To broil or not to broil is the Dolphins question

ORLANDO -- What is more important, to make Dolphins fans more comfortable in early season home games?

Or to make visiting teams more uncomfortable in early season home games.

You cannot have both.

The Dolphins have decided it's more important to keep their fans comfortable. And that is why owner Stephen Ross has officially requested that the NFL schedule as few as possible 1 p.m. home games for the Dolphins early in the coming season.

This despite the obvious weather advantage the Dolphins enjoyed for years when visiting teams often wilted in the heat and humidity of early season 1 p.m. games at Sun Life Stadium.

"Our goal is to have as few games at 1 p.m. in the early part of the season as possible," Ross said Monday during a chat with South Florida media at the NFL owner's meetings. "We've let the league know that. Last year was a great schedule. If I can duplicate that schedule we've done a great job. I like night games, four o'clock games, that kind of stuff earlier in the year."

Frankly, this is akin to the Buffalo Bills asking the league not to schedule too many December home games because it might snow. Sure that snow can make the fans miserable and, trust me, I've walked through that crowd, they're not happy.

But the football side of the Bills' organization believes the snow and cold and wind is part of their home field advantage. And they love it!

The Dolphins have enjoyed an equally inarguable advantage early in the season on their home field when temps can soar to the high 90s and the humidity threatens to drain every ounce of energy and desire from one's body.

Playing primarily 1 p.m. games in September, the Dolphins posted a 24-6 home record from 1990 through 2006. The team, after all, practiced in the heat and was prepared to play in the heat when opponents were not.

The most obvious example of the home field heatvantage came in the 2005 opener when the Dolphins beat the Broncos 34-10 not because they were better more likely because that team had three players go out of the game suffering from heat exhaustion and cramps. Denver, accustomed to the thin mountain air, melted down in the second half.

But Ross thinks having those early season games at 1 p.m. can be a home field disadvantage if fans aren't in their seats.

"The fact is when you see you’re winning but still see empty orange seats, and they [the fans] really want to be there, which would you choose?” Ross asked.

The Dolphins have chosen. Which do you think is the right choice?

[BLOG NOTE: Coach Tony Sparano will have a breakfast round-table at 7 a.m. Come back during the day for updates on what he said.]

Comments

[Marc]

What does this have to do with Orlando? You had my hopes up there for a minute

[Richard3000]

first.

[odinseye]

BS Armando.

This is straight up BS!!!!

Parcell's should punch the wussbag just for even thinking it!

Ross must be a candy arse!

[Ace]

What the HE|| are they thinking?????

[odinseye]

I thought this silver spooned punk was supposed stay out of football operations. Doesn't our season schedule fall under football operations.

UNFREAKINGBELIEVABLE!!!!

[B.M]

How about the wuss fans, the few who show up, wear shorts and a t-shirt ? Put some sun block on and watch your team win !

[odinseye]

How does taking away one of most notorious home field advantages in the NFL help the Miami Dolphins.
This has been our most important home field advantages since the inception of this team.

I'll bet Joe Robbie's puking in his grave.

[Garuche]

Don't they sell more beer in the heat? What a idiot this guy is

[El gusano]

I guess it doesn't matter if the fans burn does it??????You buffoons need to keep your mouths shut!

Posted by: NJ PHIN FAN | March 23, 2010 at 12:19 AM

This was posted by the fake NJ. Good job though.

[DyingBreed]

If you want your salad tossed , call me. SLURP !!

[odinseye]

I would like to see Don Shula's or Larry Csonka's take on this.

I know Mandich is facing some very serious issues right now. I hope he doesn't even have to hear this sissy boy crap.

[odinseye]

I guess it doesn't matter if the fans burn does it??????You buffoons need to keep your mouths shut!

Posted by: NJ PHIN FAN | March 23, 2010 at 12:19 AM

This was posted by the fake NJ. Good job though.

Posted by: El gusano | March 23, 2010 at 12:30 AM

How is this the fake NJ? It's in blue?

[Ginnwhite305]

They sell more water in heat gives the team a edge and like the players were use to it atleast i am. The
Should have put
More 1 oclock games

[odinseye]

Shula's training camps were excruciating in the south Florida heat. There was a reason for this.
Our home field advantage IS the heat. The advantage was our reward for being the superiorly conditioned team.

