifth generation conk. My grandparents were born here. My mom's parents were both born in Key West. And my father's um mom was born in Spain. She came over when she was three years old. Yeah. So, you know, the Hemanites are my family. You know, like I said, the you know, all the Mira's, obviously. But yeah, we have we have a big family.

Joy:

And I have to I have to tell you, your your your mom and dad were like movie star, beautiful people, weren't they?

Michelle:

I think so. And my mom's sister, which is my cousin Ralphie Enriquez, his mom was just breathtaking, gorgeous. She really was my Andolores.

Joy:

That's good stuff. And uh your sister Yvette is uh school board member now. Yes, yep.

Michelle:

She um we're totally opposite, but you know, we both have the same we we laugh about it all the time. But yes, she followed the rules. I did not, but anyway, but we're very close. It's just me and my sister, and especially since our parents passed, you know, we feed off a lot of things off of each other, you know, because I don't have my mom to go to anymore for advice. So now I go to my sister and she comes to me for advice, and you know, we we work together, we raise all our children as one unit together.

Joy:

Yeah, that's that's beautiful. And speaking of your children, you were able to raise your kids here. So what was that like? I know they're grown now, but what do you hope that they take away in terms of Kiwast tradition and and connection, no matter whether they stay here or they move their life somewhere else?

Michelle:

I think that Kong Pride is, you know, my son, he left for a little while when he went to school and he came back and he has no intention of leaving here. And my daughter moved to St. Pete. You know, she wanted to give something uh, you know, a try, but you know, her goal uh eventually is to end back here, I hope. But no, she you know, when she has children and starts raising a family, she would like to, you know, come back home. I laugh because my niece Ashley Henrique's her husband Ben told me his advice to any kid in college, don't marry a Key West girl. Because Ben, they you know, they were very successful in you know, Orlando and Ashley wanted to come home. So, you know, they're doing well here too, but you know, it it wasn't an option, and for Lauren, it wasn't an option for Sam to come here. And Caroline's working on Casey, so hopefully we'll all they'll all be here eventually.

Joy:

Yeah, because because it's not easy, it's not a given that one that people that the next generation wants to stay here or or are able to stay here, so so it's really special when they are able to for sure. Complete complete this sentence for me.

Michelle:

I love Key West because I love Key West. I love everything about it. I love the community, I love that we when we're in need, we all come together regardless of who you are, what walk of life you are. We're all in it together. And I just think that you know it's a place where everybody knows your name, and I think that's important.

Joy:

That's beautiful. That's that's a mic drop moment right there. Okay. Don't make me cry. Hey, Michelle, it's been great talking to you. Like I said, I appreciate everything you do out there at the Junior Football League and keeping the family tradition. I live just a block away from from the field, and I can't see it, but I can hear all the excitement when during football season, and and that's such a special place. So I appreciate everything you do there. Let me ask you one more big question to end it all. What brings you joy?

Michelle:

My family, my children, my children above all, and then my family, and you know, helping the kids in the community. You know, everyone tells me, Why do you do it? But if it wasn't for you know the five of us on the board that does it, or for any organization, if we don't do it, who's gonna do it? You know, somebody has to do it for the kids of the community, and it gives me great joy to do it. And I'm gonna end it on my note real quick, Joy. I'm gonna make sure that I come see you next year because you know what I want. I want that big sign on Flagler Avenue. I'm coming to see you. Hey, I wasn't this year because I couldn't, you know, I couldn't have that many fires going. But next year uh I'm coming.

Joy:

Heard message received. Very good. We need it, we need a big appropriate sign to to recognize that legacy. I'm I'm all in on that. Go Konks. Thanks again to Sunset Water Sports for sponsoring this episode. I'm Joy Newleich and I appreciate you tuning into my podcast. My purpose is to bring joy into my life and the lives of others. If you enjoyed this episode, drop a review, share, and subscribe because there's a lot of good stuff on tech. You can also follow Bring Joy on YouTube and Instagram, or check my website at joynoolish.com. And go bring joy to the people in your world. Until next time.

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Joy Nulisch

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