…for my Children
By son of a son of a shula
One of the things that happens when you turn fifty is you stop giving a shit about a lot of stuff, how you react and express yourself changes. For example, before fifty I wouldn’t shout out that I’m a big Neil Diamond fan but now that I’m fifty I have no problem admitting it – Proudly. And given that fact I want to explain a few reasons why some of his music stands out for me throughout my life. Mainly my appreciation for Neil Diamond is in the “Hot August Night” album from 1972. I know the “Jazz Singer” soundtrack pretty well (can sing along with even the Yom Kippur stuff) and I love the “Beautiful Noise” album which was produced by Robbie Robertson from The Band. Quad stereos were out and my father loved listening to the album and the whole family got into it, it was a lot of fun, mainly “Hot August Night”.
This isn’t about ha ha you like Neil Diamond I know the stigma but stay with me. This album is different to me than probably to you and some of it lends itself to what we may have seen manifest itself here. 
I’ll tell you listening to side four on the album is practically a religious experience in how it will make you examine yourself and how well played it is. Alas, I’m not even trying to encourage anyone to listen to it its good though. There’s a song I want to share the lyrics of with you and let you see how it relates to here and what WE are perhaps doing.
If I was standing in front of you and talking to you and I decided to tell you a story of how I experienced a factual event I would just tell you my story and I wouldn’t qualify a damn thing I was only telling you what I knew to be true. Conta Libre playing as I type this, from side three on the album. That’s what we do here, we don’t publish we just talk and tell stories. The accumulation of all of this talking is a place that’s ours – we did it together. So “Conta Libre” ends (58:00 minute mark) and it starts:
This is a fantasy…pure fantasy
Morningside
The old man died
And no one cried
They simply turned away
And when he died
He left a table made of nails and pride
And with his hands,
He carved these words inside
‘For my children’
Morning light
Morning bright
I spent the night
With dreams that make you weep
Morning time
Wash away the sadness
From these eyes of mine
For I recall the words an old man signed
‘For my children’
[Spoken:]
And the legs were shaped with his hands
And the top made of oaken wood
And the children
That sat around this great table
Touched it with their laughter
Ah, and that was good
Morningside
An old man died
And no one cried
He surely died alone
And truth is sad
For not a child would claim the gift he had
The words he carved became his epitaph
‘For my children’
Santos
That’s “Morningside”.
We’re building something, it won’t get seen by anyone, it won’t be revered, it won’t even matter and despite knowing that we go about it with pride and strive to make it good. We’re fortunate to even hear the stories. Be glad you heard the story, I am.
Next is an excellent version of “Song Sung Blue”.
This album has been a part of my life for as long as the Dolphins have been. It speaks to me and helps me at times. I had a real tough year around 12 years ago or so, late thirties and it was just everything just a tough time for me but I got the CD of Hot August Night” for Christmas and probably hadn’t heard it since we moved from Ct in “83. Side 4,(the second half of the 2nd CD). It brought me back, it fixed me, saved isn’t the right word I wasn’t in despair and things were fine. “Holly Holy” goes into “I am…I said” then it ends with “Soolaimon”,“Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show”… oh man good stuff.
So I’m at the end of this and I read through it and say to myself, What the hell are you doing writing about Neil Diamond? Are you really going to post this? Then I say–
I don’t give a shit!
“Done Too Soon”
Jesus Christ, Fanny Brice
Wolfie Mozart and Humphrey Bogart
And Genghis Khan
And on to H. G. Wells
Ho Chi Minh, Gunga Din
Henry Luce and John Wilkes Booth
And Alexanders King and Graham Bell
Ramar Krishna, Mama Whistler
Patrice Lumumba and Russ Colombo
Karl and Chico Marx
Albert Camus,
E. A. Poe, Henri Rousseau
Sholom Aleichem and Caryl Chessman
Alan Freed and Buster Keaton too
And each one there
Has one thing shared
They have sweated beneath the same sun
Looked up in wonder at the same moon
And wept when it was all done
For bein’ done too soon
For bein’ done too soon
For bein’ done
Finsmob Unleashed 
Good morning. I started reading this post this morning And as you say thought to myself What the fuck am I reading about Neil Diamond for. This has nothing to do with the dolphins… I don’t even like Neil Diamond… that about two-thirds the way through something happened. Without warning All the pain and loneliness that I’ve felt in the last few months Rushed to the surface It came out All at once. I just experienced a Very cathartic 15 minute long body racking cry. As if a boil had been lanced Everything came out. I realize how much I appreciate this place And all of you And the opportunity to interact with you. Thank you. Thank you everybody. Thank you son
Thanks, Son. You seem to be in a “place” we won’t all be in at the moment, but I think your message is relatable.
