Not caring is worse than hate.

[Dave Gray]

JTex was over last night, talking about something LeBatard said.  I didn't hear it, and I'm paraphrasing, so this might be like a game of telephone, but the jist of it was: We can handle hating the Dolphins and their choices, if we at least care about them.  But people are starting not to care.

I agree.  I don't even watch the games with rage anymore.  It's comedy.  It's a joke.  I watch because it's become something to do with a friend of mine: have a drink and make fun of ourselves.  But it's to the point where I think people don't even care anymore.  That's bad, in this city.

[jtex316]

I want to make a bold statement: The Dolphins are the 4th - ranked Sports Franchise in South Florida.

1. Miami Heat (obviously)
2. Florida Marlins (big splashes with Ozzie Guillen, new stadium and new logo)
3. Florida Panthers (heavy advertising campaigns, big free-agent signings)
4. Miami Dolphins

In my opinion, since the Dwayne Wade era in South Florida, it's been a basketball-first metro area and a everything else metro area second - so a good 6 seasons since the Heat's foray into the Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Pistons in Shaq's first Heat season.

Now with LBJ and Bosh, that's not going to change until they retire and disband - even with a lockout looming.

The Dolphins have a lot of ground to cover if they want back into this market, and they have a lot to learn for Mickey Arison and Pat Riley on how to run, market, and organize a professional sports franchise in this area.

[Phishfan]

What is your ranking system? Popularity, success, inspiring moves (player acquisitions, new stadium), what? I can't disagree because I'm not down there. I just wonder how you ranked them.

[Sunstroke]

Thanks, Phish...I was about to try pinning that one down as well, because I can't see anything that would make me rank the Panthers over the Dolphins. Until I see that the flashy new logo and ballpark actually puts butts in the seats, I'm not sure the Marlins belong up there either.

[Cathal]

I was wondering how could you rank the Marlins above the Dolphins when absolutely no one goes to their games. I don't know about the Panthers because I don't care about hockey but I kind of doubt they'd be higher as well.

[CF DolFan]

While jtex's ranking's are off, the sentiment of people not caring is true.  I still see a lot of Dolphin stuff in Orlando but no one is excited about spending money to see them. In fact I know  people who have quit following them and couldn't name 5 people on the team that used to be sideline ticket holders. They are paying more attention to the Bucs these days. 

[tubba marxxx]

JTex was over last night, talking about something LeBatard said.  I didn't hear it, and I'm paraphrasing, so this might be like a game of telephone, but the jist of it was: We can handle hating the Dolphins and their choices, if we at least care about them.  But people are starting not to care.

I agree.  I don't even watch the games with rage anymore.  It's comedy.  It's a joke.  I watch because it's become something to do with a friend of mine: have a drink and make fun of ourselves.  But it's to the point where I think people don't even care anymore.  That's bad, in this city.

you hit the nail right on the head.


As far as in the city is concerned.  I don't live there, so I'm sorry if this is an inaccurate comment.  However it SEEMS as though Dolphins fans are a dying breed in your area.  What I mean by that is that it's such an attractive place to live that it's not all Dolphins fans living there.  You have the Smiths moving from Vermont to get away from the snow, but they bring their New England roots with them.  Or you have the Johnsons retiring from NYC, bringing their Giants fan base to South Beach.  So therefore you're slowly being outnumbered, and you have been for quite sometime, that it's finally caught up.  With all that being said, it's horrible timing for Miami to constantly be sub-par.


Idk..probably doesn't make sense, just a theory I have I guess

[Doc-phin]

After a while, people just go into "see it to believe it" mode.  This happens in almost any area of life where expectation is not met repeatedly.  It is mentally exhausting watching your team lose and lose and lose.

I believe everyone will return to the seats when the team shows they can win and be relied on to win with some consistency.  Until then, a few gimmick players here and there may raise an eyebrow or two.  More importantly, no players or staff should expect any noticeable raise in support until they show something repeatable.  Again, it has just been toooooooo long.  It has been so long that I don't even consider the fans that have dropped off as fairweather, they just have better things to do with their time.

