Many who are close to me know this isn’t breaking news. It’s time I say something to those who do not know after taking some time to think it over.
I will be moving back home to South Florida at the end of the month. The title of this article might have gave it away if you are learning about this now.
It is a decision I came to about a year ago after I reached a breaking point.
Lately, as the time to move keeps approaching, people have been asking me “How do you feel?” or “Are you excited?” I think to answer those questions I should speak directly to Miami and South Florida.
Miami. All of South Florida. I’m sorry. I miss you. I think about you all the time. You can tell when I talk about Miami sports teams on social media. Seriously, I talk about what it was like growing up with you: not having to wear a jacket all the time in the winter months, driving past Hard Rock Stadium on the turnpike, and not hearing any Southern accents. I left because I wanted to make something of myself and achieve great success in chasing my dreams. I learned sometimes dreams isn’t all cut out to be and they don’t all form into a reality. All that glitters isn’t gold. The last two years I thought I would stay where I was and fix things to align myself to my dream. However, my dream was not my destiny. My destiny was to return home to you on the path God is directing me.
I hope you did not feel abandoned and taken for granted while I was away. I hope when I return I’m accepted with a warm, graceful embrace after a long period of time. I understand if I have to earn your love again.
There is a paradox with us being together again. I feel like I’m starting over yet whenever I’m there I’m in a place that’s timeless because it’s home to me. It’s timeless because it’s like they say “home is where the heart is.”
To address everyone else reading this, I hope you are happy for me since most of you know I’ve been unhappy. My Homecoming is something overdue for sometime and I, at least, hope you’re happy for me as I move my journey forward.
I completely understand the way Kanye West feels about Chicago and his relationship with the city in his song Homecoming. I see why Big Sean always has Detroit on his mind and expresses it in his songs. I felt the same way during my time away.
Here’s to coming home! Here’s to starting again!
My “Since Moment”
The Dolphins have been promoting their 50th season celebration by giving the Dolphins Family the opportunity to share their “Since Moment“. This include, former Dolphins players and fans, have been sharing the moment they became a Dolphins fan.
I thought this would be a great chance to share my Since Moment with all my readers.
As far as I can remember, the Dolphins have always been in my life. My Sundays have always consisted of the following order:
- Church
- Sunday Dinner at Grandma’s
- Dolphins
Growing up I really didn’t like going to church, so the Dolphins always the thing I looked forward to on Sunday afternoons.
If I can pinpoint a moment that made me follow the Dolphins, I would have to say during a third grade class field trip.
My third grade teacher, Mrs. Marts, was a huge Dolphins fan. Our classroom was had the typical educational posters on the wall, the difference was our classroom was decorated with Dolphins things everywhere. We’re able to be on the field during he game. This was the only game I ever had the chance to attend.
One day, there was a local ad in the newspaper, for schools in Broward County that informed us about a contest with a prize that would get us on the field for a Sunday night game. In order to win, we had to be part of the top three classes in the entire county that read the most in the entire county. Surprisingly and fortunately, my class won and it was a time I’d cherish forever. Even though the Dolphins lost, watching the game on the field and enjoying free food for my eight year old self was awesome. Since then, I followed the Dolphins to see if they win or lose.
The closest I followed the Dolphins was the 1-15 season in 2007. I watched, as usual, to see if they won and it was like a drama. I kept watching to see if that Sunday would be “THE Dolphins’ day” and more often than not it would not. Unfortunately, more often than not it would not be their day. It wasn’t until they were 0-13 and finally secured a win against the Baltimore Ravens. Since that season I’ve alway followed the Dolphins record wise and it captured my interest in the NFL as well.
A reading contest with the prize going to a Dolphins game grabbed the Dolphins attention and lead to other moments that drew me closer to them. They have been around my entire life and I’ll always been a Dolphins fans or a Dol-fan, even in this era of mediocrity. So I’ll end this post with the most appropriate way possible: Go Phins! Fins Up!!
The Fish Disappoint Once Again
The Miami Marlins season continue to slip away and currently making efforts to re-grasp this disappointing season with Jose Fernandez’s return. The Fish missed their chance to catch some attention in Miami and they BLEW IT! When they started the season 3-11 and I did not panic. However, they blew the chance to “take over Miami” due to the Miami Heat not making the playoffs for the first time in years. The Marlins briefly rebounded then continued to struggle.