Your Neil Diamond love sounds like a “guilty pleasure”, something I think most have- mine is Lawrence Welk (no it isn’t, I just can’t think of something as lame as Neil Diamond- lol jbb). Neil Diamond is fine.. My mom likes him which is where my introduction to him comes from. Mom used to have a stack of 45’s, and “Cracklin’ Rose” was one of them- always liked that song. I think she might have “The Jazz Singer” album, not sure. Her love of Elvis, however, did not seem to affect me or my sisters-lol.
I too was wondering WTF has Son lost it?
Do we need to send the boys who control the rubber rooms in?
Neil Diamond is not really my “Style” but to each his own
Rock I’m glad this place gives you a break from ” The Shit” every now and then!
That’s what I use it for! 🙂
That’s great !
When I was a young kid my parents played “hot August night” all the time
Porcupine pie !
Neil Diamond?
Are you really going to post that?…lol
Thanks Son!
Thanks Son – I really enjoyed reading this. I like Neil Diamond (don’t love him), but there are some songs that I really like. I thought it was funny that Laurence Olivier played Neil Diamond’s father in the Jazz Singer, an orthodox Jew, and Olivier also played Zell, a Nazi Concentration Camp murdered and torturer in (Marathon Man).
LOL that you even sing the Yom Kippur stuff. That’s great.
____________________________________________
Rock – Glad to hear that you had a bit of a release, and I’m glad you’re here with us bud.
BTW – The defense sucked Game 16, 2013.
Son, absolutely outstanding!!! Your intuition to apply the songs’ lyrics to the subtle (often unspoken) humanity that brings people to the same blog over and over for years… well, it’s truly as poetic as the lyrics themselves. I am profoundly impressed with what you have written.
At this point I have no option but to parody the ending of the movie “In and Out”:
“I am a Neil Diamond fan”! 🙂
Son, that was a cool piece. I like Neil Diamond. I don’t have any of his stuff or ever put it on but I do respect his talent and like some of his songs. When I was growing up he was on the radio all the time.
I am not sure whether social media has caused or contributed to or just revealed this, but from my experiences these last 5-15 years, Americans are mean. Rude, defensive, overly opinionated, quick to anger, vicious, stubborn, intolerant, capable of saying anything (at least in the anonymity or physical distance provided by social media), hurtful, pessimistic, and violent or vindictive if they don’t get their way.
As I say, it’s probably always been this way, but there was no quick and easy way for people to show their feelings to large numbers of acquaintances on a wide range of topics until social media.
Thank you to Son for trying to inject a little kindness and tolerance for others’ perspectives here.
Notice how old the literature is that he cites.
Oh … I’m sorry ..I’ve apparently stumbled into some sort of therapy session …lol … Neil Diamond? .. I just can’t relate ..I’ll counter with this..
Lol
LOL … hey I love the guitar work on that. The singer has no talent and the lyrics are infantile, but the music is badass … the riff at 2:45 is way cool.
LOL @ Bat
Son posts about Neil ‘Diamond’ and Bat posts ‘Skeletonwitch’. LOL
Naples, the guitars and drums is what draws me to metal, I’m not a fan of many of the vocalists.
Naples ..LOL ..Glad you liked the music, that riff is awesome. Black/Thrash metal singers are meant to sound like demons, so in that respect the singer is talented. The lyrics are uncomplicated and fit the music …lol
he sounds like a demon if a 5 pack a day smoker who just took a hit off a crack pipe chased with a jigger of rot-gut whiskey sounds like a demon … uhh yeah, well
Bat, do we really know what demons sound like? 😉
Tim … Some of us do …lol
Neil Diamond?
Cracklin’ Rosie muthfucka!!!! LOL
The only thing I would want to know about Neil Diamond is can he play LG?
Bat
As a minion, I suppose you already know that Neil Diamond is just a covert for Neil Demon…. wolf in sheep’s clothing and all that
any snare to catch the rabbits
Naples …. Quiet! …You’ll ruin everything!!!
Nice article Son. You’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of the table analogy. 🙂
I don’t have strong feelings about Neil Diamond either way….except to say he’s a bit too sequiny for me. I don’t like a man who wears more bling than I do. 😉
Lol!
Ken says:
June 19, 2015 at 10:01 am (Edit)
The only thing I would want to know about Neil Diamond is can he play LG?
******************
Possibly better than Thomas or Douglas. lol
Herd
I’d tend to think that Neil Diamond doesn’t wear civilian sequins. Not positive, just a guess.
I don’t know about LG?
But my money is he will never play TE again! 😉
I read that Neil Diamond wore those beaded shirts and jewelry on stage so the audience could see him from afar.
Demons sound nothing like you would expect
They sound just like Fran Drescher
I wonder what she sounds like during sex. LOL
The first time I saw Fran Drescher was in the movie “The Hollywood Knights” Her shreiking “TURK, DID YOU CUM??!!!!!” still resonates in my head. lol
I just realized recently she was in Saturday Night Fever.
