It's been a few days, but I wanted to write about the Lakers/Suns game last week. I know they've played (and won!) a couple of games since then, but I just have to comment.
I LOVE the fact that the Lakers beat the Suns in Shaq's first game with the Suns. I think it is pretty unique that the new Heat players played their first game with the Heat against the Lakers and Shaq played his first game with the Suns against the Lakers. Pretty fluky scheduling quirk.
Anyway, the Lakers won a pretty trhilling game and Kobe scored 41 points. Spoiling Shaq's big night was just the cherry on top. All that remains is for the Lakers to knock the Suns out of the playoffs and win a championship.
Surprisingly, the Lakers now have the best record in the NBA Western Conference and have only lost one game since the Pau Gasol trade. That trade is looking more and more brilliant every night. And now, the commentariat is taking notice and some are calling the Lakers a legitimate title contender. It's hard not to get excited when so much seems possible. But after the way the Cowboys flamed out this year, I am certianly holding things in check and waiting for the Lakers to actually accomplish something.
Speaking of good basketball, the Miami Hurricanes have won four in a row and are now at .500 in the ACC and one win away from a 20-win season. Barring a complete collapse, there is no reason UM should not make the NCAA tournament which is a huge turnaround from last year. And who knows, maybe they'll even make a nice little run in the tournament and get to the Sweet 16.
Who knew a few weeks ago at the end of what turned out to be a pretty miserable football season that basketball would come along and brighten my sports world?
Monday, February 25, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
41 and Counting
Last night, the Miami Heat lost a close game to the Denver Nuggets. One might wonder why that is fodder for a post on this blog. It is significant because it was the Heat's 41st loss. In an 82 game season, the Heat have guaranteed that they won't finish with a winning record before the All-Star Break.
I saw this coming a while back and had been looking forward to making fun of this accomplishment. But now that it has actually happened, I feel kind of ambivalent about it. It's not as much fun to make fun of the Heat now that Shaquille O'Neal has been traded to Phoenix.
I'm not a Shaq fan. I am a Lakers fan and a Kobe Bryant fan. When Shaq got traded to the Lakers four years ago, I thought Kobe was treated unfairly in the media as everyone thought he should bear the sole blame for the breakup of the dynasty. I was convinced then, and am even more so now, that Shaq was every bit as selfish and self-conscious as Kobe is/was. He just did a better job of hiding it.
Shaq is not a true team player. He has consistently shown up out of shape and does not do the offseason work necessary to try and prevent the "injuries" he has suffered every year going back to his days in L.A. His flat out refusal to work on his free throw shooting should be an embarrassment to the NBA. He had an attitude that he could just turn it on for the playoffs and everything would be OK. Well, that did not work so well last year when the Heat were swept out of the playoffs in the first round after Shaq had started out the season out of shape and missed some games due to injury. And then he shows up out of shape again this season. Shaq may be a pro athlete, but he is not a professional.
Then, two years ago, Shaq and the Heat won a championship thanks to some pretty awful officiating and Dwayne Wade playing out of his mind. Seeing Shaq win another championship really annoyed me.
So I enjoyed seeing the Heat get knocked out of the playoffs uncerimoniously last year and have been ecstatic as the losses piled up this year. The Heat ar 9-41. That number is just astounding. It is the worst record in the NBA by a game. I have cheered every loss and jeered Shaq in the process. As this season has progressed, discontentment with Shaq was increasing and there were rumors that Shaq and Heat management were not on good terms. That fact more than any other validates what I think was the reality with the Lakers situation. So I had been planning to gleefully point out this little fact about the Heat's season for a while now. And the Heat went and ruined it.
Now that Shaq is gone, it's not fun anymore...it's just kind of sad. Aside from D-Wade, this team hardly resembles an NBA team. But they have signs of life. They played the Lakers well in the first game with the new teammates. And then last night they took another strong Western Coferenced team to overtime and had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but it was not to be. They look good right now and maybe they will make a turnaround.