Ross unequivocally knows this!
What a F U C K I N G sellout.

[DyingBreed]

Odinseye , click NJ's name in blue and you'll get a bogus typepad account.

[Standley23]

This could put Miami with more national coverage on tv. Being a east coast team playing at 4pm when the west plays. They could have most of the east coast lockdown on tv espeacially when they play another eastcoast team! It's good for fans who don't live in Miami. It still is pretty humid at 4 and warmer than most of the country.

[T Howell]

WTF! Teams hate coming here in September to play in our steambath weather! Ross is a freaking assclown.

[Mike Genitl]

I never bought into the heat deal and the wearing all white uniforms at home. I know Shula believed in it. During the start of the season, it does not matter. It's very hot every where! Texas is near 100 degrees in September. I think the South Florida heat only really helps at the end of the year when teams have been playing in the cold for 2 months and are not used to the Heat and humidity anymore when they come down in December and January. During playoff games going back to the 70's I saw the away teams having a hard time with the heat in January.

[William jackson]

As a season ticket holder from Maryland I think it sucks! The airlines have all cut back their schedules and having later games forces us fans from the north (and there's a lot of us that fly down) to either miss more games, miss extra time at work or all try to stock up on the few flights that go to DC, MD, and NY late at night! I like the advantage of the heat and the 1pm games and I kind block the sun in many ways as a fan! Boo!

[Beastmode]

Here's another take on the issue. If changing the time of the games brings more fans, the dolphins will have more support, noise and the players will be fired up. Having said that, Ross will probably request for more Jimmy buffet to play through the speakers changing the environment from a hostile one to a happy welcoming, key west environment

[odinseye]

Standley,

I respect your posts and you right to an opinion. While this post has it's valid points, it still sounds to me like some kind of apologetic spin.

I think this wussbag move by Ross is atrocious.

PS: I can already tell my alchohol tab is going to run high this week!

[odinseye]

Mike Genitl

It may be hot in Texas opening weekend.

Duh, we play New England, NY and Buffalo every year.

[THUNDERBOLT]

I was at that 2005 broncos game. It was a boiling hot typical S FL day. Close game till the second half then you could see the Broncos just all the sudden quit. All the sudden they all just had enough. Thats only one game in five years tho and the stadium was 1/4 empty. Its better to have late games for the fans.

[Eric]

Stephen Ross is just trying to figure out why the fans aren't coming to the stadium. Here's a hint: the team has sucked for ten years.

[odinseye]

It's late and I'm ranting and raving, I know.
So just let me state my opion of Ross's candy a s s e d silver spooned thinking one more time:

B U L L S H I T!!!!

[THUNDERBOLT]

Beast mode i agree. More fans will show up to later games and then go celebrate with some south beach drinks... Without the DUIs. I love livin in Florida :)

[jthowell474]

I think they should continue with the old schedule! Remember when everyone hated to play the fins at home? The heat and humidity combined with stands full of white waving towels made for a 12th man on the field! On another note, if you'd bother to read the intro to the blogs, you'd know that profanity and personal blogging that is not "on point" is frowned upon by the powers that be. So, get a life (or get a room) to all of you that want to talk about stuff other than Dolphin's stuff. You're wasting my time and that of others for no good reason other than stroking your own pathetic egos! This blog is about our favorite team; the Miami Dolphins. Not about you!

[odinseye]

THUNDER-DUD

No matter what times the games are played, we practice and condition in the South Florida heat. Being the better conditioned team has been a stalwart characteristic of the Miami Dolphins from day one.
To take away that competitive edge for the convenience of some fair weather fans is absolute P U S S Y D O M.

Anyone that condones this, including you sir are P U S S I E S!!!!

[THUNDERBOLT]

Odinseye ur momma

[Odinseye momma]

THUNDERBOLT is a P-U_S_S_Y !!

