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-by
Brian Fein
As a Dolphins’ fan, the only thing that broils my loins more than seeing our once-proud franchise scratch and claw for just one win, is seeing our long-standing legacy be trounced into a distant memory by a division foe. The New England Patriots, owners of three Super Bowl titles, have come out breathing fire in 2008, with a “no mercy” attitude and Clint-Eastwood-like bravado. Beginning with the 2007 off-season acquisitions of Wes Welker, Adalius Thomas, and Randy Moss, the Patriots have been the focus of many NFL analysts’ football-related lust. So, why do I hate them so much? As years go by, so do rivalries. In the early-to-mid 90’s, we all hated the Buffalo Bills. People wore shirts that said “Screw Buffalo!” and Bryan Cox told their fans that he was #1. More recently, the New York Jets have been a thorn in the Dolphins’ collective sides, winning 9 straight match-ups through 2002. There’s nothing that compares to the evil gangrenous plague that suits up in green and white every Sunday. But how close are the Patriots getting to that level of hatred? There are several possible explanations, and I’m sure everyone has their own reasons. But, here, I’ve compiled a list of the top eight reasons why Dolphins’ fans hate the New England Patriots this season.
Nothing it more irritating than a bandwagon fan. An unfortunate side-effect of winning is that suddenly everyone who was born in Boston, lived there, visited for a day, passed through on a train, saw a picture on the internet, or can locate it on a map is a fan of the team. All of a sudden, people who were fans of the Falcons, Rams, 49ers, and Eagles are huge Patriots’ fans. These same people wouldn’t be able to pick Drew Bledsoe out of a lineup.
The sports media force-feeds Joe Sports Fan with nothing but endless hours of drivel about how the Patriots are unstoppable, how Tom Brady is the greatest ever, and how Bill Bellichick’s turds smell like flowers. Since when did media objectivity become scarce and rampant homerism take over the airwaves?
Dolphins’ slot receiver, return man, and unsung hero, Wes Welker was “stolen” from the Dolphins over the off-season, making it impossible for the Dolphins to match the restricted free agency offer presented by the Patriots. This was the first sign of playing dirty, when they inserted the poison pill into the offer sheet that took advantage of a league loophole. The Dolphins ended up getting relatively good value for Welker in the end, but the way this went down left a sour taste in the mouth of Dolphins’ fans.
“Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in NFL history!” Dolphins fans cringe at this statement, given that the only legacy of greatness they have to cling to is that of hall of fame quarterback Dan Marino. Yet, the one missing thing from Dan’s illustrious career, a Super Bowl ring, is seemingly overvalued by the majority of followers. A Super Bowl title is a great achievement, but is not a characteristic of a great player. Tom Brady isn’t better than Peyton Manning because he has more rings, as Tom Jackson alluded to on NFL Countdown last Sunday.
The Patriots like to portray themselves to the rest of the league as modest, humble and never arrogant. However, their on-the-field actions have dictated otherwise. From Spygate, where the coaching staff was caught deliberately disregarding league rules, to accusations of “running up the score,” they certainly don’t seem to approach the game and league with humility. Seems like more of an “I’m better than you” mentality, which breeds disrespect for their opponents, and the league itself.
For years, the 1972 Dolphins remained the only team to complete an entire season without losing one game. The 1985 Chicago Bears came close, but were stopped by the Dolphins themselves. This year, as early as NFL Week 3, analysts were putting the words “Patriots” and “undefeated” in the same sentence. With every week of sub-par opponents, the analysts become more justified in their ludicrous claim. The truth is, one of the few records the Dolphins have to hold onto from their proud history has a chance to be shattered by a division rival. No one would ever be happy about that.
The only problem with winning so many games is that it breeds a generation of fans (not the bandwagoneer type from above) for whom winning isn’t enough. You have to win by 30. You have to win before halftime. It’s not a good game if the Redskins keep it close, but the Patriots still win – “we shoulda beat them by at least 24!” Is it reasonable to expect a team to be perfect every week? Is it not acceptable that other teams can play well against you? Arrogance and gloating by fans makes it so much easier for people to hate your team.
I think this is where it all boils down: jealousy. It’s hard to sit back and watch the Dolphins struggle to score just 1 TD, while watching the Patriots do it 4 times per quarter with ease. Dolphins’ fans are jealous. They want what they once had, competition. They want their team to be able to have a chance, to fight for playoffs, to be respected by other teams. Jealousy is an ugly monster, and often manifests itself as hatred, and I think that’s the truth lying deep down inside Dol-fans everywhere, whether they admit it or not. In the end, the Patriots have looked the unstoppable in every game, and no one can dispute the offensive firepower. However, no one was able to stop the “Greatest Show on Turf,” 2001 St. Louis Rams either, until the Patriots got in their way in Super Bowl XXXVI. Considering their schedule, it’s no wonder that the Patriots have had it easy. Up to now, 5 out of 9 New England opponents have losing records. This won’t be the case come playoffs. As much as the media wants to hand over the Lombardi Trophy now in week 10, it will be tough treading for the Patriots down the stretch. Assuming they stay healthy, they will be tough to beat, but not impossible. The first key to beating the Patriots is to convince yourself that you can. The rest is up to the football gods (and Ed Hoculi).
Brian
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