But this season is a loss and will be a really bad memory for fans of the franchise. As for me, it's just not as satisfying that Shaq was able to escape.
I saw this coming a while back and had been looking forward to making fun of this accomplishment. But now that it has actually happened, I feel kind of ambivalent about it. It's not as much fun to make fun of the Heat now that Shaquille O'Neal has been traded to Phoenix.
I'm not a Shaq fan. I am a Lakers fan and a Kobe Bryant fan. When Shaq got traded to the Lakers four years ago, I thought Kobe was treated unfairly in the media as everyone thought he should bear the sole blame for the breakup of the dynasty. I was convinced then, and am even more so now, that Shaq was every bit as selfish and self-conscious as Kobe is/was. He just did a better job of hiding it.
Shaq is not a true team player. He has consistently shown up out of shape and does not do the offseason work necessary to try and prevent the "injuries" he has suffered every year going back to his days in L.A. His flat out refusal to work on his free throw shooting should be an embarrassment to the NBA. He had an attitude that he could just turn it on for the playoffs and everything would be OK. Well, that did not work so well last year when the Heat were swept out of the playoffs in the first round after Shaq had started out the season out of shape and missed some games due to injury. And then he shows up out of shape again this season. Shaq may be a pro athlete, but he is not a professional.
Then, two years ago, Shaq and the Heat won a championship thanks to some pretty awful officiating and Dwayne Wade playing out of his mind. Seeing Shaq win another championship really annoyed me.
So I enjoyed seeing the Heat get knocked out of the playoffs uncerimoniously last year and have been ecstatic as the losses piled up this year. The Heat ar 9-41. That number is just astounding. It is the worst record in the NBA by a game. I have cheered every loss and jeered Shaq in the process. As this season has progressed, discontentment with Shaq was increasing and there were rumors that Shaq and Heat management were not on good terms. That fact more than any other validates what I think was the reality with the Lakers situation. So I had been planning to gleefully point out this little fact about the Heat's season for a while now. And the Heat went and ruined it.
Now that Shaq is gone, it's not fun anymore...it's just kind of sad. Aside from D-Wade, this team hardly resembles an NBA team. But they have signs of life. They played the Lakers well in the first game with the new teammates. And then last night they took another strong Western Coferenced team to overtime and had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but it was not to be. They look good right now and maybe they will make a turnaround.
But this season is a loss and will be a really bad memory for fans of the franchise. As for me, it's just not as satisfying that Shaq was able to escape.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Basketball Fun
I got to experience another "First" yesterday as I attended my first Los Angeles Lakers game. I had taken a friend from church to see the UM/FSU basketball game last week (not worth talking about). This friend then invited me to go to the Miami Heat/Lakers game with him after the person he originally invited backed out.
He had pretty good seats in the lower bowl and we had a good time, especially since the Lakers won 104-94. In addition to seeing the Lakers, this was a good game because it was the Heat's first post-Shaq game, so I got to see Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. The Heat played well considering it was the first time they played as a group. But the Lakers played better and I was glad not to have my first Lakers game spoiled by a loss.
I also really enjoyed seeing Kobe Bryant play yesterday. In my opinion, he's gotten a bad rap, but he is still one of the best, if not the best, players in the NBA today and I like watching him play. Seeing it in person only made me appreciate his abilitieseven more.
His abilities became even more apparent at a crucial point late in the game. Kobe was out on a fast break and was going up for a dunk. Before I finish decribing the play, you have to understand how Heat fans feel about Kobe. They don't like him. Immensely. First, you have had Shaq here for the last four years taking shots at Kobe and stoking the fires. Second, this is Dwayne Wade's town. He has elevated himself into the upper echelon of the NBA. Heat fans have a dislike of Kobe because they want to belive D-Wade is the best player in the NBA (which is amusing to me becuase he may not even be the best player in his draft class; see LeBron James and Carmello Anthony). So they don't like Kobe.
