I can’t say I have a clear memory as to when I became a Dolphins’ fan; that is, I don’t remember a specific day or incident I could say marked the moment of the start of my perpetual heartbreak. It is clear I was a fan by the end of the 1976 season, because I remember being disappointed with the 6-8 record…
My family moved from Somers, NY (20 miles southeast of West Point) to Miami in June of 1972- I was six years old. My dad was not a fan of following any team (I think he was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan as a boy, but when they left town, he may have decided it was not worth getting invested), but he was athletic, and was always willing to toss a ball around with me (football, basketball, baseball, tennis…). I got a football uniform for Christmas that year, complete with pads and a helmet- Minnesota Vikings colors without any of the logos. I would put it on and run around like a crazy person, and my dad would “tackle” me. We had a neighbor who was big into watching the Dolphins on TV, and his wife would go crazy watching Mercury Morris running the ball. We could hear her screaming, “Run, you black son of a bitch!” (This was the 70’s, not a very “PC” time in the southern US; I remember mom being a little uncomfortable around this person, but I didn’t understand why, as I had no idea what my neighbor was saying or what it was in reference to- I was young!).
The Dolphins were “the team” of that era, if not nationally then at least locally, and since there was nothing competing for our attention (the next professional team did not arrive in South Florida until the mid 80’s), we were always hearing about Don Shula and Larry Czonka and Bob Griese, and other guys with names like Kuechenberg, Nottingham, Little, Den Herder, Scott, and they were spoken of like they were mythological heroes. People would report sightings of them around town, if you were lucky enough to see any one of them you were the coolest kid for the next few days. When the kids in my neighborhood would get together to play a game, I always wanted to be Paul Warfield or Duriel Harris or Nat Moore, even though I was neither the fastest nor tallest (my saving grace was I had really good hands and would catch just about anything thrown my way). As I got older I became more interested in things outside of the season, like who was on the team and who we drafted or who retired- I vaguely remember the return of Czonka in ’79, how he was welcomed back as the “Prodigal Son Returned”. At this point I could recite starting lineups on both sides of the ball, as well as backups and even most of the coaches.
I have only been to 2 games, but if I remember correctly the Dolphins won each. This was sometime between 1979 and 1982, which means both were at the Orange Bowl. I sat in the endzone for one game, and the north stands for the other. I went with friends of my dad each time, but he didn’t go. I don’t remember anything in particular about either game; I don’t have any memorabilia. I just remember being excited to actually go and see the Dolphins play.
Another poignant moment of my fanhood memory was the strike-shortened season where we made it to the Super Bowl. Mom and dad had separated and mom was broke most of the time, though she worked and went to school without complaining to us about dad or money problems. Somehow she scrounged up enough to order a pizza and get a 2 liter bottle of Coke, and she my youngest sister and I watched as the Dolphins found themselves on the wrong side of an aging John Riggins’ rushing explosion that led to MVP honors for the game. We lost, it sucked- but it was a good memory of time spent with family you find altogether too hard to duplicate as the years go by. Mom is 70 now, a life-long smoker, and has COPD. I don’t know how much longer she’ll be around, but I know she loves the Dolphins because of my sister and I. Just recently she said to me during a conversation about football, “I just hope to live to see the Dolphins win one more Super Bowl”.
The day I realized what being a fan could cost me, and the depths of depression one could descend to, was the playoff game against San Diego, January 2nd, 1982. The ups and downs of that game, the feeling we could do it, Winslow blocking the winning field goal, the overtime, Kellen Winslow dying on the field only to be resurrected (twice!), another blocked kick, the second overtime, Winslow being carried off the field… It’s possible I cried that day, I can’t remember. A guy I was in high school with and who was interning with a photographer for the Miami Herald was at that game, and I helped him develop film, including Winslow being held up by teammates. He told me about being there and the atmosphere of the place, and how hard it was to be there when San Diego won. I’ve had other moments of disappointment with the Dolphins, including the 2 Super Bowl losses in the 80’s, but that game, though we lost, was the single most galvanizing event for me as a fan, because I lived and died with each possession, each success or missed opportunity, and I really believe that not one member of the Dolphins team could have felt worse than I did when Benirschke made that kick. They fought, they bled, they played hard, and they never gave up, even when they were down 24-0 in the first quarter. Who wouldn’t be a fan of a team that represented its city so epically? How could you help it?