I’m not going to keep writing about the Marlins inability to meet expectations on the field. I’ve written many negative things about them on Facebook and Twitter. Instead, I’ll go over why people aren’t interested in them, especially in South Florida.
I recently took a trip to New York (Manhattan) for the first time and I saw many people wearing Yankees hats. I heard the same thing with many people wearing Tigers hats (The Old English “D”) in Michigan. Then I ask myself “why can’t many people in South Florida wear Marlins hats?”
The answer is simply that no cares right now and rightfully so. Just like 2012, the Marlins had high expectations and didn’t live up to it again. The way this year is going, they are sinking into six straight non-winning seasons.
Honestly, I’m over it! I’m tired of talking and writing negative about the Marlins. I said this earlier this year and I’ll say it again: The Marlins are never going to get anywhere as long as Jeffrey Loria is the owner. He keeps changing managers like they’re used up napkins and he continues to keep the current Front Office around.
The only reason this front office is still around is because of the 2003 World Series Championship. The thing people seem to miss is that Dave Dombroski, former Marlins and current Detroit Tigers General Manager, built the foundation of that championship team. Mike Hill and Co. inherited the foundation and made the necessary moves to win. Since then, this Front Office has proven that they can’t build a playoff contender from scratch.
The Bottom Line is this: I’ll always love the Marlins and will keep watching games, but we (Marlins fans) are stuck in some mud until Jeffrey Loria sells the team to a knowledgable and competent businessman who is worthy of being a baseball owner. Who knows? Maybe it will take Loria saying something racist like Donald Sterling or making a positive comment about Fidel Castro like Ozzie Guilen.
Heat out of the playoffs
The Miami Heat did not make the 2015 NBA Playoffs for the first time in seven years. The Heat started the season 3-1 then things fell apart where they finished 37-45. A huge part of the season derailed by injuries such as Chris Bosh having a blood clot that ended his season.
If there was any positives from the season, we can take 3 things:
- Dwyane Wade played 62 games and averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 steals, and 4.8 assists. Even though he may not be able to carry the team anymore, but he showed when healthy he can still play at a high level.
- The Heat dug up a gem in the dirt with Center Hassan Whiteside. He was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in the second round in 2010. He bounced around from the NBA to other leagues then landed in Miami and emerged. Whiteside turned out to be a double-double machine and a defensive presence at the rim, highlighted by his triple-double against the Chicago Bulls.
- The Heat acquired Point Guard Goran Dragic, at the trade deadline, from the Phoenix Suns in a three team deal that included the New Orleans Pelicans. The Heat struggled at point guard with Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole. Once Tragic arrived in Miami, they started playing at a faster pace and the flow of the offense vastly improved.
Those positives do not out weight the one negative, the Miami heat not making the playoffs.
If there is an upside to not making the playoffs, it’s the fact that Dwyane Wade will get the full offseason to rest and be ready of next season. The past four seasons he has played in the NBA Finals and
It has been really hard for me to watch the NBA Playoffs without the Heat. It has been tough for HeatNation to not be able to get white hot. This is why it is important to rebound next season.
For the past 20 years or ever since Pat Riley came down to Miami, they have been playing basketball in April (playoff time). The Heat belong in the playoffs, its as simple as that.
Mysteries of the WWE #MarlinsHatGuy Revealed
Do we have a WWE version of the #MarlinsMan?
We’ve documented the EPIC efforts of #MarlinsMan in the past (blog posts here and again here). Well there may be something almost as epic in the works… and his name is #MarlinsHatGuy!
Anyone who watched Wrestlemania 31 the other day (and then WWE Raw the very next night) probably noticed the Marlins fan sitting front row.
This gets even crazier… Anyone remember Wrestlemania XXX a year ago? You know, the one when The Undertaker had his historic streak broken (we blogged about it here)? Yup, same guy!!
That’s right! Two years in a row the same guy in a Marlins cap has had ringside seats for the grandaddy of them all, the “Super Bowl” of wrestling, Wrestlemania! Social media followers have deemed him the #MarlinsHatGuy!