So anyway, Kobe's about to dunk the ball and a Heat player comes flying into the play and takes Kobe out. It was a foul. Suddenly, the arena erupted in cheers. I know the fans here dislike him, but to cheer a near flagrant foul when the guy hits the floor hard shows a lack of class in my opinion. The arena is rocking at this point and Kobe steps up to the free throw line and calmy sinks both free throws and shuts the crowd up. You could kind of fell the arena deflate a that point.
The Heat tried to stage a comeback, and got close, but Kobe slammed the door shut with a clutch shot and some clutch free throws. Kobe went to the line with a few seconds left and as he was shooting his free throws, the scattered Lakers fans (quite a few actually) started chanting MVP. The Heat fans tried to drown it out by booing, but so many of them had abandoned the team and left the arena that the booing did not overcome the MVP chant.
It was a fun game and a neat experience.
He had pretty good seats in the lower bowl and we had a good time, especially since the Lakers won 104-94. In addition to seeing the Lakers, this was a good game because it was the Heat's first post-Shaq game, so I got to see Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. The Heat played well considering it was the first time they played as a group. But the Lakers played better and I was glad not to have my first Lakers game spoiled by a loss.
I also really enjoyed seeing Kobe Bryant play yesterday. In my opinion, he's gotten a bad rap, but he is still one of the best, if not the best, players in the NBA today and I like watching him play. Seeing it in person only made me appreciate his abilitieseven more.
His abilities became even more apparent at a crucial point late in the game. Kobe was out on a fast break and was going up for a dunk. Before I finish decribing the play, you have to understand how Heat fans feel about Kobe. They don't like him. Immensely. First, you have had Shaq here for the last four years taking shots at Kobe and stoking the fires. Second, this is Dwayne Wade's town. He has elevated himself into the upper echelon of the NBA. Heat fans have a dislike of Kobe because they want to belive D-Wade is the best player in the NBA (which is amusing to me becuase he may not even be the best player in his draft class; see LeBron James and Carmello Anthony). So they don't like Kobe.
So anyway, Kobe's about to dunk the ball and a Heat player comes flying into the play and takes Kobe out. It was a foul. Suddenly, the arena erupted in cheers. I know the fans here dislike him, but to cheer a near flagrant foul when the guy hits the floor hard shows a lack of class in my opinion. The arena is rocking at this point and Kobe steps up to the free throw line and calmy sinks both free throws and shuts the crowd up. You could kind of fell the arena deflate a that point.
The Heat tried to stage a comeback, and got close, but Kobe slammed the door shut with a clutch shot and some clutch free throws. Kobe went to the line with a few seconds left and as he was shooting his free throws, the scattered Lakers fans (quite a few actually) started chanting MVP. The Heat fans tried to drown it out by booing, but so many of them had abandoned the team and left the arena that the booing did not overcome the MVP chant.
It was a fun game and a neat experience.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Big News
Contrary to the fecetious comment attached to this old post, plenty has happened to me since September. However, one event has dominated my time since and will continue to dominate my time, so I guess and official announcement is in order and better late than never.
When I first decided to have my own blog, I noted that my friends Mark and Adam started their blogs when they were about to have kids. Back then, I specifically pointed out that the beginning of my blog had nothing to do with a child and would not have anything to do with a child for quite some time. However,I did post a comment to Mark's first post in which I noted that Julie and I were looking forward to "starting our own blog."
Well, not that anyone who actually reads this doesn't know, but Julie and I are expecting our first child in April. We are very excited and apprehensive. I guess this means we'll have to finally get a digital camera (go back and read my first post regarding my delayed use of technology...my brother can't get over the fact that I don't have internet access at home right now) because it is obviously obligatory to post various pictures of the mini-me on the blog. So, I can promise there will be pictures. I also have a special project in mind that I will reveal at a later date. Until, then, I'll write about the impending birth from time to time as it gets closer.