[THUNDERBOLT]

Fact is i was at the 100 plus degree game and stadium was 3/4 full with one half fins and and the other quarter broncos fans. What home advantage. It was the first game of the year and we actually had a decent team! U ever think the reason fins won all those games in the heat with Shula was because he was a GREAT coach with lots of talent and theyd of won no matter what. That heat really helped us when the black jersey wearing raiders came to town and kicked our arse with culpepper at qb. Jeesh ur a moron.

[odinseye]

When we go up to Foxboro, the Meadowlands or Ralp Wilson stadium late in the season, you don't think it gives our division rivals an edge?
You don't think those guys just love getting us up there in the icy snow?
What's wrong with you dolts?

I can hear Tom Brady and Belicheat laughing already.

How freaking embarassing. Thanks Steve!!!!

[Ev.]

Honestly, i'm all for it...Hell sometimes it's hotter at night,with the humidity,it's so sticky and hot in south florida at night that i don't think it would make a real difference. But it would be nice to be out of the sun.

[odinseye]

Thanks Mom.

Thunder-dud,

You sir are a V A G I N A!!!!

[Standley23]

Odinseye- I agree with you, I was just looking for something positive out of this situation. It sucks! Every week before I read the match ups and IR reports, the first thing I check is the forecast.

[THUNDERBOLT]

Like u said ur ranting. Rant away and dont forget to kick ur dog before you go to bed loser.

[Give Me Ass Kickers...NOT Orange Carpet]

I'm no Billionaire... so I haven't any say --
(I get that.)

But for whatever its worth...

THIS GUY IS GOING TO SCREW UP EVERYTHING I L O V E!!!

He will eventually put the team in some 'Dollar Dome.'
There will be no Sunshine, fresh air, or Grass.
then...
he'll try to install suspended Stages high above the field so that more GLORIFIED AMERICAN IDOL STARS can perform while the game is played below.

G-d Help us all once Parcells leaves.
.
.

[fishypete]

O.K....Why is there more of a reason for fans to be there after 4pm than 1pm...the games are played mostly on Sunday...now unless Ross is thinking that most fans are going to go to church rather than a football game...I can't see any other reasonable answer than that. Seems Ross doesn't care about benefit's from playing in hot weather...nor tradition....of course it could be too early for all the minority owners to make the games at 1pm...yea I know...ruff life.

[odinseye]

TUNDER DUD,

Shula was a great coach. What the hell does that have to do with this you genius.
In case you didn't know Tony Sporano ain't no Don Shula.
The point is, you don't give up any possible tatical edge for the comfort of some candy a s s e d bystanders.
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen p u s s y!!!!

When I play black jack, I count cards. When my gun runs out of ammo, it becomes a hammer.

Thunder-dolt go put on some sun screen get an umbrella and quit messing with me PUNK!!!!

[odinseye]

Odinseye- I agree with you, I was just looking for something positive out of this situation. It sucks! Every week before I read the match ups and IR reports, the first thing I check is the forecast.

Posted by: Standley23 | March 23, 2010 at 01:37 AM

I do the same thing.

I thought the rule changes for QB's and WR's was wussified, now this. Unreal!

[Give Me Ass Kickers...Not Orange Carpet]

Well...they have to have a full opportunity to have all the C -list Celebs perform from 12 to 3:30.

What does ANY of this have to do with FOOTBALL??
.
.

[NJack]

Its not comfort he is thinking about, its selling out the stadium, its making money. Its still a business, don't forget that.

[odinseye]

Like u said ur ranting. Rant away and dont forget to kick ur dog before you go to bed loser.

Posted by: THUNDERBOLT | March 23, 2010 at 01:37 AM

On a serious note, I love dogs. It's a certain people that I tend to have problems with.

[odinseye]

Its not comfort he is thinking about, its selling out the stadium, its making money. Its still a business, don't forget that.

Posted by: NJack | March 23, 2010 at 01:49 AM

Explain to me how this ultimately sells more tickets.
The people that would let the heat deter them aren't real fans and probably wouldn't be going regardless of the weather.
How many times have you had the chance to go to a game and thought to yourself; wait a minute, let me check the weather and see how hot it's going to be?

FACT: Sometimes we will lose games no matter what, but more times than not, the hot humid Florida weather plays to our advantage.