Yup, very small part.
Son’s waxing philosophical. Nice job man.
I wouldn’t have thought Son waxes. Who knew? lol
Tim Knight says:
June 19, 2015 at 11:29 am
I just realized recently she was in Saturday Night Fever.
———————————–
Yeah in Hollywood she wasnt an unknown, she just was to maost of America until she got on nighttime tv.
Tim Knight says:
June 19, 2015 at 11:01 am (Edit)
I read that Neil Diamond wore those beaded shirts and jewelry on stage so the audience could see him from afar.
A likely story! lol
He went to my High School. Reportedly, he went through HS sequin free. lol
ok, I’m checking on flights and hotels for the fest. What area do I look for a hotel?
Hollywood is good
Florida. Its that place that resembles a flaccid penis pissing on Cuba.
LMAO!!!
Thing i like about song lyrics is it speaks to people in different ways and opens up the heart and mind to deeper understanding than even the writer intended. The lyrics specifically to Morningside, seems particualrly deepn and meaningfult o me, i appreciate you posting them.
That said it was wise to keep it a secret that you liked Neil Diamond, though to me he is nothing more than a Vegas side show dude anyways, i didnt get the full Neil Diamond experience. 🙂
Your father probably liked Neil Diamond. KIDS! Ugh! lol
Actually, and shockingly to me, when my dad was younger he liked Steppenwolf, Aerosmith (yeah they have been around a while), Alice Cooper, Creedence, etc. I have never known my Father to listen to anything but country and occasionally some Creedence, was kinda weird to think of my dad listening to what was considered heavy rock then.
If you don’t mind me asking, how old is your dad?
My dad is 68.
D
Are you going to make it to the fest? I want to see if you talk as long as you write
He never shuts the fuck up! LOL
Probably wont this year, but maybe the next one. Things still unsettled here with my business, we are embarking with a pretty major overhaul to our system and its going to be at least a year before things settle out some i think. Its going to be a good thing when we get to the other side of it but i don’t foresee many chances for vacation until then, and when we go we would probably combo it with a trip to Disney, since we haven’t been there in couple years now as well.
To answer your question though, i am a pretty good/contientious conversationalist, but i will dominate the conversation if someone else isnt adding input lol. I think i just hate dead air lol
LOL – Look forward to meeting you someday
Funny tweet by Cher on Donald Trump running for president.
“Donald Trump’s ego is So inflated,he might As well be the Hindenburg ! In Dictionary next to “Obnoxious asshole” See Photo of “THE DONALD😖”
Yeah, Cher is so humble and down to earth herself, absolutely no ego at all with that woman. 🙄
That’s true, Cher is one of the truly nice people, as well as her ex husband Sonny. Trump on the other hand is one of the worst people I have ever seen to make public statements.
I’ve always liked Cher. Beautiful and very talented. Great actor as well as a singer.
Fran Drescher is a person who is “in character” most of the time, as she is almost trademarked by her accent now. Almost all interviews with her, she sounds liek that, etc, but occasionally you hear her when she isnt in acting mode and she has a accent but not nearly as pronounced. I wonder sometimes about actors/actresses and how “in character” they stay, so much so that im not sure that the better once dont in some way really not know who they really are and simply play a role every time they interact with people. Im sure some can shut it off, but i wonder about some of them.
Actors are spooky.
They are someone who is more than one person and also nobody at all.
D
Your dad probably also “secretly” likes Neil Diamond. lol
And Tiffany.
Oh and Mike, TBH i often have pages of stuff typed out i never post and/or decide against saying, and/or just realise we have moved on in the convos after i get it fully done lol. So fear the amount i d post, but be terrified of the amount i omit.
That’s funny.
Son, good lyrical revisionism of well written pieces of the past. The insight was unique and a wonderful way to keep the blog members to a minimum…lol, jk/bb on that last sentence.
This time of the off season is the absolute slowest. So I appreciate your foray into providing entertainment during such doldrums.
BTW, Robbie Robertson from The Band was/is quite a talent. I enjoyed some of there music in the past.
As a child my parents weren’t playing a lot of Neil Diamond that I can remember, was more like Elvis, Johnny Cash, and a lot of Roy Orbison whom I really connected with musically.
some of ^their^ music in the past
I loved Steppenwolf who were deep and political but at the same time just kick-ass hard rock. I also loved Creedence who were so far ahead of their time that they propelled Cajun music to a place it still has not gotten to yet.
Both very good bands I’ve enjoyed over the years.
Roy Orbison had one of the truly great singing voices of all time. (So did Cash and Elvis actually although I am not really into them myself.) And the Band was great at Big Pink.
“Pretty Woman” is just awesome.
Tim
Cher is one of the prettiest of the “sultry exotic” type ever. Put her up against Kim Kardashian (another Armenian) and see what talentless trash Kim K really is.