Speaking of closer, I can't believe how close it is already. When Julie told me on our anniversary that we were going to have a baby, 9 months seemed like such a long time. Well, it has been almost seven, Julie is getting big, and the day fast approaches. And we still have much to do to get the house ready and I don't know how we are ever going to have the time since we don't have many Saturdays available.
Three of the four Saturdays in February, plus one in March, we are spending a big chunk of the day at the hospital where the baby is going to be born for various classes. This past Saturday, we went to our first childbirth preparation class. We learned some breathing exercises and relaxation techniques and watched a few videos. I came away realizing how unprepared I am for the delivery. I'm not saying I'm completely ignorant of the difficulty of childbirth and I'm not comparing what I have to do to Julie's struggles, but I did not realize how much work its going to be. Just like many other subjects, TV births paint a different picture from reality. On TV, it's chaotic and it does not last that long and the pushing is the hard part. Well, it was obvious that it is a long, drawn out process and not that chaotic. Other than the occasional check up by the nurse, it's really just going to be me trying to help Julie get through each contraction and help her in any way I can.
The class was really eye opening. I think it is going to be a miraculous event, I just hope I can hold up my end of the bargain and be a good supporter during the process.
When I first decided to have my own blog, I noted that my friends Mark and Adam started their blogs when they were about to have kids. Back then, I specifically pointed out that the beginning of my blog had nothing to do with a child and would not have anything to do with a child for quite some time. However,I did post a comment to Mark's first post in which I noted that Julie and I were looking forward to "starting our own blog."
Well, not that anyone who actually reads this doesn't know, but Julie and I are expecting our first child in April. We are very excited and apprehensive. I guess this means we'll have to finally get a digital camera (go back and read my first post regarding my delayed use of technology...my brother can't get over the fact that I don't have internet access at home right now) because it is obviously obligatory to post various pictures of the mini-me on the blog. So, I can promise there will be pictures. I also have a special project in mind that I will reveal at a later date. Until, then, I'll write about the impending birth from time to time as it gets closer.
Speaking of closer, I can't believe how close it is already. When Julie told me on our anniversary that we were going to have a baby, 9 months seemed like such a long time. Well, it has been almost seven, Julie is getting big, and the day fast approaches. And we still have much to do to get the house ready and I don't know how we are ever going to have the time since we don't have many Saturdays available.
Three of the four Saturdays in February, plus one in March, we are spending a big chunk of the day at the hospital where the baby is going to be born for various classes. This past Saturday, we went to our first childbirth preparation class. We learned some breathing exercises and relaxation techniques and watched a few videos. I came away realizing how unprepared I am for the delivery. I'm not saying I'm completely ignorant of the difficulty of childbirth and I'm not comparing what I have to do to Julie's struggles, but I did not realize how much work its going to be. Just like many other subjects, TV births paint a different picture from reality. On TV, it's chaotic and it does not last that long and the pushing is the hard part. Well, it was obvious that it is a long, drawn out process and not that chaotic. Other than the occasional check up by the nurse, it's really just going to be me trying to help Julie get through each contraction and help her in any way I can.
The class was really eye opening. I think it is going to be a miraculous event, I just hope I can hold up my end of the bargain and be a good supporter during the process.
Monday, February 04, 2008
What If...
As I sit and ponder last night's Super Bowl, I can't help but wonder:
- What if Eli Manning gets sacked?
- What if Asante Samuel makes the interception?
- What if New England had not tried to milk the clock on their touchdown drive?
- What if Belichick kicks the field goal instead of going for it on fourth and 13?
- What if the New England player had not had the ball ripped out of his hands after recovering the fumble in the first half?
- What if Brett Favre does not throw a stupid interception?
- What if Patrick Crayton ran a full route?
- What if Patrick Crayton did not have hands of steel?