[THUNDERBOLT]

Sept 7 2008 brett fvre and jets beat miami opening day in miamis heat "advantage". Fast forward to December same year we beat KC in an ice storm and then clinched against the Jets in their "cold advantage". Ur entitled to ur own opinion but not ur own facts.

[odinseye]

Ross's assistant: Mr. Ross you have a message from a Mr. Rex Ryan.

Mr. Ross: Well...read it.

Ross's assistant: Sir it says-Ahh HA HA HAW!!!!

[beerphin]

if the dolphins shop smiley i bet u they go Iupati in the draft they are validly concerned about their O line as they should be gotta build for the future

[Standley23]

Don't forget we opened up last year with a primtime game and lost to the Colts, the Colts D was still huffin & puffin from the Humidity and wore them down! I have seen plenty of games at night where the humidty shut down the vistors. You ask anyone who visits South Florida and the say it's not the heat it's the humidity.

[odinseye]

THUNDER-DOLT

I'm not debating this with someone as ill prepared/equipped as you obviously are.

You can't just pull 2 or 3 random exceptions out of your A S S and expect it to be accepted as revisionist history.

Talk to anyone that has been there and played the games. It's a well known fact that many teams absolutely hated playing in the Miami heat.

This is from your own post you DOLT: I know Shula believed in it.
Shula is a Hall of fame coach, that has won more games than anyone else. Guess where he won MOST of those games you idiot.
Hmmm, now let me see, who should I believe Don Shula, or the Dunder-Dork.
I'm going with Shula Douche Bag!!!!

Ahh Ha ha Ha!!!!

[Standley23]

The best Shula trick was he used to have the vistors lockeroom AC turned all the way up and kept ours off. When halftime was over the vistors would come out all cooled down and that heat would hit them like ton of bricks.

[tu papi johnson]

what about coch papi chulo?

[odinseye]

You ask anyone who visits South Florida and the say it's not the heat it's the humidity.

Posted by: Standley23 | March 23, 2010 at 02:10 AM

I agree with you again. The humidity is definitely the real deal. When I lived down there I worked outside. It was pure hell, I LOVED IT!
I've been a Dolphins fan since the days of Csonka and Warfield. I've been there, I've seen it. Over the seasons/years the South Florida weather has played to our advantage.

[THUNDERBOLT]

The weather won us one game in five years whoa im blown away. Name another Non Shula era game fins won against a team they should have lost because of a 1pm game. Tick tick tick tock. Yeah the black jersey wearing gimp dumbta culpepper sure looked tired outrunning JT to the endzone. And that heat sure wore out ed reed and company when the Ravens killed us in our home playoff game. This aint 1960 anymore todays athletes train year round. Ur comical man.

[Joeyrn27]

I think it's great, I hate the 1o'clock games, I only go to night games because alcohol and the 1 o'clock sun don't mix well.

[odinseye]

The best Shula trick was he used to have the vistors lockeroom AC turned all the way up and kept ours off. When halftime was over the vistors would come out all cooled down and that heat would hit them like ton of bricks.

Posted by: Standley23 | March 23, 2010 at 02:24 AM

Good one Standley. That's what I'm talking about. Those are the kinds of things that made Don Shula a hero of mine.
A strategist taking advantage of every possible weapon.

[THUNDERBOLT]

So odinseye. What magical temperature do the fins lose their tremendous advantage? What a joke. Later.

[odinseye]

Ur comical man.

Posted by: THUNDERBOLT | March 23, 2010 at 02:33 AM

Finally, a compliment. Thank you DunderDolt.

[odinseye]

THUNDER DOLT

Get over here!

Don't you run from me punk!!!!

[Brendan]

Ross, you damn commie!!! We all should be comfortable, whawha! What's next... cheaper tickets so we can all afford to go to a game. jk. Sorry, I've been watching Fox News.

When Leftist complained about something about America, people on the right would say to get out. Now that the right have something to complain about are they going to take their own advice and get the helll out themselves. I hope so.

[odinseye]

I think it's great, I hate the 1o'clock games, I only go to night games because alcohol and the 1 o'clock sun don't mix well.

Posted by: Joeyrn27 | March 23, 2010 at 02:34 AM

Doh!!!! I hadn't thought of that-LOL.