So who is this mystery #FishFamily member? We found out! Here are 3…
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The King reclaims his Old Throne
LeBron James has decided to take himself and this talents back to Cleveland, which is home for the Akron, Ohio native.
LeBron James opted out of his contract with the Heat and became a free agent. After weeks of speculation and suspense, Sport Illustrated finally announced that The King was headed back to his old team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Heat had a great run with LeBron James: four straight years in the NBA Finals and two NBA Championships. Personally, James received two MVP Awards and scored a franchise record 61 points against the Charlotte Bobcats.
Honestly, my heart sank as soon as I heard the breaking news of Lebron leaving the Miami Heat, not only because he brought the Heat within reach of the Larry O’Brien trophy every summer, but because of the energy he brought he brought to South Florida.
Before LeBron came to Miami, South Florida was a Dolphins town and they always disappointed us “Dol-fans” time and time again. Throughout his stay in Miami, all the other sports teams in South Florida haven’t given us anything to be proud of:
- The Dolphins have had five straight losing seasons. The problem is, as I wrote before in one of my earlier post, the always seem to beat themselves. Then when it happens we all say “Thats So Dolphins!”
- The Marlins have had four straight seasons of being at .500 or below. They have the tendency to build Fish fans up with offseason moves then let us down mid-season. For example, in the 2011 off-season, they spent lots of money on high profile free agents such as pitcher Heath bell and shortstop Jose Reyes then ended up with a losing record despite the talented line-up.
- The Panthers were the most accomplished South Florida team during LeBron’s time in Miami. They made the playoffs in 2011-12, which seemed like a miracle because it was the first time in 11 years. Other than that, they have been at or near the bottom of the NHL. It also means they made the playoffs once in the last thirteen years–that stat speaks for itself.
LeBron James playing for the Miami Heat was the best thing to happen to Miami sports in years. He brought championships and a heck of a highlight reel for Heat fans. He gave a reason for the national audience to watch the Heat and made the city of Miami and South Florida prominent for more than it’s beaches.
For these reasons , I will be forever grateful to LeBron James. If you have a Heat jersey with the number six and the last name James on it, do not burn it…frame it!
Panthers win the draft lottery
The Florida Panthers won the first draft pick in the 2014 NHL draft lottery. It is the fourth time in franchise history that the Panthers won the first overall pick.
In 1994, the Panthers selected Ed Jovanoski with the first overall pick; traded the top pick away in 2002 and 2003.
In my opinion, I believe the Panthers should trade this pick as well. There is not a franchise-changing player in draft, for example Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby, or Alex Ovechin.
If the Panthers cannot find the right deal to trade the pick, then they can just select Defenseman Aaron Ekblad. Aaron Ekblad is, according to hockey experts, the top prospect in this draft. However, the Panthers are stocked with young defencemen that are currently on the roster or in the pipeline.
As a Panthers fan, I would welcome Aaron Ekblad to South Florida with open arms, but I’d rather the Cats stock up on draft picks to fill their needs. I will be happy with either choice Dale Tallon decides to make with the pick.
That’s So Dolphins
When the Dolphins lost to the New York Jets in the regular season finale I didn’t think it was worth expressing my feelings about the loss or the disappointing season. However, there is a saying that the South Florida media has been using this season on Twitter: That’s So Dolphins! That perfectly described how I was feeling going into the offseason.
The Dolphins had a statistically promising chance to make the playoffs and they blew it. They had to beat the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, two inferior teams they were suppose to beat. Looking back at the last decade, the Dolphins didn’t surprise anyone by losing their last two games against statistically inferior teams to miss the playoffs.
Going into the offseason the Dolphins have to some decisions to make. Since the Dolphins scored only one touchdown in those two games, they fired Offensive Coordinator Mike Sherman. I’m not saying he shouldn’t take any of the blame for what happened to the offensively this season, but the fans and media alike are putting the brunt of the blame on him, which is an in accurate portrayal of the poor performance this season.
The Dolphins always seem to fire the Offensive or Defense Coordinator when their side of the ball is struggling, as if that were some sort of “quick fix” to a long-term problem.
Some of the blame falls on Jeff Ireland, who stepped down as the Dolphin’s General Manager. To be honest, in my opinion, Ireland leaving the organization was one of the best things to happen for the Dolphins this offseason.