Thanks for letting me share my story of Dolphins fandom with you. I look forward to reading others’ recollections. We can always hope the return to glory is just around the corner.
Finsmob Unleashed 
Only 12 votes on the Wallace poll. FU Wallace.
I’ll just roll with what they choose to do. I’m not a Wallace fan anymore although I’ll root for him if he plays for us. But I wouldn’t mind seeing him gone because I don’t like guys who quit.
Oh man I feel all alone
jahndoh says:
February 9, 2015 at 7:07 pm
Guess who’s spending the most money in the NFL on their defense next year (before offseason cuts of course)? Yup…our Fins
yeah, and before the make wallace switch to def then cut him and save 37.8 mil against the cap but only pay wallace 75.5 mil while miko tweets that grimes is over paid and over rated and wallace is the best corner on the team and should have made the pro bowl as the best corner/DE in the game.
If that was supposed to sound as confused as a Miko rant: well done!
Lol @ Ken. Left a few comments on the other page, one regarding the defense/salary cap issue.
..I didn’t vote because there wasn’t a “whatever the organization decides is what I want” choice. I have a preference, that he mends fences and uses this to become a model citizen and springboard to becoming the best WR he’s ever been in the NFL. But in reality, it’s up to the coaches/FO to decide if they believe that’s going to happen.
Bingo chips! I said basically the same thing.
Definetly say good bye to Odrick. I can’t see paying him 6 mil + a season. I don’t see Finnegan back. I don’t know all the cap implications but if Wheeler can be let go I think that will happen.
Finnegan broke down again and likely won’t be back. I think we have to look to Taylor, Davis, and Aikens at S, and look to add some more competition in a cheaper way in the secondary.
My post on the last page tells ya the cap implications. Both would save at least 4M in cap space. Finnegan saves ya a Million and Wheeler saves you 4.2 Million. not looking good for Wheeler.
Sorry, disregard the 2nd sentence.
Finsiders read my tweet live tonight on the air in regards to Tannehill:
Check at where there’s about 1:48 left in the interview😄
[audio src="http://prod.video.dolphins.clubs.nfl.com/MIA/audios/dct/video_audio/2015/02-February/020915-finsiders-tannehill.mp3" /]
http://www.miamidolphins.com/multimedia/audio/Finsiders-Discuss-Tannehill–The-Future/b625afe4-7970-4bae-b8ac-a42d9c093ad2
I agree with O.J. and Sam. But there are still some people who don’t get it out there. Whatever! LOL
Yeah, those are the people who hang off Omar Kelly’s ass hairs while listening to Big O.
I voted for the trade him if you can. I believe we can get some value for Wallace so lets get it and move on imo.
Tim:
I like what I saw in Taylor last year but he needs to prove he can stay healthy.
Agreed.
Damn, Sam Madison is HIGH on Tannehill.
Jahn:
4.2 million saving on Wheeler plus get rid of his missed tackles. Sounds like a no brainer to me.
Dbolt says hell yeah! LOL
I meant to reply this to you here, not the Dbolt post.
Wheeler isn’t a good fit in this defense. He’s an attack guy and we use other guys to rush the passer. We need play-in-space LBs who can tackle and that’s not his strong suit.
Dbolt says hell yeah! LOL
LOL @ “Hell Yeah!” Nice work Dbolt.
I guess Dbolt really said “Hell Yeah!”
jahndoh says:
February 9, 2015 at 8:08 pm
Damn, Sam Madison is HIGH on Tannehill.
and stanger is high on X but what does ones drug habit have to do with anything
Well if it’s Tannehill you’re hooked on, the cost for stash is about to go WAY up!
RIP Ed Sabol….
Ditto. Mike Francesa talked earlier about how the Sabol’s were huge pioneers in helping to grow the NFL. Ed started it and then his son Steve taking it even further. Sadly Steve passed before his 98 year old dad at 69 back in 2012.
I feel like they didn’t really ask wheeler to play in space and used him a lot to blitz the qb
I don’t see why Jordan can’t so the same thing
They started Jordan in his place in the final game
Wheeler did some of that but he also dropped back quite a bit and struggled getting off blocks and making tackles or just whiffed too many times.