[Phishfan]

While jtex's ranking's are off, the sentiment of people not caring is true.  I still see a lot of Dolphin stuff in Orlando but no one is excited about spending money to see them. In fact I know  people who have quit following them and couldn't name 5 people on the team that used to be sideline ticket holders. They are paying more attention to the Bucs these days. 

I think part of that is because it is a huge pain to attend games in Miami if you are from Orlando. The current economy just doesn't account for it. We sat down and were giving a rough calculation on the amount of money it costs and it isn't in many of my friend's budgets (except for swinging a single game). I don't know anyone who has quit following them though. I don't see how they are even following the Bucs, they're never on TV because no one is going to their games either (remember that season ticket waiting list they had about five years ago).

[EKnight]

I want to make a bold statement: The Dolphins are the 4th - ranked Sports Franchise in South Florida.

1. Miami Heat (obviously)
2. Florida Marlins (big splashes with Ozzie Guillen, new stadium and new logo)
3. Florida Panthers (heavy advertising campaigns, big free-agent signings)
4. Miami Dolphins

I'm curious as to the ranking system as well.  Forbes lists The Phins revenue last year at $247 million, with gate receipts totaling $62 million (including box seats).  The Heat brought in $124 million ($41 million from gate receipts); the Marlins brought in $144 million (Gate Receipts- $26 million), and the Panthers $76 million in revenue ($24 million in gate receipts). How does this make the Dolphins the 4th ranked team in Miami pro sports? Somebody is buying tickets and increasing Dolphin revenue. As usual, I don't follow your logic here. -EK

[Dave Gray]

JTex is way off.

Nobody gives a shit about the Marlins.
Most people don't even know that there is a Panthers.

The Dolphins are still #2, but that gap between the HEAT is getting more distant.

[Sunstroke]

The Dolphins are still #2, but that gap between the HEAT is getting more distant.

Because the Heat have Lebron, Wade & Bosh, and are perceived as a title contender going forward...while the Dolphins are considered a weak team with management that is seemingly too inept to turn things around.

Hope vs Apathy is a pretty one-sided fight...

[miamid45]

After so many years of frustration, many of us fans have grown weary of the same old crap.

We once again find the team in dissaray and in need of a major overhaul...starting with the GM and Coach.

Hard to get excited about a team that has had such terrible starts to the season and also for a team that simply lacks any big play ability.  Our offence is once again at or near the bottom of the NFL and our defence has regressed to the level of the Marino era.

[Brian Fein]

In Miami, moreso than in most places, you have to be a winner for people to care.  The guy that CF mentioned, who couldn't name 5 people on the team?  He's not a real fan.  He can suck it (no offense), we don't need shitty fans like that.

The Heat are popular NOW because they are good.  If the Dolphins are ever contenders again, that guy in CF's post will be lined up to buy season tickets again.  Its just how it is.  If you're not winning games, no one will care about you.  You become irrelevant quickly.  Conversely, if the Heat lose LBJ/Bosh/Wade and become a 0.500 team again, you'll see how quickly the bandwagon empties out.

The Marlins are generating their own buzz right now.  I will reserve judgment until I see asses in seats on a 12:40 pm Wednesday afternoon game next season.  I suspect it will be the same 350 people that were there this year.

The Panthers, believe it or not, are making a sever push to become relevant.  The signing of Dale Tallon has brought them into a place where they could become a part of the conversation again.  However, lack of big-name stars will prevent them from entering the mainstream arena since only a small fragment of south Floridians even like hockey.  However, I'd contend that the Panthers' fan base is among the most loyal in Florida.

[CF DolFan]

In Miami, moreso than in most places, you have to be a winner for people to care.  The guy that CF mentioned, who couldn't name 5 people on the team?  He's not a real fan.  He can suck it (no offense), we don't need shitty fans like that.

I agree "we" don't need him, meaning you and I, but the team certainly does.  I think we can agree that most of the fans are fair weathered and then most of the remaining don't spend anything to support "their" team.  It's the fair weathered fans that make a difference in filling those seats and paying the bills.