- What if Jeremy Shockey had not gotten hurt?
- What if the Redskins had held on to win in week 3?
- What if Tiki Barber didn't retire.
That's the thing about winning a championship in any sport. From breaks in the game, to breaks in the playoffs, to breaks early in the season to breaks last year. If Washington holds on to win in week three, would the Giants have recovered from 0-3to even make the playoffs? If Tiki had not retired last year, what would the offense have been like this year? So many factors went into the Giants winning yesterday.
That is not to say they were lucky...and even if they were, what's wrong with that? Luck is a part of sports and a big part of championships. Ask LSU about luck. I'm simply pointing out how "fragile" a championsihp is.
I enjoyed the game. The Giants played really well, as much as it pains me to say that. As a Cowboy fan, there is very little I can like about the Giants winning a Super Bowl. I was pretty much the lone dissenter in a house full of transplanted New Yorkers, Dolphins fans and Patriots haters who all had their own reasons for supporting the Giants. I just couldn't bring myself to cheer for the Giants, so I was outnumbered. In the end, I wasn't really going to be happy with either team being champion.
However, I am extremely disappointed that the Patriots did not jump on the perfect pedestal with the '72 Dolphins. The outcome of last night's game does not change my conclusion that the '72 Dolphins are a bunch of grumpy old men and that their fans need to stop living in the past. If anything, my feelings have been reinforced this week and in the aftermath of the Patriots' loss.
Aside from the game, I can't complain about the overall Super Bowl very much. The commercials were very strong this year...it was the first year in quite a while that I remember liking so many of the commercials. Some of my standouts were the Bridgestone screaming squirrel, the Fed Ex carrier Pigeons, the E-Trade baby (both spots), and most of the beer commercials. Out of those, I liked the Bud-Light fire breather, the cheese party and the Rocky clydesdale.
I also liked the halftime show. Petty put on an excellent show. I don't normally pay attention to the entertainment, but enjoyed this year a lot.
My biggest complaint: Fox. I generally like Fox. I like how they cover football. I like Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Usually can't complain about their coverage. I got tired of hearing about all of the Fox shows. But the most annoying part of the Fox coverage was during the pre-game show when they had Ryan Secrest doing red carpet interviews with various stars. That was just too much and I found it very annoying to be reminded that common people don't get to go to the Super Bowl anymore.
So there you have it. Another year of football is over. Wednesday is national signing day for college football. Miami is supposed to have a really good recruiting class and signing day means spring football is not far around the corner. Soon, summer will be here, the preseason mags will start to hit the stores in July and another season will be here before you know it.
I can't wait.
- What if Eli Manning gets sacked?
- What if Asante Samuel makes the interception?
- What if New England had not tried to milk the clock on their touchdown drive?
- What if Belichick kicks the field goal instead of going for it on fourth and 13?
- What if the New England player had not had the ball ripped out of his hands after recovering the fumble in the first half?
- What if Brett Favre does not throw a stupid interception?
- What if Patrick Crayton ran a full route?
- What if Patrick Crayton did not have hands of steel?
- What if Jeremy Shockey had not gotten hurt?
- What if the Redskins had held on to win in week 3?
- What if Tiki Barber didn't retire.
That's the thing about winning a championship in any sport. From breaks in the game, to breaks in the playoffs, to breaks early in the season to breaks last year. If Washington holds on to win in week three, would the Giants have recovered from 0-3to even make the playoffs? If Tiki had not retired last year, what would the offense have been like this year? So many factors went into the Giants winning yesterday.
That is not to say they were lucky...and even if they were, what's wrong with that? Luck is a part of sports and a big part of championships. Ask LSU about luck. I'm simply pointing out how "fragile" a championsihp is.
