Infamy Avoided: Dolphins, Fans Rejoice in Miami

I have a feeling most Miami Dolphins fans felt a little bit like Johnny Drama this past Sunday...

VICTORY!!!

While the date will be quickly forgotten by anyone who doesn't root for the Fins, December 16th, 2007 will live forever in the minds of the Aqua-and-Orange faithful as the day infamy was avoided.

Most people think that there isn't much of a difference between going winless and going 1-15. I'd ask those same people whether they think there's much of a difference between going 16-0 and 15-1.

The distinction of making history means everything.

Long after the individual players leave the gridiron, the achievements remain to tell their story. Proud players don't want the specter of such a debacle to taint their legacy. 

Poor individual performances can be erased on the field. There's no erasing the ink on the pages of history.

With a mere three opportunities remaining for the 2007 Dolphins to secure a win, I had severe doubts about their ability to avoid the oh-fer.

Hell, I'm still shocked they actually won. 

How in the world did Baltimore lose that game? I don't know and I don't really care—but I hope an EMT was on hand in Miami to perform the Heimlich on the Ravens.

With the Miami defense utterly collapsing and under two minutes to go in the game, Baltimore moved with ease to within 18 inches of the goal line. A mere half a yard stood between the Ravens and a victory. 

Sure, a chip-shot field goal would tie the game and send it to overtime—but when you have Willis McGahee running behind one of the better offensive lines in the league...against the absolute worst run defense in the game...and you only need 18 inches...

The Ravens went with the field goal.

Infamy avoided.

After winning the coin toss in OT, the Ravens predictably ran the ball right down the throats of the Miami D to get within FG distance.

Mind you, Matt Stover was a perfect 5-for-5 on overtime field goals in his career coming into the game. He's one of the most accurate kickers in league history, and then...

He pushed it. Wide left.

Infamy avoided.

It took Cleo Lemon's throwing the first TD pass by a Miami QB since October to win the game, and he threw it to a guy—Greg Camarillo—who had one career reception going into the game. 

Like I said, I don't know how exactly all that happened, but Dolphins fans everywhere should rejoice.

And screw those people—like Deion Sanders—who've criticized the Dolphins for how jubilantly they celebrated the victory.

This win meant more to those guys than any of New England's 14 wins this season have meant to the Patriots players.

Few fans know what it's like to go through what Miami fans have gone through this season. We Fins lovers went more than an entire calendar year without seeing our team win a single regular season game.

Think about that.

Living in New England, I see firsthand how constant winning dulls the enjoyment of each victory. At this point, the Pats are just going through the motions.  For them, the ultimate measure isn't a regular-season game—it's the Super Bowl.

Well, there are teams for whom that isn't the case—and Miami is the poster-child.  For this team, jubilation can rightly be attained from a single victory.

I'm not asking for you to root along with the Dolphins, but I am asking for you to not begrudge us faithful fans the opportunity to revel in victory. 

This was our Super Bowl.

And it felt damn good to finally win.

Check out Samuel's site Phinaticism for all your Dolphins news and commentary.