We are in difficult times. The world around us has changed and gotten darker. The economy stinks. And the Dolphins are missing the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years.
No one knows what will happen Sunday in Foxboro, Mass. when Miami ends the 2010 season against New England, the best team in the NFL. Will the Dolphins respond to this opportunity to salvage what has been a disappointing season? Or will we see the Dolphins we've gotten used to -- no offense, and usually good, but sometimes inconsistent defense -- fail for the ninth time in 16 games?
And what about afterward?
What will happen in the weeks and days after the season's final play? Will owner Stephen Ross keep Tony Sparano and Jeff Ireland? Or will he fire the last vestiges of the Bill Parcells era and start anew?
No one knows for certain.
I do know this: The glory days were long ago. And they haven't returned.
The Dolphins were once the winningest professional sports franchise on Earth. They boasted the fact every week in press releases. No more. Nowadays, they don't even acknowledge when they sign a player that might make them slightly less mediocre. That is not improvement.
Things have changed, folks. And for the worse. The end of this season reminds us. The franchise that was once a gleaming, shining beacon of excellence and, yes, even perfection for one fateful season ... gone.
More of today's Dolfans remember 1-15 than 17-0. Fewer of today's Dolfans remember their last playoff win. Or their last playoff game. Or their last back-to-back wins at home, for that matter.
The Dolphins, once a source of community pride, is now watching the community turn its attention to the Miami Heat. The Dolphins now more closely resemble, in the words of Johnny Cash, an empire of dirt.
[Thanks to Dolfan Joe Alvarez who created this video and passed it along to me.]
Salguero, you always state the obvious..................
Posted by: uglyaqua | December 30, 2010 at 06:13 PM
Ross needs to wake up. Sparano lost three games last year because of bad clock management/timeouts.High school coaches are better than that.He did the same thing this year.The game has passed Parcells by and he is a quitter.Look at the teams that are winning now,they have speed we have none.Size doesn't matter either its all in your heart.Fire whats left of the trifecta and hire someone who knows the game and dont let Parcells blow any more smoke up your butt.
Posted by: BVB | December 30, 2010 at 07:21 PM
here is my Phins draft for 2011:
1RD Trade Down for 2RD & 4 RD pick
2RD RB LaMichael James
3RD QB Colin Kaepernick
4RD RB Roy Helu Jr.
4RD G John Moffitt
5RD RB Kendall Hunter (or best PR/KR available)
6RD C Tim Barnes
7RD TE Martell Webb (or best DB available)
Also expect the Phins to kick the tires on the following UFA's QB Kevin Kolb, TE Owen Daniels, TE Kellen Winslow, G Kevin Boothe
Posted by: fake GM | December 31, 2010 at 07:52 AM
We don't need nice memories. We need good decisions on the part of Ross. The buck has stopped there. No one below him is capable of making them.
Posted by: Xerxes Black | December 31, 2010 at 12:27 PM
DOLPHiN FANS UNTiL WE GET RiD DEM iDiOTS n Da FRONT 0FFiCE-EXPECT EXTREME FUTILITY FOR 2011-Da PATRI0TS WILL EXP0SE EVERY D0LPHINS WEAKNESS AGAIN!
Posted by: MRjavinbur | January 01, 2011 at 06:02 AM
"Empire of dirt" I actually believe were the words of Trent Resnor and later covered by the late Johnny Cash. As for the Phins....I remember them beating the Ravens for that sole win during that horrible season and to date is the best I have ever felt watching the Dolphins win. I watch every game with intenstity and passion, but that games outcome felt like a Superbowl victory to me. I grew up in the 80s, Marino and Shula are the reason I am a die hard phin fan. There are plenty of reasons a kid would want to become a Dolphins fan today...they just got find their own reason as it isnt as clear and upfront as mine was.
Posted by: BillyMac | January 01, 2011 at 01:34 PM
If the Dolphins can sign Cowher I say go for it. But if Sparano is going to stay it will be only if he fires all, or at the very least, most of the offense coaches not just the offense coordinator. The entire offense needs to be restructured from top to bottom, front to back, and inside and out. He can't just hope Henne "gets it" as a starting NFL Quarterback. The Dolphins must do whatever it takes to move up in the NFL Draft to pick up one of the better Quarterbacks to put the heat on Henne. Real competition can spur him to either get better, or get out.
Posted by: Dolphinphil | January 02, 2011 at 01:42 AM
I watch every game here with all my friends who are Jets fans here in NY. With the exception of this years 10-6 (putrid performance)win over the Jets I am sick with dissapointment but keep coming back for more hoping one day will will become what we once were. I'm 45 yrs. old and remember what it could be as it once was. I don't have all the answers but one I do, is Henne "must go"!!! I watched this game long enough to understand this. Mr. Ross, PLEASE get a real quarterback... Living in shame in NY.
Posted by: Jim T. | January 02, 2011 at 09:18 AM