The Don Shula Episode
I know this isn’t exactly “breaking news,” but I figured I’d wait until everything was out and done before commenting. I’ll start by saying I hate the Dolphins just as any Patriots fan does, and I love the fact that they’re going to go 0-16 this year. That said, Don Shula was a great coach and earned that 17-0 season by making all the right calls and having all the right players. His comments, on the other hand, were impulsive, empty-headed, and bitter, and I know he really does regret saying what he did.
Still, none of this changes the fact that he said how he feels, and presumably how a portion of the ’72 Dolphins and their fans feel as well. They’ve always celebrated when the last undefeated team falls, and they have good reason to be worried this year seeing as the Pats passed their only real test against Indy.
BUT – Let’s say Indy had won. You’d have to assume they’d go undefeated, no one had been able to come close to them all year, either. Would Shula make comments like he did about the Patriots, or would he congratulate them like a gentleman? I think you know the answer. Of course I realize that part of being the best is being hated by the rest, and it’s been no secret how much everyone hates the Patriots this year (with the exception of Sean Salisbury), and that for every year after this people will say that the Patriots cheated their way to the Superbowl. So be it. They’re ignorant. Part of the reason I love talking sports is because so many fans are completely irrational (see: HOW CAN WE WIN WITHOUT DEION BRANCH?!!?! or TRADE JULIO LUGO AND J.D. DREW NOW!!!!) that it gives the rational portion of us something to laugh at and discuss while knowing what is actually feasible for our teams. I’m not just talking Patriots and Red Sox, I mean for any team. If a Yankees fan were to talk Yankees with me, I could do it without letting my hate and utter distaste for the Yankees get in the way.
Blah blah blah, point is, Don Shula said something stupid. He regrets it, and now we move on and continue with life.
Let’s just hope we don’t lose to Miami in Foxboro later on this year.