I still have concerns about a 6-6 260 guy playing in space as a LB against smaller, quicker backs and receivers which is what teams will do to him if he plays that way all the time. You can’t just say go cover the big TE and all is good with the world. As good an athlete as Jordan is at his size, I think he’ll be exposed in space as a pure LB in a 4-3.
Why can’t we continue to develop him as a hybrid edge pass rusher/LB? Remember, part of Jordan’s problem with the slow start to his career has been Jordan, not the coaches. They’ve tried him everywhere when he is ready to play. But the shoulder injury as a rookie and being suspended for 6 games in his 2nd season set him back. I thought Jordan looked better as a rookie. Then again he put himself in a rehab facility while he was suspended this past year but somehow it always comes back to the coaches being baffled about how to use him.
Sometimes reality gives you the answer. Jordan was green coming out of college but has elite physical ability. He’s not ready yet. 2015 is huge for him. Other players have developed under these coaches but Jordan is the great mystery and everyone but the coaches knows what’s best for him. Not really when you look at it.
Yes, I said Hell yeah. Within like 20 secs of sending that tweet Sam Madison had favorited it and retweeted it. LOLA, I love how they talked about paying the homegrown Miami Dolphins opposed to the FA investment failures. It’s pretty obvious who they are talking about…LOL
Piggy:
I am now of the opinion that if Jordan has a future with the club it is at OLB. He has shown the ability to cover a TE. What I have seen in the very limited sample is a lack of contain on run plays.
The Sabol’s were pioners and NFL films has been huge in growing the popularity of the game. The production value of the highlight reels they put together is just awesome. It made you love the game. I especially loved the music they used for those highlights. The Sabols were awesome.
jahndoh says:
February 9, 2015 at 8:30 pm
Well if it’s Tannehill you’re hooked on, the cost for stash is about to go WAY up!
yeah, kind of what lauren just told ryan.
OK, asking this question due to a discussion with my son . . .
Do any of you by choice put ketchup on your chicken nuggets/chicken tenders?
I don’t, but my kids do. Remember a lot of schools don’t offer BBQ as a condiment with lunches, so kids get trained to use ketchup.
That’s a good answer D-Bolt. I’m gonna stick to food discussions with you from now on, not Dolphins. lol
Also chicken patties for example….I know plenty of people who use ketchup because they found mayo to be disgusting
My son Daniel puts ketchup on just about anything he can, especially chicken nuggets. My son Kyle refuses to even touch a ketchup bottle and will not put it on anything. He eats chicken nuggets without the benefit of a condiment.
new poll
do any of you think mike e needs to work on his conversations with his son
mike son: dad i was thinking about my future and what i want in life. i would like to make a difference. become you and mom can be proud of. that you two can look at me and know you did it right
mike: yeah yeah son blah blah blah that is all great and what not, but the real question in life is to ketchup or not ketchup
Mike E, yes my wife and daughter use ketchup on chicken cutlets and years ago I realized it is good and I don’t care what people say. Eat food the way you like it. I like so many varieties of food and combos on how to eat it that it doesn’t matter to me.
I know there are steakhouses that hate when people put ketchup on their steaks. Who cares, you’re not eating it or paying for it so STFU!!!!
Another part of the discussion was how many bottles of Heinz ketchup are sold each day.
The answer – – – – – – > 1.78 million. WOW!
We always have at least 3 bottles in the house and my wife refuses to buy any other kind of ketchup.
Yeah but how many of them are bought by ffr for recreational purposes?
Think of a small restaurant like Denny’s or Perkins that has about 70 tables. You use about 3 bottles a day at each of those tables. That’s 210 bottles at a singular restaurant.
LMAO @ FFR and Tim
D-Bolt – That’s true, but keep in mind, not every restaurant uses Heinz ketchup.
Most chain restaurants do. The price is unbeatable being Heinz in volume.
Buying
First it was pickles, now it’s ketchup. What the hell is wrong with you guys?
