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What is it like to be a Dolphins fan?

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Bpk, Nov 15, 2013.

  1. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

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    Your assertion that any of this is the fault of the fans is absurd. I don't know of any location where the fan base continues to show up to watch a team that has been merely mediocre for over a decade.

    You state that you used to be a season ticket holder when you lived in South Florida, and complain about the current regime and the front office. You also state that as a long time fan, you have had enough and won't support the team anymore if things don't get straightened out. You then go on and blame the fan base and the location for the problems with the Dolphins.

    If you as a long time fan are ready to give up your support of this team because of the problems with the current regime and the front office. Why should you expect the fans in South Florida to go to the games and support these same individuals by spending their money on this franchise?

    The problem is with the team and the organization and not the fan base. The fans, by not attending games, are merely expressing the same frustration you are when you state you are fed up with the way this team is being run from the top down. Why you think fans should continue to show up and support this team at home games, while stating you are ready to give up on this team after being a long time fan is beyond be.

    The fan base doesn't hire the GM, coaches, or select the players to be drafted or signed in free agency. So blaming the fan base or the location for the mediocre teams this organization has put on the field for most of the past 10 years makes no sense at all.
     
    MikeHoncho likes this.
  2. vt_dolfan

    vt_dolfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    I can actually remember a time...when I couldnt imagine us NOT being a relevant team.

    I just want to get back to playing consistently meaningful December football games. I will always be a glass half full Phins fan. Havent given up this season..and wont. What the hell..worse things to delusional about right?

    Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
     
  3. Arodgers12

    Arodgers12 Well-Known Member

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    You guys aren't a bad franchise. Your the only undefeated team ever That is a huge accomplishment that nobody could ever do.
     
  4. trickyric

    trickyric New Member

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    This is not that franchise.
    Different owner, different stadium, Different coaches and different Logo.
     
    Da 'Fins likes this.
  5. FinNasty

    FinNasty Alabama don’t want this... Staff Member Club Member

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    It's great! I wish the team was more successful as of late... but I love being a Dolphins fan.

    But I'm probably not spoiled like some others... as I started following the team as a diehard when I got to college around 2002.
     
  6. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    To be honest, I don't see how its worse to be a fan now, than it was after 83.

    Being relevant but not relevant enough to make it to the Super Bowl for almost 2 decades is just as torturous as not being relevant for a decade or so, to me.

    Do I want us to be relevant again? Of course, but not relevant for 20 years and never progress either.
     
  7. MonstBlitz

    MonstBlitz Nobody's Fart Catcher

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    I've enjoyed being a Dolphins fan my entire life, and that includes the 2007 season. The pure joy I got from that 1 win made the whole season worth it. I've also enjoyed being a fan during this present stretch of mind numbing mediocrity.

    That being said, so far, the Parcells regime outside of 2008 has been the least amount of fun I've had being a Dolphins fan. That regime continues today as Jeff Ireland is still in the employ of the Miami Dolphins. Like a disgusting **** smear that doesn't go down the toilet bowl after 5 flushes. I do find it depressing at times. I think this is because the Dolphins organization has taken on the very hateable personality of the FO. But it's only temporary. A culture change is hopefully coming soon.
     
    Da 'Fins likes this.
  8. jaymoney

    jaymoney it's magic baby

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    Pretty depressed, when was the last superbowl game for Dolphins? I don't even remember...and since im far far away from Miami, i don't have any chance to talk or share the opnion about Dolphins(heck, not even about football) except this place. But right now with all these mess, it'd be better to just shut up i guess. But i'll keep support them, i believe things will be better.
     
    Bpk likes this.
  9. Bpk

    Bpk Premium Member Luxury Box

    You're a good fan. And you should try listening to the Finsiders' daily show and drop by the geico comment center (chatroom) for some Dolphins fan camaraderie.
     
    jaymoney likes this.
  10. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    you made me click that link...bastard..lol
     
  11. Bpk

    Bpk Premium Member Luxury Box

    LOL!

    :)

    I'll PM you something.
     
