The first NFL game I remember was seeing Marino getting sodomized by the Jags in the divisional round in '99. Since then, being a Dolphins fan has been nothing but pain. The thing is, for some reason I’m totally okay with the Dolphins underperforming. Even this season, which is late playoff run or bust, I’m completely understanding of all our failures. As long as the Fins even smell like they’re on the right track, I’m ecstatic.
Within the same general time frame, one of the first college games I remember is the University of Miami destroying Nebraska in the National Championship. The Canes were dominant. Everybody was going to the NFL. These days I have no patience for the Canes. My standards are so much higher. It doesn’t make sense to view these two teams through such a different lens.
Is it just me, or do you guys also benchmark against your early memories? Trying to figure out why I didn’t love the Dolphins any less during their one win season, but a 5 loss Canes gives me heartburn.
Your childhood setting the bar of expectations is completely accurate. Watching my team win back to back Super Bowls while in elementary school definitely set an unreasonable bar.
As a result, I feel like I’m a fan of (insert whichever historically awful franchise is in your division) and am in a panic every year because **checks notes** 5 franchises have won a SB more recently than the Broncos. “The pain I have to endure, this is bullshit!” STFU me every week