Consequently, the Dolphins have to find a General Manager who can work effectively with head coach Joe Philbin. Dolphins fans have been through this over and over again. Last year, we needed head coach that can work with Jeff Ireland. A General Manager and a head coach are partners, the Dolphins always fire one and keep the other in an attempt to please all parties, which doesn’t work.
As far as the General Manager job, I just want the Dolphins to find the right guy for the job. The best guy out there may not be the right guy for the team. For example, Cam Cameron was the top guy all the bad teams wanted in 2007. He chose to coach the Dolphins and led them to a 1-15 record (worst in franchise history) and then hired hired Hall of Fame coach to become the Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Bill Parcells, which led us to where we are now.
Hiring the General Manager is the first step to fixing this team. After that, they need to find a way get rid of those “That’s so Dolphins” moments. Anything I listed mentioned on this post is considered one of those moments. As a Dolphins fan, I would appreciate it if I didn’t have to say “That’s so Dolphins” after every bad situation.
Florida Panthers: 5 things to look forward to
Since the Florida Panthers season is approaching, I thought it would be nice to share five things I am looking forward to going into the Panthers season.
1. Goaltending
Tim Thomas signing a one year deal is a plus for the forward, however he is not a guarantee between the pipes. Will he be the goaltender he was with the Boston Bruins? Will Tim Thomas push Jacob Markstrom to play better? What will happen to Scott Clemmensen? A lot of questions that will be answered as the season unfolds.
2. Jonathan Huberdeau
Jonathan Huberdeau had a fantastic rookie year, which led to him winning the Calder trophy. I’m looking forward to seeing him build off of last year. Can he continue to dazzle viewers with his goal scoring and stick handling? I think he can, but we still have to watch.
3. Aleksander Barkov
A lot of eyebrows were raised when Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon chose Aleksander Barkov with the 2nd overall pick. Personally, I like the pick because the Panthers need offense. Will Barkov make the team out of training camp? Will he get enough minutes to make an impact? Is he going to play on the first line? Questions that will be answered as training camp comes to a close.
4. Young Defencemen
I want to see if Dimitri Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson can take that big step this year. I understand that Defencemen take longer to develop, but will this be the year either of them break out. It is very important that they do because the goalies can use all of the help they can get.
5. The Center Competetion
Everyone who has followed the Panthers knows that they are fully stocked at the Center position. Who will make the cut at center? Who will move to the wing position? Who will be sent down to the AHL affiliate San Antonio Rampage? The competetion will be determining factor.
The answers to all of these questions and topics will be near the end of the training camp and as the season progresses. Hopefully, things will work in the Cats favor and the red will rise.
Five things that stuck out in the Pre-Season
As the regular season gets started, I decided to look back and point out five things that stood out in the preseason.
1. Tight end Dustin Keller tore his ACL, MCL, PCL, and dislocated his knee. He was expecting to be a big part of the Dolphins offense. It’s up to Charles Clay, Michael Egnew, and Dion Sims to pick up the slack.
2. Kicker Dan Carpenter gets released after being outplayed by rookie kicker Caleb Sturgis. Last year, Dan Carpenter had an inconsistent year. As a result, The Dolphins brought in Caleb Sturgis from the University of Florida to compete with Dan Carpenter. Dan Carpenter was always reliable until now, but will be with another team soon.
3. Jonathan Martin has been fine at Left Tackle. I never expected him to be Jake Long and he hasn’t, but he has done a nice job as I predicted.
4. Cornerback Brent Grimes has been a great pick up. He signed to a one year deal and was coming off a torn Achilles. Not only has he earned a roster spot, but he is the Dolphins number one Cornerback. Having a guy on your football team who can shut down half the field and the opposing number one receiver is a huge advantage.
5. The Dolphins running game is still a question mark going into the regular season. I thought I would be confidence in our running by now but I’m not. I still think Lamar Miller has the potential to have a big year and rookies Mike Gillislee and Daniel Thomas should contribute.
I am so glad the preseason is over and the Dolphins are playing meaningful games. I hope that we see more positive from the Dolphins this year and the free agents that we acquired live up to the hype.
Sports with Sid 