Oh it’s not even close with Kim K. Cher has quite a bit of ethic ancestry which is why she’s so uniquely beautiful looking. The outfits she would wear with that body of hers. Geez!
I know, right?
She had what I always thought was a classic Art Deco line. Long, lean but still curvy.
Roy Orbison’s music sounds like it comes from another world.
It’s weird that CCR is known for Cajun/Swamp rock but they’re from San Fran. LOL
True Tim, about CCR. I saw Fogerty last summer. What a fantastic show he played, over 2 hours of pure quality. he still sounds great.
That is a great way to describe it. But it would be a great world in which to live I think.
There’s that ambience to his sound that was very unique.
Last thing Mike E see’s before he gets planted head first into the ground!
LOL
I can’t see that on my computer, but I can guess, and if I saw him in December, I’d just push him out of the way as I pass. lol
I think the december collapses have been more of a team thing than just wake.
Just accept it for what it is. There are guys like Reggie Jackson who become stars in the white hot spotlight and get names like Mr. October. Then there are great players who come up small when the playoff spotlight shines down. The facts are there, either see them, or don’t, I know what I see.
not sure if this was posted yet. This is what the boys did yesterday. sweet.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/dolphins-choose-navy-seal-training-over-final-minicamp-practice-152749925.html
That is pretty cool!
Yeah it was posted yesterday. Many of the players said it was the toughest thing they’ve ever done.
Miami Dolphins @MiamiDolphins · 2m2 minutes ago
Happy Birthday, @Walt_Aikens!!
#StrongerTogether!
Walt Aikens and Cold Stone Creamery
Geez that’s f’n jacked for a DB.
Man he’s ripped for a DB.
Mike,
So are you saying if wake was as good in December as he was in September we’d gone to the playoffs the last couple of years?
I don’t blame wake. If the rest of the team is collapsing around him I can see him collapsing as well. If any ONE person is to be blamed for the late season melt downs it should be philbin not wake.
i’m saying if he showed up and made some big plays, it can spark the whole team when you’re getting your ass kicked otherwise. What if he forced a fumble on a strip sack against BUF and scored a TD, or just recovered it deep in their teritory. It “Wakes” the team up.
Boulder
It’s not like I’m absolving the reat of the team, and only giving Wake hell. The best players sometimes elevate their team by playing over and above in big spots. Wake just blends in with the rest of the ineffective players. You should be able to tell the difference.
Click on the link to see the article where Evan breaks down some of his own film from 2014.
I read that and it’s interesting and informative.
Mike E. says:
June 19, 2015 at 12:33 pm
Just accept it for what it is. There are guys like Reggie Jackson who become stars in the white hot spotlight and get names like Mr. October. Then there are great players who come up small when the playoff spotlight shines down. The facts are there, either see them, or don’t, I know what I see.
***
Good luck with that MikeE. I’ve been using the same logic with tannehill for years and nobody listens. Lol
You might be right about Tannehill. He does need to step up in a big game, but I think he might still do it. Tanny is young and improving, and Wake is what he is at this point of his career.
Nice to see he’s not a Tootsies patron! 😉
Dolfans NYC @DolfansNYC · 8m8 minutes ago
Fatherhood Has Given Thomas A New Perspective On Life And Football http://bit.ly/1RgHkDW #Dolphins
Whats wrong with Tootsies!
Si Tootsies!!!
Look for Aikens to be suspended soon for violation of the drug policy. Lol
I truly understand what you are seeing Mike.
But in Wake’s defense (see what I did there) he was really the one guy all DC’s facing us HAD to neutralize, the one guy on our defense who could single-handedly take over a game. So as the year went on and teams got film on our D, they would just say ok Starks can do that and Odrick can do that etc., so if Wake is in the game and we want to do X, we MUST do xyz to contain Wake or he will blow up the play. And it mostly worked and that is why our FO realized we MUST get somebody else up front to keep them from scheming to beat Wake and letting everybody else on our D be just a guy.
Thanks Naples. I’m a big fan of Wake, but I expect more him from in those big spots.
MikeE,
I was just kinda funning about Tannehill. But, I think that sort of leadership/playmaking is there from day one. It’s not something a guy develops 4 years into a career. You either are that sorta guy, or you’re not. It can be honed, but it’s always there. We haven’t seen it yet.
I think he is a leader, but confidence has a lot to do with it to. I think he’s becoming more confident every year, and this year it just seems different. We’ll see.
So you don’t believe in people improving and changing? I know a lot of people say that but I don’t think it’s that black and white. Too many examples of the opposite to cite.
naples,
I agree with your take about teams focusing on Wake, but I think they do it less than they used to. But, truly great players make plays anyway. They refuse to be controlled and taken out of the game. Just because a team tries to take a guy out of the game doesn’t mean you gotta let them. We haven’t had that sort of player in a long, long time.
