Hatred of the Patriots is old. I rooted for the Rams but mostly because I have dozens of friends from USC who are suffering Rams fans, some still hurting from the Super Bowl loss to the Steelers so long ago. They didn't care about the 1999 title in St. Louis but regained loyalty upon the move back to Los Angeles.
I'n thrilled and relieved that Brady never went unbeaten. That's when I hated New England. He was a legitimate threat to run the table for a decade or so. Once Brady reached a certain age that I no longer worried about that, my animosity toward that team really plummeted. To put together such a smart resourceful versatile dedicated team and have it extend for nearly two decades is beyond remarkable. And consequently the cheating claims are likewise stale. No doubt there was some of that but it cannot explain more than a minimal fraction.
Besides, pro rivalries are nothing compared to college rivalries. I'll always like the New York Jets based on that legendary AFL pride victory in Super Bowl III, which I attended as a kid and remains the most significant game in pro football history. Joe Namath looked great tonight while carrying the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the post game ceremony.
I'll care about NFL rivalries if the Dolphins are properly slotted with Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, and either Atlanta, New Orleans or Carolina. That should have happened more than 20 years ago, as soon as the Jaguars franchise debuted.
Well said.
In addition, for me, is when my favorite team (Dolphins) is competitive against another team(s) and that team has blocked Miami from achieving the goals of winning the division, playoff games and ultimately the Super Bowl.
That's why I hated the Cowboys, Raiders and Colts in the 70s because they were the teams that ended Dolphin runs toward winning Super Bowls. And I say hated because I was an emotional child whose well-being depended on the Dolphins winning.
I strongly disliked the 49ers and Montana after beating Miami in the Super Bowl following 84 season even though they were my second favorite team as a kid. And I strongly disliked the Pats the following year beating Miami in the AFC Championship game.
I disliked the Bills during the 80s and 90s when they had Kelly, Thomas, Smith and company dominating the division and Miami lost to them 3 times in the playoffs in the 90s. Perhaps it's dislike rather than strongly dislike as result of emotionally maturing with age or because Miami was good, not great during those years. Although 92' season was bit more painful due to hosting the Bills in AFC Championship game an losing. The closer they get, the more painful the loss.
With the Patriots it's different. I don't think the Patriots have blocked Miami from anything. Miami has simply not been good enough to compete with the Patriots in the Belichick / Brady era. Had Miami throughout these years been in a position to win the division against the Pats or played the Pats in the playoffs and lost close games to them with the Pats winning because of a bad call or two then maybe my respect for the Pats accomplishments would instead be a dislike for them. But Miami has clearly not been in their league the past 17 years.
The two times Miami (2008, 2016) did make the playoffs during the Belichick / Brady ere wasn't due to Miami transforming into a playoff caliber team. The #1 reason for Miami making the playoffs both years is they played cupcake schedules. To the Dolphins credit they beat the bottom of the barrel teams (almost all were close, one-score games) and glad they did. However, against the Ravens and Steelers in the Wild Card games they showed they weren't close to being good enough to make a run to the Super Bowl, let alone win it.
I'm reminded of being a huge Michael Jordan fan (and now LeBron) and some friends hated Jordan b/c they liked other teams. I was always grateful to enjoy watching what I considered to be the greatest player of all-time as it was happening. Gratitude much more better feeling than hatred!!!
I don't like the Pats like I did Jordan or do LeBron, but I respect and admire a team that has been able to do. Respect is also a whole lot better feeling to me than hatred. And that would be a whole lot of hatred for a long time against the Pats since they have been nothing short of amazing for a long time. The most dominant run in professional sports I've seen in my lifetime.
Now if Flores comes in and is able to change the culture in Miami and the Dolphins become Super Bowl worthy and the Patriots block them from getting there, similar posts about my thoughts toward the Pats may be a bit different :)
