72TributeBike
☠️ Banned ☠️
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2008
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"Americans love a winner. Americans will not tolerate a loser."
This is a direct quote from General George S. Patton's famous speech to his 3rd Army during the dark days of World War II. It isn't an insightful statement, nor was it his opinion. It's just a straight-up fact. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Period.
Want proof that it is indeed fact? Look no further than the 2008 Miami Dolphins on their long, lonely march to this year's NFL playoffs.
This war the Dolphins are in started way...way back in 2007 and began in their very own fan base. As 2007 losses mounted, fans very vocally dropped from the ranks...ashamed and intolerant of a team that played poorly and without any sign of a will to win. They ripped off their uniforms. Some were sold. Some were burned. Even former members of this once proud franchise were shocked by Miami's lack of focus. By the end of the 2007 season, Miami had been gifted with just one win [a game they should have lost, too] and were power-ranked with Division 2 college teams.
Now under new leadership, remaining players from the 2007 team and some significant newcomers have been able to play again at a level that can win games.
Many of the fans have taken notice. When Miami beat Oakland this year, one fan in a sports bar in New Mexico stood up, arms raised and exclaimed, "YEAH! We don't suck this year!" The other people in the bar, fans of their own teams and watching their own games, snickered at his remark. In their minds, Miami will always suck. What the hell, right? This guy's excited about beating Oakland!?!?!?
Intolerance for losers, that's America's way. Miami will get no respect for beating other losers.
In the same sports bar some weeks later, Miami had just beaten the Chiefs when a liquored-up Steelers fan turned to the few Dolphins fans in attendance and shouted, "Hey...we want you guys in the playoffs!!!" This was his first thought after seeing his team get stomped by the Titans. The dozens of other Steeler fans cheered at his boisterous comment.
Well son, you may just get us in the playoffs...but I'm not so sure you should be rejoicing about that...for the 2008 Miami Dolphins are a team that has caught fire.
A victory on Sunday will mean nothing to the soothsayers. They'll shrug and say that the Jets are losers, too and Miami should get no respect for beating losers.
But legions of fans have rejoined the ranks of the Miami Dolphins. Instead of pitchforks and torches, we're carrying mugs and bottles of beer! Our uniforms may be a bit moth-eaten...but they still fit for we have fed little during these lean years. We wear them with pride again!
As this week's upcoming contest approaches, visions of glorious victories past begin to swirl around this team and its fans.
Somewhere...in some distant time, a black and white TV flickers on a Christmas night and a father and his son wildly cheer! Miami has just defeated Kansas City 27-24 in a history-making overtime game to advance to the AFC Championship. This moment in time still burns bright as a treasured memory for many of us older fans.
Younger fans can still see Dan the Man point to his wide-receiver for just a brief moment, and then wildly point to the ground signaling an upcoming spike of the ball as he ran to the line of scrimmage. Tick-tock-tick-tock...the game is almost over and the Jets could win...but instead of spiking, he threw the ball to his wide-out and scores! Dolphins win!
Yes, these are two wonderful memories, and it is good to think back upon them as this football season comes to a close.
But I can't help wondering...wait...maybe we are all about to witness something very new and miraculous from these Miami Dolphins this year!
Should that happen, I'm sure that the media will drop its intolerant attitude and instead embrace this team. Of course, it won't matter that much to us, fans of the Miami Dolphins. For as this season draws to its close, we can no longer find intolerance within our own ranks. All we find is unity, goodwill, and a ravenous appetite.
We want to feed!
THIS WEEKEND...WE DINE IN HELL!
This is a direct quote from General George S. Patton's famous speech to his 3rd Army during the dark days of World War II. It isn't an insightful statement, nor was it his opinion. It's just a straight-up fact. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Period.
Want proof that it is indeed fact? Look no further than the 2008 Miami Dolphins on their long, lonely march to this year's NFL playoffs.
This war the Dolphins are in started way...way back in 2007 and began in their very own fan base. As 2007 losses mounted, fans very vocally dropped from the ranks...ashamed and intolerant of a team that played poorly and without any sign of a will to win. They ripped off their uniforms. Some were sold. Some were burned. Even former members of this once proud franchise were shocked by Miami's lack of focus. By the end of the 2007 season, Miami had been gifted with just one win [a game they should have lost, too] and were power-ranked with Division 2 college teams.
Now under new leadership, remaining players from the 2007 team and some significant newcomers have been able to play again at a level that can win games.
Many of the fans have taken notice. When Miami beat Oakland this year, one fan in a sports bar in New Mexico stood up, arms raised and exclaimed, "YEAH! We don't suck this year!" The other people in the bar, fans of their own teams and watching their own games, snickered at his remark. In their minds, Miami will always suck. What the hell, right? This guy's excited about beating Oakland!?!?!?
Intolerance for losers, that's America's way. Miami will get no respect for beating other losers.
In the same sports bar some weeks later, Miami had just beaten the Chiefs when a liquored-up Steelers fan turned to the few Dolphins fans in attendance and shouted, "Hey...we want you guys in the playoffs!!!" This was his first thought after seeing his team get stomped by the Titans. The dozens of other Steeler fans cheered at his boisterous comment.
Well son, you may just get us in the playoffs...but I'm not so sure you should be rejoicing about that...for the 2008 Miami Dolphins are a team that has caught fire.
A victory on Sunday will mean nothing to the soothsayers. They'll shrug and say that the Jets are losers, too and Miami should get no respect for beating losers.
But legions of fans have rejoined the ranks of the Miami Dolphins. Instead of pitchforks and torches, we're carrying mugs and bottles of beer! Our uniforms may be a bit moth-eaten...but they still fit for we have fed little during these lean years. We wear them with pride again!
As this week's upcoming contest approaches, visions of glorious victories past begin to swirl around this team and its fans.
Somewhere...in some distant time, a black and white TV flickers on a Christmas night and a father and his son wildly cheer! Miami has just defeated Kansas City 27-24 in a history-making overtime game to advance to the AFC Championship. This moment in time still burns bright as a treasured memory for many of us older fans.
Younger fans can still see Dan the Man point to his wide-receiver for just a brief moment, and then wildly point to the ground signaling an upcoming spike of the ball as he ran to the line of scrimmage. Tick-tock-tick-tock...the game is almost over and the Jets could win...but instead of spiking, he threw the ball to his wide-out and scores! Dolphins win!
Yes, these are two wonderful memories, and it is good to think back upon them as this football season comes to a close.
But I can't help wondering...wait...maybe we are all about to witness something very new and miraculous from these Miami Dolphins this year!
Should that happen, I'm sure that the media will drop its intolerant attitude and instead embrace this team. Of course, it won't matter that much to us, fans of the Miami Dolphins. For as this season draws to its close, we can no longer find intolerance within our own ranks. All we find is unity, goodwill, and a ravenous appetite.
We want to feed!
THIS WEEKEND...WE DINE IN HELL!
