Orange and Teal

Future of Orange and Teal

David Thomas — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 08:59:18 -0600

Hey everybody. Sorry to be so out of touch the past few weeks. Let me assure you it has nothing to do with the Dolphins play as of late, which has been good until yesterday. As for the future of the site I think I’m going to mothball it for the rest of the season. Work commitments and the other two blogs I run are a bit more pressing. Plus, I like just being a fan of the Dolphins without the constant commentary. I got burned out on writing about music in the same way but that took about eight years. This was about eight months. Not good.

Anyway, I apologize to those out there that were so supportive since launching. Thanks for all the kind words along the way. And if you really miss me commenting and complaining you can always check out www.firejeffzucker.com and www.fightingthesuburbs.com.

Week 9: Game Hangover

David Thomas — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 06:56:34 -0600

Yesterday was amazing. The morning started off sunny and beautiful. Who would have thought a Bears game in November would be 50 degrees and sunny. Here are some shots of the walk to the game. Of course it got a bit cloudier and colder as the day went on...

If you guys haven’t been to Soldier Field it’s an interesting stadium. The old exterior still stands and looks as awe-inspiring as any monuments in Washington D.C. The new spaceship part juts up like Superman’s fortress of solitude in the Arctic, like it isn’t supposed to be there. On its own the new design would’ve been fine but this futuristic look stinks, except from inside.

From our seats, second deck 25-yard line or so, we had a great view of the field. I was wearing a Marino jersey and there were about one Miami fan per every hundred Bears fan I would guess. Most Bears fans were fine with it thinking that this would be a blow out so they didn't bother me. I think I got two obscenely negative comments during the game mostly when walking to the bathroom.

Let's just all say it, Jason Taylor is amazing. If Brian Urlacher can single-handedly win a game for the Bears, JT can dominate a QB any time he wants. Grossman looked like he had been sacked before a hand was ever laid on him. The Giants should thank the Dolphins for showing them how to beat the Bears. Strahan will be Grossman’s new best friend I’m sure.

As for the game, each turnover blew me away and even with the missed opportunities before half I was the happiest Dolphins fan around. The second half was even better. Looking at the final stats and seeing how close they were is interesting. Shows what six turnovers can do in the NFL. You can’t come back from that.

Other thoughts: There is a weird vibe to the sound generated in Soldier Field. I wouldn’t say it’s “artificial” but it sure has a strange reverb to it that doesn’t sound realistic. The stadium was about an eight full when the Dolphins came on the field for warm-ups and the boos sounded way too loud.

We had a great time though and I couldn’t’ believe my first game of the season turned out so damn well. Here are some more pictures from the day.

We're Off

David Thomas — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 08:35:51 -0600

We're heading out now to hit a pre-game brunch near Soldier Field where they let you valet for $10. That's a bit better than game parking at $100 a pop. Seriously, $100! We'll take lots of pictures but be on the lookout for a guy in a Dan Marino jersey with his wife in a Bears shirt.

Countdown To Dolphins-Bears

David Thomas — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 15:52:49 -0600

Four days to the Dolphins vs. Bears and I’m not nearly as excited about attending the game as I was for the months leading up to the first few weeks of the season. This year has just been miserable as a Dolphins fan. I keep apologizing to you, my readers, for such a negative outlook and fewer blog posts in general but I can’t write about the team with any enthusiasm, even in a negative way. Things are just that bad.

However! I plan to write about Sunday in-depth. From the morning brunch where we’re parking the car to the game itself, to the aftermath and dinner that night, it’ll be fun, no matter the score. Why? Because it’s not often you get to go to a football game and why not enjoy the fall day, football, food and beer, lots and lots of beer!

A/V Set-Up, Perfect for Watching the Dolphins Lose

David Thomas — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 14:20:11 -0500

Here’s an update on my new home theater set-up for those tired of reading about the Dolphins’ woes. I’m really not jazzed to be blogging about the team right now. I’m sure everyone notices my anti-excitement. I’d rather just fast forward to the end of the season and talk off-season moves, draft etc. Is that wrong?

I’m Allowed to Be a Bears Fan Now

David Thomas — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 20:26:30 -0500

My cell phone beeped around 4 p.m. CST. It was a voice mail. I checked it promptly and it was my brother-in-law calling from the parking lot of Dolphins Stadium. He simply said “You’re allowed to be a Bears fan now.”

That’s how dismal today’s game was to two different family-members and life-long Dolphins fans. Where to start? Honestly do you want me to repeat what we all saw?
No.

So instead I’ll point out how bad the broadcasters were. First: they got the yardage wrong on almost every play. If it was a no-gain they said “he got about three yards out of that.” Next it was second and ten. Umm…you can’t get three yards and have a second and ten. Also every time Green Bay scored there was a shout and scream of “the Pack!” WTF?

The only good news is we’re moved into our new place after about a two week purgatory. The new 50 inch plasma is installed and they even had the game shown locally this week here in Chicago (because the Bears are on a bye and Green Bay has a huge following here). Here’s a picture of the new screen and another one of my dog looking at me as I screamed at Ronnie Brown to “make a cut dammit” or the other half of the time “just go straight!”