Name one on any team so I will know what you mean.
MikeE,
I’ll believe it when I start seeing him turn losses into wins…taking over a game and actually being the reason we win….not just not the reason we lost, if that makes sense.
Fair enough
I think using baseball analogies with football is very tenuous. Baseball is so much less of a team sport. I mean it just is. I know about errors and I know about a batter being aware of his place in the order and the strike count and how many are out etc etc, but i have played both sports (and basketball, which is kinda between the other two) and the whole feeling of “team” in a football game is different than baseball.
At the same time there is a much more helpless feeling in football if you are on offense and the defense sucks, because it is different guys. In basketball and baseball, if you make an error YOU get to hit and make up for it. Basketball same thing only more so.
I have been in a game where we scored 3 TDs and won and one where we scored 3 TDs and lost. It’s nerve-wracking to sit and watch the other half of your team screw it up.
Reggie Jackson was no one’s idea of a team player.
Tim,
I think guys can improve, but I think the sort of internal makeup in terms of leadership and playmaking I’m talking about isn’t something a guy develops. You can usually see it from day one. There aren’t too many examples of that sorta thing.
I’m talking about in all walks of life. I’ve seen people who had a shy demeanor when young and now they’re speakers and presenters in business. Stuff like that. I think the problem is when someone displays those skills young they’re known as always having been that way and the stereotype is that you’re born with IT and there’s no way to learn those traits. Not true is what I’m saying. People change through life experiences and circumstances all the time.
Mike E lately! 😉
so one cant post artistic pictures of a woman showing a football love but they can admit they like Neil diamond. this place has gone to the pigs
Naples
Off the top of my head, Charles Haley. A monster during the season, and maybe better when the postseason came around.
He also had the pleasure of playing on super talented teams.
Blah blah blah. What about Trace Armstrong? Our Dolphins weren’t great defensively when he was here, but he still got it done. I thought our defense was great in the BUF game????????????????????? What did WAKE do????????? lol
Tim,
I see. I guess I was just thinking of football. And, I still believe it’s very rare to see a guy turn into that sorta player years into his career. Most of these guys have been doing this since childhood, and it starts there. Marino/Luck/Montana/Manning. Guys like that showed that sort of ability even before they became NFL players. A guy can still be a good QB or DE or whatever, but then there are guys who, for lack of a better way to describe it, are just winners.
Or that’s just a perception that isn’t really real. Just like QBs being given wins and losses in a game where 22 players face off against each other. LOL
Mike E, I don’t think blah blah blah doesn’t make what I said not true.
So what you’re saying is, in order for you to accept the player I mention, he has to meet the criteria of playing for a defense that has similar talent to the ’13 and ’14 Dolphins defense to be considered an acceptable candidate? Is that it?
No I made a comment about Haley being on great teams. Some players had that sort of good fortune. I liked Charles Haley as a player too. He had more opportunities to shine in big games than most guys.
Randy
Name one on any team so I will know what you mean. pls
Naples,
Sorry, lunch is over. I gotta run. But, real quick, Reggie White used to get a ton of focus and still made plays. Suh does the same. LT used to. Gotta run.
About leadership, not everyone can be a “lead-the-chant” type guy in the pre-game huddle like Ray-Ray or Drew Brees. But Montana and Marino were leaders without all that rah-rah crap.
(Weren’t they?)
Tim,
Dammit. I gotta go! Lol
But, I saw Marino snatch victory from the jaws of defeat on many occasions. I don’t think it’s a false perception. Also, people can’t keep saying this is a QB driven/centric league and then not expect them to be the main reason teams win or lose. The NFL,has done everything possible to make sure qb’s are protected and successful.
I’m out.
I’m not talking about all that. I’m talking about a QB becoming more of a leader. Drew Brees was not that in San Diego and they moved on from him. He has become that in New Orleans.
That’s not true, the version you see today of Brees started his last yr in SD. One of the reasons why SD got rid of him was, because of his shoulder, and the fact that Rivers was coming up, so they made a choice. Surely they would’ve been fine with either one.
The problem with what Randy is saying(sorry your aren’t here for rebuttal) is that there are just a select few that fit his profile. Greatest LB of all time? LT. The best DL of their time? You got it, Suh and Reggie White. Manning, Luck, etc, etc, etc. These are the premier guys this league has produced. There is a reason the Colts purposely tanked their season.
A guy that didn’t even start 20 games in college probably isn’t on that list TBH.
That doesn’t mean he can’t and hasn’t improved massively. We don’t need Luck or White because we don’t have that. It doesn’t mean we can’t win it all without those guys.
As we all know, QBs who are not really elite have been on teams that won championships. Eli Manning does not fit Randy’s profile but he’s got two rings.
is he a leader is he not a leader??????????????
he gets to sleep with lauren, nuff said.