  12. Finrunner

    Finrunner Season Ticket Holder

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    Because I was practically born and raised as a Dolphins fan, the team is like step-family to me. When I was young and in their glory years, there was the unbreakable bond that formed, both with the team and the players themselves, who used to be around a lot longer. Despite not winning a Super Bowl, growing up as a teen and young adult in the Marino years just made watching the Dolphins a joyous experience for the most part. I've mentioned before in these threads that if I ever saw Don Shula, I'd want to give him a hug, because he seems like a long, lost grandfather to me. Since the Shula years, which is essentially the first half of the franchise's existence, there's been a lot of turnover in coaching staffs and players. The era of free agency is a part of the issue of why fans don't feel as close to their teams anymore. Still, you do sort of fall in love with the guys that last... your Zach Thomases and Jason Taylors. But the losing is definitely frustrating. Nonetheless, as I've gotten older the sort of brother-bond has transitioned to more of a surrogate father role, and the team is just one I have to love despite its lost wanderings. Lack of stability in GMs and coaches, as well as poor choices, have led to bad drafts, misuses of assets, and lots of mediocrity and losses. Obviously, different from the Shula years, you never expect to win anymore; you just hope.

    The years since Marino left have been a unique and bizarre experience. I can't ever turn my back on the team, but when I put myself in younger fans' shoes who never saw the best days of the franchise, I can feel the despair. If I would have been born twenty years later, I don't know if I'd be a fan - certainly, it wouldn't be like it is. As it is, though, I am a Dolphins fan and will be until I pass away. For now, that means a lot of misery and frustration, but hopefully, in a year or two, we can taste some of the good times again. It does feel far away, though. But the NFL is a strange business. Just gotta hope.
     
  13. Da 'Fins

    Da 'Fins Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    Loved reading all the posts. For me there's the short version and the long version.

    Short version - the last 20 years have been depressing and just fatiguing. Even when the team was making the playoffs they were so flawed, offensively and defensively, that it held out little hope. Really, last 28 years (since the 85 SB) each season has ended in depression.

    Long version:

    I was not a diehard Dolphin fan in the 70's. I lived in Buffalo and rooted for the Bills but was not super diehard with them. I was a big AFC fan and Raider and Dolphin fan also (just respected Shula, rooted for them hard in each SB. Loved when they won in 72 and 73; and loved the Raiders SB win in '76. Probably my last feeling of true joy at the end of an NFL season). But, even though I was not a big Dolphins fan, I totally respected their players - Csonka, Warfield, Kiick, the interior triumvirate of Little, Langer and Keuch. And, the no name defense was great to watch.

    I loved the NFL generally, though (still do). It helped me through some gruesome times with family as a kid (violent divorce and a few years later the death of my father at age 11). It was one of my escapes. The Sabol family will always have a significant place in my heart. NFL Films gave me a great escape each week. And, the HBO show with Buoniconti and Len Dawson was one of my favorites. So, in spite of bad years with the Dolphins, I still enjoy the NFL.

    I became a diehard Dolphin fan when they drafted Marino. I loved how he threw the ball like Joe Namath when I first saw him play when he was a freshman at Pitt. Thought it was the steal of the century when Miami drafted Marino. When he took over as a starter in the game against the Bills his rookie year, I was hooked (I had moved from Buffalo and lost some interest in the team). Really thought they could have won the SB in '85 had they been a bit better prepared for what SF would do to them (instead of blitzing as every other team had done all year and Marino destroyed them, they rushed four and dropped 7 into coverage regularly - it threw Dan off). And, injuries on D hurt also in that game and that year. Went to a few Miami games in the early 80's (including a great playoff victory over the Browns and Kosar, 24-21, after trailing 21-3 entering the 4th quarter. The OB was literally shaking and incredibly loud); and went to a few games in the 90's but could not stand Joe Robbie stadium.

    So, here we are. Ultimately, I would say "fatigued" is the best way to describe it. It's like getting beat up every day you go to school. After a while you just get tired of it. I have thankfully learned that being a sports fan is not the most important thing; that it's just a game. This helps. But, I really can't get super-excited about a team that perennially fails and does not develop players (other than maybe Cam Wake) that you can get behind and feel like they are mainstays on the team. So much turnover and dysfunction. It's just a mess and so I enjoy conversing about them but I can't really put as much emotion into them as I used to. Takes too much away from life! :)
     
    Finrunner likes this.
  14. mnfinfan

    mnfinfan Active Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Exactly my thoughts, he sucked me in 1984, went all the way to the Super Bowl, AFC Championship after 1985 and then absolutely bloody nothing...
     

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