More Than Sports

Living in Connecticut, I’ve been asked one too many times “Why are you a dolphins fan?”. Usually I respond with the same few answers; “My dad is a dolphins fan.” “I have family living in Florida.” “I just grew up rooting for the dolphins”. More recently however, I’ve been thinking about what it means to be a dolphins fan, and more specifically a sports fan in general.

In my opinion, there’s no greater feeling than waking up on a Sunday knowing that football is on. My routine has stayed the same for years now: I put on my Miami Dolphins jersey, crack open a couple beers, order the most unhealthy food I can think of and sit back on the couch taking it all in. Regardless of the dolphins struggles (which I’ll save for my next post), I can’t help but continue watching them each week. It may seem crazy, but I’m sure you can all relate. Why do we keep watching when it seems like we’ve been stuck in neutral this entire century? Is it because we love to torture ourselves? Personally, I like to believe that one day, eventually, the dolphins will be good again. They have to be, right? Even though it’s tough right now, it’s still fun to talk football with other fans, enjoy the occasional win, or shove it in every patriot’s fan’s face when the fins give them an unexpected loss each year in Miami. These social aspects make the game more enjoyable and I’m not sure I’d make it through another mediocre season without the support of other fans.

Sports can also strongly influence our emotions. One of the biggest reasons I even decided to start this blog was because of an experience that recently had a powerful effect on my life and the way I view sports. A few years ago my girlfriend and I decided to adopt a dog named Elmer. He was a senior chihuahua who had been abused, so we just wanted to give him all the love that we could so that his remaining years would be filled with happiness. In return, he brought more happiness into our lives than we ever thought imaginable. Every football Sunday, Elmer and I would put on our matching jerseys, sit side by side in front of the TV, and root for the Dolphins to win. Unfortunately, he passed away about a month and a half ago. It was a rough time for me, especially since he was the only other dolfan I really had around to watch the games with. The Sunday after he had passed was the Dolphins/Patriots showdown in Miami. I decided to lay little Elmer’s jersey out next to me for good luck. Fast forward to the end of the game. I’m sitting there, somewhat dejected, wishing the dolphins could have found a way to lift my spirits. “Theres no way they win this game”, I said to my girlfriend who was sitting next to me clueless as to what was going on. You all know what happened next. The Miami Miracle. As I watched Kenyan Drake race past Gronk into the end zone for the win, I was overcome with raw emotion. Tears ran down the side of my face as I lifted Elmer’s jersey into the air, screaming my lungs out in pure joy. It is a moment I will never forget for the rest of my life.

Sports are so much more than just wins and losses. Sports have the ability to bring people together from all walks of life. They have the ability to make us laugh, cry, argue, and celebrate. They allow us to develop routines and traditions that become an integral part of our lives. As fans we are passionate about our team. We celebrate each win and dissect each loss. At the end of the day, being a fan means being part of a family. I am proud to be a part of the Miami Dolphins family and I hope you are as well. Going forward, this blog is meant to connect, unify, and empower Miami Dolphins fans and football fans alike, while touching on current Dolphins and NFL events. Regardless of what team you root for, I would love to hear your personal stories about how the game of football has had impact on your lives or the lives of others. Please feel free to comment below. Let’s dive in together.