I’m not going to be a Bears fan but after another miserable loss how can this team go on? What’s the explanation? Is it all Randy McMichael’s fault? Bad bounces/tips? I don’t know. All I know is that I haven’t followed college ball enough this year to figure out who we would pick in the top five of the draft.

Moving Hiatus Over Tomorrow

David Thomas — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 15:07:34 -0500

Hello readers. We apologize for taking so long to update the site but we’re in the middle of a hellacious move (soon to be discussed on a new blog) that should be over, meaning the Internet will be back, tomorrow. Thanks for sticking with us through our own technical difficulties.

Great Hyde Column

David Thomas — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 12:07:03 -0500

This is why Dave Hyde is one of my favorite columnists in

South Florida

. Perfectly sums up my Dolphin fandom (I’m not a Canes fan).

Week Four: Please, No More

David Thomas — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 07:45:30 -0500

Watching yesterday’s game was like a bad flashback. It was like seeing the worst of the Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt era. An ineffective offense let down an aging defense. For every bright spot – Will Allen asserting himself as our best corner – there were dozens of ulcer inducing moments.

During the first quarter after repeated third down misses that seemed entirely Culpepper’s fault I was expecting to see Harrington. Then during more mis-steps in the second quarter I was sure Saban would slip Harrington in to get some reps before the second half. Then when the second half opened I was sure I’d see Joey starting.

There was no Harrington. Instead we get an offense that gave Mario Williams his first sack.

Don’t get too excited Mario, we lead the league in sacks allowed. Your sack was just a matter of time. This week we also got to bask in the glow of former Dolphins back-up Damon Huard looking like an all-star for KC. Now, they were playing San Francisco, but we were playing Houston! If a perennial back-up makes Culpepper look washed up, that’s a simple illustration of how terrible he is playing. Don’t give me that last 10 minutes of the game/almost comeback either. That was garbage. He had one good pass all day, the touchdown and we’re stuck with this for the rest of the year?

If there was any week Saban could have tried Harrington and seen what he could do in a game that was winnable no matter how bad the QB was, this was it. He didn’t. He had three opportunities that Culpepper himself handed Saban to replace him and Saban did nothing.

OK, good news. Will Allen is a stud. He was flying all over the field and his strip of Andre Johnson was one of the most spectacular defensive plays of the year. His name was being called all day, although he did get beaten on one deep pass to Johnson.

Same goes for Jason Taylor’s strip and recovery of David Carr. JT knew he had to hit the end zone or otherwise his team wouldn’t score, you could tell in his run that he wanted end zone. Not for his own glory but so his team would get 7 points. Alas he ONLY got to the opponents 30 yard line. Ball on the 30 yard line and the offense can’t get 7? Pathetic.

Sorry, I guess those were supposed to be good parts of the game. It’s hard to get too excited for those few positive moments in a sea of crap. Teams worse than us in the league seem to be Oakland and Tennessee, both starting rookie QBs. We needed a spark Sunday, I'm not saying I'm sure Harrington would have won the game but we needed to see if he could. It seemed like the best time to do it. Instead, we're 1-3 with Buffalo, New York and New England looking darn good. It's going to be a long season.

Time to Bring in Harrington?

David Thomas — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 12:46:03 -0500

So, says Greg Stoda of The Palm Beach Post. I still am not a fan of Stoda but he’s got a point. Culpepper is clearly nto ready to start and that’s why we got Harrington in the first place. Take that detour Dolphins. Start Joey Sunday against Houston.

The Post is also reporting we’re on pace to break the season sacks allowed record. That’s grrrrreat!

Oh and in tasteless news of the day from the NFL: The Arizona Cardinals stadium will now be named University of Phoenix Stadium. Wonder what Deadspin will make of that...

Any Win Is a Good Win?

David Thomas — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 08:34:24 -0500

That’s the saying isn’t it? Any win is a good win. I don’t know if the team feels that way this morning after Kerry Collins and the lowly Titans looked like playoff contenders compared o the Dolphins. Culpepper looked flat, again. Luckily is his late game work actually paid off this time. Just like last week it will allow him to keep his job for another game.

I’m trying to pick out good things from the game yesterday but nothing really comes to mind. The running game was average. The passing game, well you know. The defense allowed way too many yards and I think I even caught Zach Thomas half-assing it on one play. That is a sight I’ve never seen before.

This defense is just too old up front to be on the field so long. The offense, as always, needs to step it up. The Jets and Bills are both looking better than the team some stupid magazine picked to go to the Super Bowl. That’s just not right. At least New England also looked pathetic last night. Perhaps it is a division we can still win. That would require both a miracle and a different team to show up next week.

Other NFL News: I’m not a big fan of Chris Sims but let’s hope he makes a recovery. I can’t remember an injury so severe in the past few years. He seems like one tough kid and let’s hope his career is not over.

New Place, Dave’s Media Report

David Thomas — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 09:26:37 -0500

OK guys, I’ll do a full install report later, but so far everything I’m waiting to get installed in the new place is ordered or in already. Check it out here.