This is funny … in a ffr kinda way, but is actually very astute on ffr’s part. A guy who can attract and retain that kind of talent (Lauren I mean) is capable of being the face of the franchise and leading men more and more as he grows. He came from a small town and A&M is a “cow college” ROTC type school, so it has taken Ryan a while to get on top of the South Beach Metropolitan glare, but the fact that he got Lauren and has Lauren to show off cannot be overlooked as an indicator of intrinsic value and future star quality.
OK I am gonna cross over and be on Randy and Mike’s side for a minute.
Whew … scary over here.
The thing I always said was wrong with Ireland’s drafting and FA signings is what had gotten us into the mess we were in that two years of Hickey with a little boost from Tannenbaum is beginning to extricate us from.
And that is what Randy and Mike E are referring to when they say “where is our HoF guy(s)?”
Ireland drafted good players, but shied away from the great ones. Not sure why but i really mean “shied” like he was intimidated by their star shine or was unable to distinguish between fake flash and true HoF potential. Trading down to take Odrick when Big Stars were there so he could also get Misi (both “good” players, but only good) was a prime example. Dan Thomas was another.
Of the second type mistake was not realizing the ill fit to our scheme of DJordan and MWallace.
So now we had a team with 45 good players and some scrubs. Good enough for 8-8.
Mike E and Randy want some Marquee players, some guys even ESPN can’t dis, some guys destined for our ring of honor at least, if not with HoF written all over them. I want that too.
naplesfan2010 says:
June 19, 2015 at 2:21 pm
OK I am gonna cross over and be on Randy and Mike’s side for a minute.
Whew … scary over here.
yeah, but got to admit being on mike’s side can come in handy
how so? I mean he’s a great guy, but what he could he do for me 1000 miles away?
This is funny … in a ffr kinda way, but is actually very asute on ffr’s part. A guy who can attract and retain that kind of talent (Lauren I mean) is capable of being the face of the franchise and leading men more and more as he grows. He came from a small town and A&M is a “cow college” ROTC type school, so it has taken Ryan a while to get on top of the South Beach Metropolitan glare, but the fact that he got Lauren and has Lauren to show off cannot be overlooked as an indicator of intrinsic value and future star quality.
yikes pardon the double post
It is interesting the different ways people look at things.
very
“Just accept it for what it is. There are guys like Reggie Jackson who become stars in the white hot spotlight and get names like Mr. October. Then there are great players who come up small when the playoff spotlight shines down. The facts are there, either see them, or don’t, I know what I see.”
This implies there is only one correct interpretation to facts. But there are often as many different interpretations of facts as there are people interpreting them. Folks get it in their head that their interpretation is the only valid one, but that’s far from true.
In short: “It is interesting the different ways people look at things.”
Mikes multiday campaign against Wake reminds me of this:
LOL … some people really do get cause and effect stuff mixed up.
“Blah blah blah. What about Trace Armstrong? Our Dolphins weren’t great defensively when he was here, but he still got it done.”
JT, Zach, Surtain, Madison, Bowens, Terrel Buckley was our nickel back. That defense was loaded dude.
That defense also had a lot of letdowns in big games.
I thought that when I read that too.
I actually back then thought of Trace as a sorta nice add-on to the real Dolphins stars.
He was unstoppable in 2000. When did Cam Wake ever have 7 FF’s in a season?
Jahndoh30 says:
June 19, 2015 at 2:59 pm
In short: “It is interesting the different ways people look at things.”
jahn, on this blog it is better said. ‘it is interesting the different ways people get every thing wrong compared to how i see things”
(and btw, your welcome, you ungrateful bastard. i will fix your ass, next year i am pulling for golden state)
Just watched on the news where they left representatives ove the 9 victims of the killer in SC stand and make personal statements to him, most of which were letting him know how badly he hurt them but that they forgave him and prayed for God to have mercy on his soul. Fist time i have ever seen anything like that, to me more of that should be allowed, despite what might be said and despite what level of caring the person shows, i think those words are important for both parties.
let representatives of the 9 victims is how that should have read.
Tim Knight says:
June 19, 2015 at 3:14 pm
That defense also had a lot of letdowns in big games.
yes, but you made it very clear that defensive let downs are cause the offense didnt score enough points.
damn that marino guy, how come he couldnt put up 74 points every game
Well that’s totally inaccurate. LOL
1998: 38-3 loss to Denver
1999: 62-7 loss to Jacksonville
Yeah the offense’s sucked as well but looked at the PA.
Jahn
I guess there are always different ways to view facts. So tell me, how do you see Wake’s disappearence in those December games, where he had zero impact on the game? Do you see his 1 tackle in the BUF game as a game changing one?
Armstrong had 12 sacks in 1996 without Jason Taylor.
How many without Tim Bowens? Zach Thomas? Daryl Gardner? That incredible secondary of Surtain, Madison, Buckley and Marion?
