I know we as a fanbase like to blast the higher ups and Ross has taken quite a bit of flack since he's been here, but: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-nfl-annual-meeting-0319-20130318,0,1385268.story Now sure, none of this could work out, but you have to respect the effort and willingness to change. I know we have to win, but Ross deserves credit for doing everything he can to change the culture of this team.
Never minded Ross, always just thought he was naive football wise but he has shown growth as an owner each year.
I have no issues with what Ross is doing now, not with the stadium, not with the team, not anywhere else. I no longer live in SFL, but I'd vote to yes on the referendum to use taxpayer money to upgrade the stadium.... I'd vote yes because I feel the upgrades would bring more NFL events (superbowls, etc) and that helps us all out locally. As to the team, Ross is doing exactly what a good owner does....he's allowing the football folks to make football decisions and spend the money necessary to fix the things that are wrong with the product on the field...As long has he's doing that, and not sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong...I'm a happy Fin fan, even if we won't know how the extra money spent this year will translate onto the field just yet....
I think the world would be a better place if we all jumped into the shoes of someone we're about to criticize. Imagine you owned the Dolphins. What would you do? He's said a few things he shouldn't have, but he's doing 3 things. Trying to make some money (duh), drum up excitement (duh), and win (duh). All 3 are tied in together. He's not a cheapskate. By all accounts he's mostly hands off. What is there to complain about?
I liked the guy from the get, saw some endearing qualities that I want in an owner..realized that he was just enthusiastic when everyone was taking their petty shots..shame on whoever..your criticisms were unjust..did you forget what the guy inherited, or did you just choose to criticize because you like to hear yourself talk and act like you think you know more...whatever, your damage has already been done.. Didn't even mind that the first thing he tried to do was fly across the country to go after the best coaching prospect ever..that dude was worth the strife.. I think he deeply strives to have the best organization..and cares about the community.. All he needs is a first class facility, which he doesn't have..he's gonna have to finance it himself though, so I'm sure it will be one more thing that he does for this fanbase and football community...not sure they deserve it though.
IMO the team's direction has improved ever since Parcells left. I thought the draft picks and FA picks showed a more cohesive plan from that point on. I even thought Daboll was a step in the right direction in terms of understanding what it took to win in the modern NFL. But the Philbin hire was an upgrade over that. I think he brings a structure, logic and credibility that we've been lacking. I think he's a better fit for how Ireland seems to want to build a team. We know Ireland wanted Harvin, but I doubt he would have been as good here under Sparano. I think that going forward Ireland and Philbin will do a good job of marrying players and system. I think that Ireland is more prone to taking character risks with impressive measurables than Philbin while Philbin values discipline more than measurables, but that might be a nice balance. I feel really good about the direction of the team. If RT develops as I believe he can then I see a very nice stretch for Dolphin football coming up. We may or may not win it all as there are many variables, but if RT develops I think we'll be back to being perennial contenders like we were during most of the Shula years.
Yup, the majority of this base doesn't do that though, they like to call in radio shows and hear themselves act like a critic..they live to knee jerk, fu&$in posers.. You show up late to your team, you sit on your ***, you don't show up at all, you boycott your tickets, you deserve nothing.
huh I really rich guy investing his own money and taking all the risk and abuse that comes with it looking to create more jobs and build his business even better..... and being defended by Fin-D... There. Is. Hope. Still. For. America.
I heard a description once of the sports talk radio industry as "losers calling in to complain about winners".
How was this not obvious from the beginning?... It's a bunch of bs that people can talk sh&$, create the damage to the identity, (perceived as being one of the worst fanbases in the league)be proven wrong, and not get called out, pisses me off because they have no clue the damage that it's doing when their doing it.
Definition of band wagon fan, whatta you scared of, failure?...it's fu&$in football man, it's a game...a team we love..
Some early missteps - notably the Harbaugh/Sparano fiasco, but he genuinely seems to want to win, and is willing to throw his wealth around to help the team. Can't really ask for much more than that from an owner, especially a new one.
The definition of a bandwagon fan is someone who only follows the team when they are winning. If the Dolphins have been winning for the better part of the last 13 years, someone feel free to correct me.