They go very well together you know . . . lol
Silly Tim says:
February 9, 2015 at 9:00 pm
Yeah but how many of them are bought by ffr for recreational purposes?
poor effort pickleboy. and who do you think accounts for the .78 mil
Exactly! 780K is a lot of recreation on your part. Sinner! LOL
herdfan says:
February 9, 2015 at 9:05 pm
First it was pickles, now it’s ketchup. What the hell is wrong with you guys?
oh right. like you never got ketchup on your pickle.
Wait….I don’t think Herd has a pickle.
lol @ tim saying ketchup goes on steaks. next thing he will try and sell us is a burger isnt complete without a pickle.
It’s not. I love pickles on burgers. But I slice them into nice little bite size pieces. I don’t gobble the whole thing down like it’s an event. LOL
Herd
Do your kids use ketchup on their chicken nuggets/tenders?
mike
i would tell you what my kids did but i am just going to wait for it to become a poll question.
I am starting to get hungry. I don’t know why.
Juicy. But would be better with ketchup
Herd
Do your kids use ketchup on their chicken nuggets/tenders?
No. My daughter doesn’t eat meat. Hasn’t for a little more than a year. Big animal lover. My son doesn’t really care for chicken nuggets/tenders. I was never one to take them for fast food all that much. But for chicken, I’d say he would prefer barbeque sauce.
Coach Mike McCarthy is “considering” giving up his role as the Packers’ offensive play-caller.
Historically, McCarthy has been adamant about remaining the play-caller for Aaron Rodgers and Co., but after he was extremely passive in the NFC title game against the Seahawks — settling for two short field goals instead of going for touchdowns — he’s now considering a step back. OC Tom Clements would be the in-house favorite to call plays, as the Packers aren’t going to hire anyone from the outside. QBs coach Alex Van Pelt is another option. McCarthy would then become an overseer in a Jason Garrett/Mike Tomlin-type role.
_____________________________________
Hmm, that’s a coach with no big ego, or he is being nudged in that direction by Ted.
Yeah, but what does he think about ketchup and pickles?
Actually Clements and Van Pelt are both guys to keep an eye in the future. Clements is a possible HC candidate next year. Van Pelt will get to be an OC for a year or 2 and don’t be surprised if he is a HC in 4 years or so.
Or he’s overwhelmed. I always felt head coaches who call their own plays on either side of the ball were ego maniacs.
Now that we’ve exhausted phallic symbol jokes, what do you think of the org working on a 7 year $105M extension for Tanny?
Nothing to think about…it should be done now and not later!
There is no such thing as exhausting phallic symbol jokes. But in terms of your real question I think it is an excellent idea to wrap up Tannehill for 7 years. It’s a big contract but not a cap breaker and you don’t have to worry about QB for a long time.
honey mustard for nuggets or tenders 🙂
My wife never had honey mustard until about a year ago and now she is hooked on it. She uses it on her french fries now.
LOL, I like it on some garden salads too.
Thanks for your answers! I prefer hot sauce, BBQ sauce or honey, or honey mustard for my chicken nuggets/tenders.
FFR – There won’t be a poll, so just tell me now
pickle juice for FFR.
One of the best things for fries is a sort of mix of ranch and blue cheese. Fries and Bleu from Wings Ole in Morgantown. Yummy! I’ve tried to recreate it and also tried to bribe the people working there to tell me how to make it, but so far, no luck. lol
Alright. I think I am going to fix myself something to eat before I turn in. I am out. Peace.
Later Ken.
Ken says:
February 9, 2015 at 9:36 pm
My wife never had honey mustard until about a year ago and now she is hooked on it. She uses it on her french fries now.
what in the wholly damnation of a soul is your wife to ruin a perfectly good french fry. what is this world coming too. next thing you know cats will be kissing dogs, mike e will help some single dude and bat and jahn will agree on something.
I wanna play!
K, kid pretty much likes/liked ranch on all her meat and veggie products, ketchup on her hot dogs and hamburgers and French fries. Now that she has arrived at the cusp of 14, we are more “particular” (if that is even possible) about what and how we go about eating.
Malt vinegar on fries…the Brits have something there, especially with the the fish n chips as they say.
Mike E. says:
February 9, 2015 at 9:38 pm
Thanks for your answers! I prefer hot sauce, BBQ sauce or honey, or honey mustard for my chicken nuggets/tenders
what the hell, another damnation of a soul. no wonder you only help out married men. honey mustard is a salad dressing. no wonder you yankees won the damn war, you have no souls.
i bet you servers of satan put ketchup on celery
no, but I do like to dunk it in a bloody mary. That’s a tomato product. Does that count?