You finding one mistake in my very long list of great players kind of sums up you singling out Cam Wake the last two days. In truth, I’ve stayed out of it because it doesn’t matter. It’s digging up bones.
I see your multiday campaign as misguided.
I think he might be questioning you labeling him as not a clutch player because of a few games. You’ve said it in a way where that’s the way it is and just accept it as if there’s no way Wake will ever come through in a big spot.
NO, I’ve stated very clearly that he hasn’t risen to the occasion. I never said he can’t and won’t in the future, but he hasn’t done it yet.
___________
Jahn – Whatever, when you make comparisons, you can never satisfy every criteria to make it exacly even. You shopuld know better than that. What’s the point of discussing anything if you’re going to take things to that degree. You can’t compare anyone or any team under those guidelines. Anyway, saying Wake hasn’t stepped up isn’t misguided, it’s the truth.
I kind of think Wake has overachieved his whole NFL career
A guy like that is going to have highs and lows
regardless, he is still one of the top pass rushers int he NFL
But put him next to Suh and its a lot more highs than lows
He may be one of the best rushers, but he’s never done it with the playoffs on the line, that’s all I’m saying. The facts support my case to the umptenth degree.
by Chris Perkins
Watch the Dolphins’ offseason practices and it becomes apparent this is a team that did lots of self-scouting.
They’re working aggressively on the weaknesses that have caused them to miss the playoffs.
They’re working red zone drills, for offense and defense. Two-minute drills, for offense and defense. Goalline drills, for offense and defense. Third-down drills, for offense and defense.
The goal is to improve their so-so showings in those areas, the ones that have led to 8-8 finishes for two consecutive seasons.
“Some of it is mentality,” coach Joe Philbin said, “some of it is execution.”
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill seems to be improving based on the portions of the offseason program that reporters have been allowed to watch. He was especially sharp Monday, when he didn’t throw an interception.
He utilized wide receivers, tight ends and running backs while zipping passes into tight windows in crucial situations (red zone, two-minutes, third down).
“We’re trying to attack the mid-range in the middle of the field,” Tannehill said.
“That’s one area of the field that we didn’t attack well last year, from eight to 20 yards in the middle of the field. We didn’t make enough big plays there, as well as deep balls outside.”
Overall, the defense has enjoyed much more success than the offense in these drills.
The pass rush has been dominant.
Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been so disruptive, even without pads, that Tannehill often changes the snap count to keep Suh from getting his amazingly quick jump. He’s even drawn Suh offside a few times.
The secondary has been good, too. Cornerback Brent Grimes, as you’d expect, has been in shutdown form against everyone.
Of course, none of this means much now. The players aren’t wearing pads. And these aren’t December games.
But let’s take this thing one step at a time.
It’s clear from watching practices the Dolphins know who they are.
And if you’re a Dolphins fan, it should be a bit comforting to know they’re taking steps to improve in critical areas.
8-20 yards int he middle of the field is huge
This is bigger IMO than the deep ball accuracy
Yes, cause it can me consistent and is also a big part of the Lazor system as well.
can ^be^ not me…lol
Wake stepped up for a walk-off safety on national TV.
Shhh, that doesn’t count, was in Nov. 😉
it was 10/31 actually
I’m pretty sure Dr. Rhino gave me an A so I don’t care what any of you say, nanny nanny boo boo, I opened myself up for it so I can take it.
I’ll bet you Dcoral has already tried to make “porcupine pie”.
Mike E, this makes it sound like he’s not one of those guys and it is what it is.
“Just accept it for what it is. There are guys like Reggie Jackson who become stars in the white hot spotlight and get names like Mr. October. Then there are great players who come up small when the playoff spotlight shines down. The facts are there, either see them, or don’t, I know what I see.”
This is where I think Philbin begins to show his quality. Scientific analysis to keep finding our worst weaknesses and drafting and practicing to eradicate them. Fingers crossed.
blob:https%3A//vine.co/8d0dc7bc-a496-489e-9cad-6b63da94504f
https%3A//vine.co/8d0dc7bc-a496-489e-9cad-6b63da94504f
Damn it…was a vine of Wake making a huge hit last Dec game vs. Jets. He almost knocked Geno Smith out of the game while he was rolling out to his right on a crucial 3rd down.
Wake stepped up against the patsies,
so they just held him every play and dared the refs to throw a flag every play.
Adam Beasley in Dec 2014 just before Miami was to play the Ravens for a Wild Card spot on the line.
PLAYOFF PUSH
For that reason alone, Wake acknowledges that there’s a greater urgency than ever to finally break through, finally make the postseason, finally make the Dolphins relevant.
Perhaps that’s why, after practice Thursday, he was one of a handful of players to stay late and run sprints. It’s certainly why he watches his diet like a lingerie model, why he sleeps instead of parties. Wake, a three-time Pro Bowler, is as close to a national superstar as this franchise has. But he doesn’t enjoy the late-night trappings that come with celebrity. His mentality is, you can have all the fun you want when you retire.
