Sometimes I don't like being a fan

[MaineDolFan]

Actually, lately, most times.

Back in my media days, I covered a ton of big games.  This included a couple of the Patriots Super Bowls and all of their AFC Title games.  My relatives, who are all Pats fans, were insanely jealous.  They would always ask "doesn't a small part of you cheer for the Pats, once Miami is out of it?"  The answer was always no.  I liked the guys, I liked the staff members.  They were always nice to me.  It was fun covering the team.  I didn't root against them, but I was able to stay very unbiased. 

One of those family members went to the game yesterday, he is a season ticket holder (after years of waiting).  As he does, he started text bombing me once the game turned in the favor of the Pats.  Finally, however, he hit me with:

"Being a fan is supposed to be fun.  When was the last time you had any fun?"

That kind of hit me pretty hard.  Being a fan IS supposed to be fun.  I can't remember the last time I had fun supporting this team.  Every year ~EVERY ONE ~ is filled with the same garbage.  Maybe if they do this, maybe if they address that...well then...Miami MIGHT be a COUPLE years away from being an UP AND COMING TEAM.  It seems like Miami is always on the verge of the verge of being on the verge of the verge of "something special." 

And we stick around and buy it, every year. 

It's not any fun, though. 

I'm not having any fun.  At all.

Six or seven (if we are lucky) times a year we get something to cheer about.  That's it.  Then draft day we scratch our heads, wondering what the hell they just did.  Those musings come to life when those draft picks almost always fizzle out into nothing. 

Being a fan of this franchise, actually, sucks.

[MikeO]

Being a fan is still fun for me. Being around other fans  who have no clue what they are talking about spout off nonsense and say idiotic things is no longer fun. Also pre and post game shows or "talking heads" shows on the all sports channels aren't fun either anymore. Everything said is said to just be a sound-byte or just said to get a reactions no matter how un-true it is.

Still enjoy the games.....starting to hate everything else around sports these days

[dolphins4life]

Yes it can be frustrating to follow this team sometimes, but it's just a game and it should not be a big deal in your life.

[MaineDolFan]

it should not be a big deal in your life.

...it's not.  Don't read / put words where they don't belong.

[dolphins4life]

What does disturb me though is that I love the game of football and I expect a fair product to be put on the field.  And what we saw yesterday was not a fair product.

[masterfins]

I think you need to have realistic expectations.  Enjoy the wins, don't get bummed about the games were you know the Fins are overmatched, and be upset about the evenly matched games that are lost.  I think the team has been moving in the right direction so I try to stay pretty positive.  Now if I thought they were moving in the wrong direction, like I did as soon as Wanny became coach and starting bringing all the losers he had at Chicago, then I just don't pay attention to the product.  I'd root for them to win, but just wouldn't get upset with the losses.

[Brian Fein]

Before the game, I had no expectations. I thought the Dolphins were going to get crushed.

Going into halftime with a 2 TD lead, I thought, "hey we might pull this thing off."  It gave me hope.

Then the result - heartbreak.  They did it to me again. They raised my hope and excitement only to come out the same-old Dolphins.  Finding ways to lose...

That part, to me, is disheartening.  Had they some out and gone down 14-0 and lost 27-17, I'd have a completely different feeling about the team than I do after Sunday's game.

[MikeO]

I think you need to have realistic expectations.  Enjoy the wins, don't get bummed about the games were you know the Fins are overmatched, and be upset about the evenly matched games that are lost.  I think the team has been moving in the right direction so I try to stay pretty positive. 

Yep this team is very very young....but also talented. This heartbreak now and these tough losses will pay off in the long-run. Just growing pains. Fans don't want to hear that though.

[Brian Fein]

Yep this team is very very young....but also talented. This heartbreak now and these tough losses will pay off in the long-run. Just growing pains. Fans don't want to hear that though.

Of course not, fans want to win every year.  Everyone thinks "this is our year" and wants instant turnaround.

maybe with some cap space, next year we can shore up the o-line, retain some of the current talent.  This year is Philbin's "I want our guys" reset year.  Who's ready to do this cycle every 3 seasons.  Wanna know why we never win?  We never allow coaches to grow and improve.  We reset every 3 years.  You can't build a winner with a rookie coach every third season.  Doesn't happen.

These things take time.

Since 1995:
Johnson - lasted 4 seasons
Wannstedt - 4.5 seasons
Saban - 2 seasons
Cameron - 1 season
Sparano - 3.5 seasons
Philbin - 1.5 seasons and counting...

What other team has had 8 different head coaches in the past 18 seasons (including Bates and Bowles)?  Every time you switch, you start over at zero.  Every coach wants his players, his schemes, his assistants.

When you reset, as we have done this season, you need to build, grow, and learn.  That's what's happening now.  People need patience.  It takes TIME.



Edit to add:
Only 4 teams have had as many (or more) coaches as the Dolphins since 1995:
Bills (8 ): 3-5
Lions (8 ): 5-3
Raiders (10): 3-4
Rams (8 ): 3-5

[Spider-Dan]

One of those family members went to the game yesterday, he is a season ticket holder (after years of waiting).  As he does, he started text bombing me once the game turned in the favor of the Pats.  Finally, however, he hit me with:

"Being a fan is supposed to be fun.  When was the last time you had any fun?"

That kind of hit me pretty hard.  Being a fan IS supposed to be fun.  I can't remember the last time I had fun supporting this team.

It takes some serious stones for a Patriots fan to say that.  I would ask this family member how he managed to "have fun" for the 30 years of Patriot football prior to Tom Brady.

That being said, it's easy for any one of us to jump on the bandwagon of a winner... but what kind of enjoyment or pride would you get from that?

Isn't the quintessential sports fan experience trudging through the bad times so you can enjoy and revel in the good times?

[MikeO]

It takes some serious stones for a Patriots fan to say that.  I would ask this family member how he managed to "have fun" for the 30 years of Patriot football prior to Tom Brady.

That being said, it's easy for any one of us to jump on the bandwagon of a winner... but what kind of enjoyment or pride would you get from that?

Isn't the quintessential sports fan experience trudging through the bad times so you can enjoy and revel in the good times?

Agree 100%!! Real fans don't bail on their team!!

[Sunstroke]

Yep this team is very very young....but also talented.

I hate to be "that guy," but the more I watch this team, the less convinced I am that there is a whole lot of talent on the roster.

[dolphins4life]

I hate to be "that guy," but the more I watch this team, the less convinced I am that there is a whole lot of talent on the roster.

I disagree.  This is a team that played the Patriots AND the refs close all the way.

[MikeO]

I hate to be "that guy," but the more I watch this team, the less convinced I am that there is a whole lot of talent on the roster.

Aside from the o-line this team is good enough to compete for a playoff spot. There is talent. Not saying its "elite talent" by any means but talent nonetheless. Still areas that need improvement but they have young talent.

[el diablo]

Sometimes, like this past weekend it does suck. If they were blown out, there would be no disappointment. Losing a lead, on the road, on the heels of a 3 game skid, sucks. There's no way around that for me. I'm a passenger in a car that I'm not privileged enough to drive. Nor am I wealthy enough to afford. Hard to enjoy the ride of a constantly crashing car. For 29 years I've strapped in and held on. I'm not jumping out anytime soon. But this still sucks.

Now I'm ready for Thursday.