I enjoyed the game. The Giants played really well, as much as it pains me to say that. As a Cowboy fan, there is very little I can like about the Giants winning a Super Bowl. I was pretty much the lone dissenter in a house full of transplanted New Yorkers, Dolphins fans and Patriots haters who all had their own reasons for supporting the Giants. I just couldn't bring myself to cheer for the Giants, so I was outnumbered. In the end, I wasn't really going to be happy with either team being champion.
However, I am extremely disappointed that the Patriots did not jump on the perfect pedestal with the '72 Dolphins. The outcome of last night's game does not change my conclusion that the '72 Dolphins are a bunch of grumpy old men and that their fans need to stop living in the past. If anything, my feelings have been reinforced this week and in the aftermath of the Patriots' loss.
Aside from the game, I can't complain about the overall Super Bowl very much. The commercials were very strong this year...it was the first year in quite a while that I remember liking so many of the commercials. Some of my standouts were the Bridgestone screaming squirrel, the Fed Ex carrier Pigeons, the E-Trade baby (both spots), and most of the beer commercials. Out of those, I liked the Bud-Light fire breather, the cheese party and the Rocky clydesdale.
I also liked the halftime show. Petty put on an excellent show. I don't normally pay attention to the entertainment, but enjoyed this year a lot.
My biggest complaint: Fox. I generally like Fox. I like how they cover football. I like Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Usually can't complain about their coverage. I got tired of hearing about all of the Fox shows. But the most annoying part of the Fox coverage was during the pre-game show when they had Ryan Secrest doing red carpet interviews with various stars. That was just too much and I found it very annoying to be reminded that common people don't get to go to the Super Bowl anymore.
So there you have it. Another year of football is over. Wednesday is national signing day for college football. Miami is supposed to have a really good recruiting class and signing day means spring football is not far around the corner. Soon, summer will be here, the preseason mags will start to hit the stores in July and another season will be here before you know it.
I can't wait.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Time Flies
I just read this and was reminded that today is the 5th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. First, let me say, may God bless the families of those brave astronauts who continue to grieve over the loss of loved ones. I know all too well that you never get over losing someone, you only learn to accept it and move on, always holding on to the memories.
As I read the article, I couldn't help but think, "Has it really been five years?" That tragedy occured during the second semester of my first year of law school. That means we are coming up on our sixth anniversary here in Miami. It is hard to believe that much time has gone by. I can still vividly remember waking up early on that Saturday morning and turning on the TV only to be stunned by the news of the loss of Columbia as if it were yesterday. Later that day, I drove to campus for a little while and listened to the coverage all the way to and from school. Needless to say, I think most of America was captivated and frozen by the images on TV of the debris streaking the sky.
Time does move past you pretty quickly if you don't pay attention. So I hope everyone will take a minute to appreciate this day and this moment for the precious gift they are.
As I read the article, I couldn't help but think, "Has it really been five years?" That tragedy occured during the second semester of my first year of law school. That means we are coming up on our sixth anniversary here in Miami. It is hard to believe that much time has gone by. I can still vividly remember waking up early on that Saturday morning and turning on the TV only to be stunned by the news of the loss of Columbia as if it were yesterday. Later that day, I drove to campus for a little while and listened to the coverage all the way to and from school. Needless to say, I think most of America was captivated and frozen by the images on TV of the debris streaking the sky.
Time does move past you pretty quickly if you don't pay attention. So I hope everyone will take a minute to appreciate this day and this moment for the precious gift they are.
Objects In The Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear
This Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday. As a football fan, I'm glad it's here, though I feel a little subdued about it because I'm still not quite over the fact that the Cowboys are not playing this Sunday. But it's still the championship game and it's the last football game of the year (Pro Bowl and college all star games don't really count), so there's plenty to be excited about.