I’m reposting this, I got left up the page somewhere. lol One of the best things for fries is a sort of mix of ranch and blue cheese. Fries and Bleu from Wings Ole in Morgantown. Yummy! I’ve tried to recreate it and also tried to bribe the people working there to tell me how to make it, but so far, no luck. lol
My favorite is BBQ on fries. I also prefer my fries well done and crispy!
getterdone says:
February 9, 2015 at 9:44 pm
Malt vinegar on fries…the Brits have something there, especially with the the fish n chips as they say.
finally someone with a sense of good taste.
herdfan says:
February 9, 2015 at 9:47 pm
no, but I do like to dunk it in a bloody mary. That’s a tomato product. Does that count?
who cares what one does with celery, but how some one can ruin a perfectly good french fry just boggles the mind.
well, i am out of here. i cant take any more of this torture. you people are sick, sick i tell you. honey mustard on fries. what the hell did idaho ever do to any of you.
Lots of food and sauces are good. LOL
Delmas posted this cell ph video of Albert on the treadmill today, refuting Barry Jackson’s MH report that Brandon may not be ready for week1, and that he still walks with a limp.
I will actually mix ketchup, mayo, mustard and relish on a sandwich if the stars align properly. Sometimes I add cucumbers to the lettuce and tomato, but that’s because I’m silly and mysterious. 🙂
sounds like McD’s secret sauce
It’s not that complicated. Special sauce? I don’t want to know WTF that is. LOL
Let’s see what we have at the homestead. We had awesome fish tacos in SC with a special island sauce. What was it you say? The same shit with some red pepper in it. LOL
Later Ken, FFR
GDP, Albert still walks with a limp? Barry would still be on IV. LOL
He got hurt in early November. It’s fuckin February. TC isn’t until late July or August. Does he expect him to be skipping about? LOL
Mike E, I thought you once said you like your fries cute, witty and motivated in life, WTF?
Ehhhhhhhh, what?
Whah whah.. whah…….
We’ll just throw that joke in the shit basket. LOL
LOL, good idea
Actually for Albert to be ready to start week 1 would be very much ahead of the normal rehab time….kinda scary, but let’s hope the Phins team Dr’s (Brees or Coldpooper) and his surgeon know best.
I think we should have a legit T ready to play in case Albert isn’t ready. I have no problem drafting a T this yer.
I’m for a G/T say say 3-5th round….or address it in FA, say Orlando Franklin or Clint Boling.
What if you’re at #14, and the best player on your board is a T?
I think ketchup is gross
Because most of the ingredients go well on pork?
I’m smothered in it right now
Albert got hurt on Nov. 9th and TC will be 8 months later. Reports have suggested that Albert is recovering faster than normal. Not all people are the same. We’ll see.
I think the best case scenario is Billy Turner at LT if needed, it’s a position he played in college albeit at a lower competition level. But he has the size, strength, athleticism and mentality to pull it off at least for a little while. I wouldn’t be surprised though if James plays LT and Turner plays RT in that scenario either.
I think Dallas Thomas is going to replace Garner as a game day G/T. Then we need a C/G and Smith would be a good candidate if he can improve at C if that’s even an option. Not sure we can keep Satele as a pure backup C unless he doesn’t get better offers which is possible – he lasted on the wire for a long time in 2014. That tells you something too.
Mike E. says:
February 9, 2015 at 10:33 pm
What if you’re at #14, and the best player on your board is a T?
That would be a good thing Mike…..should present a nice trade down scenario.
But I’d pass for us…we got a lot invested in Albert & James as the anchors/bookends.
,,,and as Tim Pickles mentioned above….we have Turner developing that could play as an emergency T and of course RG say.
Teams around the NFL survive with there OTs missing a few games
Our OL declined significantly with Albert out
But do you guys really think the issue is that we don’t have a 1st round pick at every position and first round backups too
There was a lot more too the decline of our OL than Albert
The predictability of the offense jumps out at me
The lack of diversity on our offense too hurt us – we featured almost no deep passim game, everything was short
And all that running from shotgun just made it easy for opposing DL to tee off
I really hope that was just year 1 of the offense and the offense mixes these up a little more
We could have had a good OL with the personell we had
We just made their job tougher than it should have been
Hard to employ a deep passing game with scarce pass protection, but agreed on helping ourselves/OL with more runs and more plays from under C.