And he is determined to push that inevitability as far into the future as possible.
Wake’s strange path to stardom — out of football altogether, then through the CFL — delayed the start of his NFL career. Wake is considered one of the best defenders in football, but he is unlikely to put up the career numbers needed for Hall of Fame consideration.
He has 61 sacks in just 89 games. That’s good for fifth in franchise history. No.1 on that list? Jason Taylor, who needed 100 games to record his 61st sack.
Taylor’s team record (131 sacks) appears safe. Wake would need to continue playing at this level past his 39th birthday to catch him.
But 100 career sacks? That doesn’t seem too farfetched. And it would verify his greatness. Fewer than three dozen NFL players have ever reached that benchmark.
“That’d be, what, four more years?” Wake said. “If you ask me now, I’ll say yes.”
Yet he doesn’t seem to care. He would gladly trade it for a ring.
“Honestly, I think I’ve probably beat the odds in terms of personal accomplishments,” Wake said. “I’ve been All-Pro, I’ve been to multiple Pro Bowls, I’ve had four-sack games, player of the week, player of the month. I’ve done a lot of different things. But all those things kind of feel … even when I go to the Pro Bowl, it feels like a consolation almost. ‘Good job. You did good, but the real goal are the guys who can’t come to this. … So-and-so made the Pro Bowl, but he’s not here because he’s playing in the Super Bowl.’ That’s the guy that really won.”
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article4316197.html#storylink=cpy
Cam Wake 2014 Highlights w/ him mic’d up in some.
http://www.miamidolphins.com/multimedia/videos/2014-Year-In-Review-Cam-Wake/a3942bc9-453f-43f9-b10a-71da7037afb2
Suh is here, everything is different now.
Tim
I stand by that statement. He’s 32, and he hasn’t done it yet. Maybe this year, we’ll see.
Make that 33
No that’s fine. When I read it It came off as FINAL. LOL
Yeah, I was just talking about up to this point. This whole discussion makes it seem like I hate Wake, and I don’t. He’s one of my favorite players, he really is, but I’m disappointed when he disappears in those December games.
Naples,
Since that sack for a safety was 10/31, you can call Wake Mr. October. 🙂
just like Reggie!
Mr. Halloween
So, it begins again.. Four years ago my mother in law went through a horrible bout of cancer, and eventually died from it. Today, my father in law tells my wife that, with treatment, he may have 3-5 years. She seems to be numb at the moment. She is an am onchild, so it’s just us. He had brothers and sisters, but only a couple are reliable, and they live in another state. It sucks.
Sorry to hear that, man. I wish your father-in-law the best and hopefully you and your wife can muster up the strength to make it the best it can be.
An only child*
Damn, sorry Trypod. Wishing you the best and praying bud
Actually the Phins had 2 wins in Dec last year. In Week 16 Came Wake made big plays against the Vikings.
So all is not bad….just need to be a lil healthier and play a lil better to close the season.
Sorry to hear about that Try
Are you and your wife in the same state as your father-in-law?
Can Wake’s new team photo
Thanks, all. Yes, he lives next county over, about 40 mins away. We’ve got lots of convos coming, like does he want to sell his place and move closer so we can help more, etc. I know we aren’t the only people to go through this, but my wife.. It just seems so unfair.
What Cancer type is it if ya ont mind me asking?
Try Pod says:
June 19, 2015 at 4:30 pm
So, it begins again.. Four years ago my mother in law went through a horrible bout of cancer, and eventually died from it. Today, my father in law tells my wife that, with treatment, he may have 3-5 years. She seems to be numb at the moment. She is an am onchild, so it’s just us. He had brothers and sisters, but only a couple are reliable, and they live in another state. It sucks.
———————————
Try, just as a n FYI, that number range is pretty much what they give patients with certain types of cancer, for others they give a much shorter number. They gave that number to my father several years ago. Those nmbers are based of mortality rates of people with that cancer type and not the true prognosis, with treatment its possible they hit remission and if thats true he may have several years past that and get the 3-5year prognosis again if it comes back. You just have to remain positive about the potential for that number to be wrong because hope is one of the most important things to have. Id do as much as i could with him, just in case, but dont let him or her live like thats all you can expect.
Either way im very sorry she got this news, it sucks and its very sad, so just have to try hard to keep as positive about it as you can.
Good questions.. On 8 biopsies 8 of ten came back as an 8 on a scale of ten as it relates to aggressiveness. That’s what I understood. I heard so much that it will take me time to digest, but I can tell you, he was the state director of Medicaid for many years, and he is very knowledgeable of medical issues, so I think he was very measured in what he told us.
Oh, well yes he probably is well informed then. I still would remain positive that with treatment he could beat it, or at least i hope so.