This year, it's the Patriots vs. the Giants. It's hard to have a rooting interest in this game other than hoping it's a good game with good commercials. On the one hand, I'm a Cowboys fan, so I usually pull for the NFC team, but it's hard to root for the Giants to win it all as the Giants are one of the Cowboys' biggest rivals. My dad is a Giants fan, but that is not enough to sway me. On the other hand, I'm not that fond of the Patriots. I was glad to see them beat the Rams a few years ago when they were heavy underdogs, but it is getting old seeing them in the Super Bowl. They are getting arrogant and I'm tired of them. I also don't want to see them win their fourth Super Bowl because then they will be within one championship from tying the Cowboys.
But one of the biggest factors is the fact that the Patriots have a chance to complete an undefeated season by going 19-0 making them only the second team to do it since the 17-0 '72 Dolphins. And therein lies the reason I won't have any problem if the Patriots win this game.
Purely from a fan's perspective, I think the chance that an NFL team could go undefeated is pretty amazing. It's been 35 years since the only team to do it did (longer than I have been alive, by the way). As I was growing up, it was just accepted wisdom that it would never be done again. The season was too long, the pressure too great, the parity too equalizing, etc. There were numerous reasons it could not be done. Yet, here we are on the cusp of seeing it happen again. Who knows when it will happen again. Yes, there have been teams that came close, but they crashed and burned in the regular season (see the 1985 Bears whose one loss came late in the regular season, to the Dolphins, no less). But obviously, though there have been good teams with great years, only two have made it through the regular season without so much as a loss.
And that is why I am ready for a team to join the Dolphins. The Dolphins should certainly be proud of the fact that they were the first team to go undefeated and they should be proud of the fact that they stayed the only team to do it for so long. But that record has created an arrogant franchise and an arrogant fan base whose combined arrogance far exceeds their recent accomplishments. This franchise and city live on past glory so much it is sickening.
I was always of aware of the 1972 Dolphins and their little reunion with Champagne each year when the last undefeated team lost. But I have become more acutely aware of it since living here in Miami and it has become quite nauseating. I think a lot of fans are tired of it and it has been amusing to hear the members of that team try to pass it off as some quaint reunion when it reality it reeks of smugness.
I have enjoyed watching the '72 Dolphins up close this year as they have become increasingly nervous. It's bad enough that another team is about to go undefeated, but the fact that it is a rival from within their division just makes it worse for them. It was painfully obvious early in the year that the Patriots were going to challenge for an undefeated season, so the Dolphins have been stewing about it all year. Add on top of that the fact that this year's Dolphins were by far the worst team in football and came awfully close to not winning a game (stupid Ravens...you blew it), and it was an all out bad year for the Dolphins and their "Dolfans" (I hate that term!!!).
The Dolphins have embarrased themselves constantly as they get increasingly defensive about the record. The best example was Don Shula's assertion that there should be an asterisk place by the record because of the incident the first game of the year involving illegal cameras. The funny thing about is I think comments like Shula's have helped fuel the Patriots and give them motivation to finish the year undefeated.
But to me, the most humorous and desperate '72 Dolphin is Mercury Morris. He has been noted in the past, when asked about the prospects of some team going undefeated, as saying "Don't talk to me when they are in my town or my neighborhood, talk to me when they are on my block." Well, Mercury, not only have the Patriots been on your block for a few weeks now, they kicked down your door two weeks ago and they are about to steal your trophy from your fireplace mantle. How do you feel about that?
The '72 Dolphins are a bunch of grumpy old men who need to get over themselves and move on with their lives. So I won't have any problem with the Patriots nudging the '72 Dolphins out of the spotlight on Sunday with a victory. It's true, as some people have said, that the '72 Dolphins will still be one of only two teams to have gone undefeated. But I think the uniqueness will have worn off and the media won't care as much anymore and I, hopefully, won't have to hear about it every year any more.
So, here's to a good game America. Enjoy!
UPDATE: 2/1/08, 1:51 P.M.
This article proves my point.