We attempted few deep passes all season
Even when we had time
It was just a short passing game by design
Piggy, everyone of our 9-10 OL missed time and we had a major loss with Albert. Everyone one of them had to start and at multiple positions. We had a really bad year on the injury front in a lot of phases of the team but some people don’t accept that. Okay whatever. But to use an analogy that some folks don’t like, I will anyway.
When soldiers don’t get the air support they require at the right time in a battle, they get slaughtered. The idea looks good on paper but when the real bullets start flying it all changes. It’s not just the generals, it’s how the soldiers react too.
When you lose your fortification, you lose. Improve in the trenches at all times or it won’t work.
Luv or hate em, Tuna was always preachin build the trenches. But, not like it’s ever been a secret…lol
Piggy, we were 4th in 20+ yard pass plays with however many, can’t remember, and in 40+ yard plays we were towards the bottom with maybe 6? We weren’t all short yard passes or Tanny would have never thrown for over 4.000 yards. The deep ball is all that is really missing. Not that Tanny can’t throw for more than 20 yards. Anyone who thinks that is a moron, so sorry but it’s true. LOL
I think he was more saying how overall the offense was predominately set up for short to intermediate….but then again, most all are.
I think the thing that hurt us in pass pro and with any long ball troubles, was the shear lack of commitment running the ball, especially when we were running it well vs. most opponents.
You got to get Miller who whoever your lead back is more than 12-15 carries on avg.
We don’t setup much play-action in a pro-set so it doesn’t really even matter. In shotgun defenses know the deal 75% of the time so it comes down to mano-a-mano execution.
I’m not a fan but if it wins, I’ll change that thinking. LOL
It has nothing to do with whether he can throw deep or not
It’s that he didn’t
And I think that is more the offense than Tanny
He had one of the lowest YArds per pass attempt in the
League (28th)
The stat you posted includes yac, so it’s not really so much about where the balls were thrown
Defenses need to fear big plays
If they don’t their job is considerably easier
We made the field smaller for the D all season
Time to go to sleep – but I’m not expecting Turner to seriously man either T spot next season, even for just a few games. Can’t count on that IMO. If a great T is there at 14, it might be the right move.
As Bat and others would say, playing it safe and mediocre for the foreseeable future. LOL
NO!
Mike, why not take another DE with the #14 pick then….smh
Piggy, ever really look at yards per attempt? It’s like 2+ yards from 1-32. I want to see more YPA from Tanny because I think it’s there, almost. LOL
He has a high comp % and a low ypa
That screams design off the offense.
His numbers are actually similar to cutler
But thankfully Tanny doesn’t mark the same reckless decisions
But the bottom line is it’s not a successful formula
It is with better talent. When you realize throughout this wasn’t that good of a team, it’s easier to see how it can become one with a few additions.
Tannehill is actually part of the solution. When guys start taking 6-8 yard passes to the house like other QBs have the luxury of, it gets easier.
Tom Brady feasts off of YAC. He’s been dink and dunk his entire career with the exception of the best deep WR to ever play the game in Randy Moss. Peyton has been doing the same his last 5 years.
Tim
Execution vs play calling/design is a chicken or the egg argument
You don’t really know which one failed
Sure you do. Oh look, the DT, ILB and CB were all in the backfield within 3 seconds. Never call that play again, because the C/G got overwhelmed, the back couldn’t handle the blitzing ILB, and the backup tackle didn’t even signal the blitzing corner.
I see your points, but a more active running game helps the passing game and leads to a more neutralized defensive pressure.
At least Lazor tried to get the RB’s active in the short passing game, but defenses were already playing closer to the line due to the short game.
Also having a healthy Clay is good, he is a true seam threat, although I wish he was taller. But he can stretch the middle like Wallace does the outside.
End result is Lazor has to be sharper on his play calling and not be so predictable.
Best on fries is combination of mayo and mustard or if ya like spicy try some ketchup mixed with Tabasco.