I'm simply saying that Ross did make some mistakes early on and has learned from them. I still don't want him making football decisions, as he did at some points in his early going...For example, it's been widely reported that he stepped in and didn't give his stamp of approval on the Orton trade...Now, he was right and I agreed with him way then and still do, but I think anytime you get a Jerry Jones type of owner, you are going to have problems from a football perspective... I'm not complaining by any stretch of the imagination of what they are doing and what Ross is trying to accomplish with the Fins. If anything, I like that he has forced a direction into the FO folks. That was missing with Mr. H, particularly later on as he was moving himself out of the picture. I also would resent be referred to as a fair weather fan since I've been following the fins since I was a ball boy in the 1968 training camp...
with all due respect DJ, ANYBODY who is regularly on these boards isn't a bandwagon fan....regardless of viewpoint....
Someone who only supports their team when they start to win is my definition of the word. Supports or follows, same thing.
All the stadium fluff and uniform changes in the world won't put people in the seats... Fixing the product on the field is the only way to do it. Philbin had a decent year and seems respected. Juror is still out on this team and coaching staff. This year will tell us alot more about how the fans will react. PS if you won games like the pats have been tha last 10 years we would sit on rocks and be happy!
While it is important to support during a down period, blind faith and loyalty is not always good, it gives little incentive to improve. We are fans, but also customers and consumers, and we have a right to speak with our wallets and presence. Football is a product. If you buy Chevy all your life, then get a bad one, then another, people are not faulted for trying a Ford. If you go to the same restaurant many times, then suddenly start getting bad service and bad food, you are not faulted for going elsewhere. Football is no different really, though most people will tend to just ratchet back on fandom or go to another sport rather than join up with another team.
I don't know why things like this are being said as if we can only have one or the other. its not "Renovated stadium and new logo/unis OR a better team". Nor is it that the renovations and logo changes are supposed to be an illusion to distract us from the product on the field. Its an organization, a team, AND a culture. Our GM and HC are working on their plan to improve the team, and its unfolding nicely so far. Meanwhile it seems our owner is really picking up his game to help improve the environment, both of these enhancing the culture. Enjoy the culture changes which are all heading in a positive/more modern direction, while the team itself does too. No need to shoot down positives.
I would bet money that he didn't and hasn't vetoed any football player decision on his own merit. How can I bash a guy wanting to aquire Jim Harbaugh at all costs, he inherited a joke if a pres of football ops, and a head coach that was over his head..maybe his gut told him Parcells wasn't there for the right reasons and sparano gave him the geebees.
Maybe so..I was speaking about more of what happens in the masses, and the specific mentality that before you support, you must see results, if that is someone's philosophy of being a fan, then I don't care that their a member here, it's still weakness fandom.
I can't believe I have to continue to make this point, it's not blind faith, it's not freakin home risk. it's compartmentalizing each individual move, setting a fair platform for which they can perform, and collecting enough data so I don't look like a fool in the long run and so I don't unnecessarily criticize and damage the culture of the team without thoroughly thinking about the variables.. If the restaurant gets new mgt and a new chef I'm willing to not judge them on their previous mgt and chef.
Ross has always been a great businessman. As an owner yes, he was naive but he learned a good lesson. Loved it from Phoenix when he went back at reporters and said Hey you are the guys that say we are this or that so you say whatever you want, I am saying nothing. GOOD FOR YOU MR. ROSS. For the most part the press and media are no different then having an open wound heal sloooooowly on ones body. Ross is ok in my book.
But that's not what I got. I got him saying before he supports the idea of Ross as a good owner we must win. He never mentioned anything about being a fan of the Dolphins. It's ok to question anything the team does, its owners, GM, specific players. Saying you won't be a fan anymore, or go fishing instead is one thing. Questioning whether Ross is a good owner, and setting standards for that question, is another.
I've both defended and attacked Ross, but that aside... Does anyone have any details on the cellphone thing?
. I have no problem with reservations, but I think you owe it to your team to frame those concerns in a way where it's not damaging to the culture.. Last year I was lost about Philbin, I had no clue if his demeanor was going to be effective, I made an effort not to criticize what I wasn't sure about, just that I wasn't sure...