This year, it's the Patriots vs. the Giants. It's hard to have a rooting interest in this game other than hoping it's a good game with good commercials. On the one hand, I'm a Cowboys fan, so I usually pull for the NFC team, but it's hard to root for the Giants to win it all as the Giants are one of the Cowboys' biggest rivals. My dad is a Giants fan, but that is not enough to sway me. On the other hand, I'm not that fond of the Patriots. I was glad to see them beat the Rams a few years ago when they were heavy underdogs, but it is getting old seeing them in the Super Bowl. They are getting arrogant and I'm tired of them. I also don't want to see them win their fourth Super Bowl because then they will be within one championship from tying the Cowboys.
But one of the biggest factors is the fact that the Patriots have a chance to complete an undefeated season by going 19-0 making them only the second team to do it since the 17-0 '72 Dolphins. And therein lies the reason I won't have any problem if the Patriots win this game.
Purely from a fan's perspective, I think the chance that an NFL team could go undefeated is pretty amazing. It's been 35 years since the only team to do it did (longer than I have been alive, by the way). As I was growing up, it was just accepted wisdom that it would never be done again. The season was too long, the pressure too great, the parity too equalizing, etc. There were numerous reasons it could not be done. Yet, here we are on the cusp of seeing it happen again. Who knows when it will happen again. Yes, there have been teams that came close, but they crashed and burned in the regular season (see the 1985 Bears whose one loss came late in the regular season, to the Dolphins, no less). But obviously, though there have been good teams with great years, only two have made it through the regular season without so much as a loss.
And that is why I am ready for a team to join the Dolphins. The Dolphins should certainly be proud of the fact that they were the first team to go undefeated and they should be proud of the fact that they stayed the only team to do it for so long. But that record has created an arrogant franchise and an arrogant fan base whose combined arrogance far exceeds their recent accomplishments. This franchise and city live on past glory so much it is sickening.
I was always of aware of the 1972 Dolphins and their little reunion with Champagne each year when the last undefeated team lost. But I have become more acutely aware of it since living here in Miami and it has become quite nauseating. I think a lot of fans are tired of it and it has been amusing to hear the members of that team try to pass it off as some quaint reunion when it reality it reeks of smugness.
I have enjoyed watching the '72 Dolphins up close this year as they have become increasingly nervous. It's bad enough that another team is about to go undefeated, but the fact that it is a rival from within their division just makes it worse for them. It was painfully obvious early in the year that the Patriots were going to challenge for an undefeated season, so the Dolphins have been stewing about it all year. Add on top of that the fact that this year's Dolphins were by far the worst team in football and came awfully close to not winning a game (stupid Ravens...you blew it), and it was an all out bad year for the Dolphins and their "Dolfans" (I hate that term!!!).
The Dolphins have embarrased themselves constantly as they get increasingly defensive about the record. The best example was Don Shula's assertion that there should be an asterisk place by the record because of the incident the first game of the year involving illegal cameras. The funny thing about is I think comments like Shula's have helped fuel the Patriots and give them motivation to finish the year undefeated.
But to me, the most humorous and desperate '72 Dolphin is Mercury Morris. He has been noted in the past, when asked about the prospects of some team going undefeated, as saying "Don't talk to me when they are in my town or my neighborhood, talk to me when they are on my block." Well, Mercury, not only have the Patriots been on your block for a few weeks now, they kicked down your door two weeks ago and they are about to steal your trophy from your fireplace mantle. How do you feel about that?
The '72 Dolphins are a bunch of grumpy old men who need to get over themselves and move on with their lives. So I won't have any problem with the Patriots nudging the '72 Dolphins out of the spotlight on Sunday with a victory. It's true, as some people have said, that the '72 Dolphins will still be one of only two teams to have gone undefeated. But I think the uniqueness will have worn off and the media won't care as much anymore and I, hopefully, won't have to hear about it every year any more.
So, here's to a good game America. Enjoy!
UPDATE: 2/1/08, 1:51 P.M.
This article proves my point.
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