SWITZERLAND FORUM

[Emeritus]

The problem is roster size. Even as it is, teams have to make really drastic cuts after the third preseason game and just hope that they have made the right choices. With only two preseason games it would be impossible to tell what the rookies could do. The new labor agreement limiting practices has compounded the problem. If the preseason was cut to two games, far fewer rookies would even get a look and some real talent would never get a chance to compete. Personally, I think that the quality of football would suffer. Just one man's opinion, of course.

[cklaurence]

I don't know the answers, Em--but there's got to be some way to work it out to keep everyone happy. I know it kills me to pay nearly a hundred bucks for those preseason games and have to worry every minute that one of the first stringers is going to get hurt unnecessarily.What I would like to see is the first two of the four-game preseason playing all rookies, and not putting the vets and/or first stringers on the field until the last two games. Let them practice with the team during the week, but then turn it over to the kids at game time. Let the last two games turn into dress rehearsals, or certainly the last game, as it is already.
I love watching the rookies get out there and give it their all. Some of the best ball I've seen has been the rookies trying to be seen. Remove all the veterans and you could see some seriously good football...

[Emeritus]

I like your suggestion, ck. The rookies know that even if they don't make the cut, another team with needs at their position might pick them up if they make a good showing. Veterans with big contracts often just try to make it through the season, but with the rookies the preseason is their season, so they give it all that they have. I still think that a lot of talent falls through the cracks. There were coaches (George Allen comes to mind) who were geniuses at winning with other teams castoffs. In today's meat grinder I don't see that happening anymore.

[cklaurence]

Shula was like that too, Em. He could turn a fourth or fifth round choice into a ProBowl contender in a heartbeat. This coach we have now is about to take a first-rounder and turn him into paste in his first year. Instead of taking him along slowly and letting him learn this year, he's going to play Tannehill from the beginning! He'll be throwing from the fetal position by the end of the season. (I stole that line, but it's pretty accurate I believe.)
I miss old time football, Em. Nowadays the refereeing sucks, and the games stop every two minutes for calls--some of them bogus and some of them under new rules that might as well be bogus; the receivers are so well protected (as are the QBs--I'd love to see Danny Marino have played under these rules, his records would NEVER be broken); it just seems so much wimpier. Of course I don't want to see everyone get hurt badly, but dammit, the game's gotten so slow...

[Emeritus]

Don Schula was a great coach. I don't think that I've ever seen a coach who could better scheme a game to take advantage of the strength of his players. It wasn't that all of them were great - although some certainly were - as much as the way that he used them. He always played to the strength of the talent that he had.

On another note, I hope that the hurricane didn't cause you any problems. We are keeping a close eye on it until it makes landfall.

[cklaurence]

Yes, Em--be watchful for Isaac. We are still getting bands from him. It's very much the same as it was yesterday, same force, same regularity. They've been about 100% incorrect about every prediction, as usual when it comes to the hurricanes in my experience. We are always prepared, but this is the first time we didn't even bother to put our shutters down (as I've said before, but I can't remember whether I've said it here or at facebook or here or both)--forgive me if I'm repeating myself...'
I do hope you in the Gulf states don't take a direct hit. There's a good chance of it, I'm sure, because you weren't anywhere near their original prediction plan...and that's the best indicator I know of for fearing a hit. Please stay safe! I'm guessing your house, like mine, is built to last. I have you in my thoughts and prayers (such as they are). Love you Em! c.

[Emeritus]

This old house has withstood everything since it was built in 1906-07. We took direct hits from Rita and Ike and I didn't even lose a roof slate. I did have some canvas window awnings on the upper floors carried away, but the were old and my insurance paid for bright new ones. I had an enormous live oak blow over, but they were able to save it by heroic efforts. I still leave, though. I figure that it is a good excuse to take a vacation to some place that I've always wanted to visit anyway.

[cklaurence]

The only time we ever left was during Andrew, and then it was only me and the kids. Peter and a friend who was then living in the guest house stayed (although I'm not sure why as the Beach was evacuated--direct hit was predicted for the Beach). We went North to Plantation and stayed with my Aunt Pearl in her condo. She never even lost electricity. We didn't return home for over a week because we had no electricity, but otherwise our house was fine. Lots of damage to our trees and plants, but otherwise, like I said--this place is pretty much a fortress...

Then a couple of years later a freak storm came through--unannounced. We were at a party a few blocks from home and the lights went out. The wind was horrendous. We couldn't get through to our home--no cell phones then. We tore off into this miserable weather, having no way of knowing the winds were higher than Andrew's, to get to our kids. We got to the house and the front gates were down, along with most of the wall around our house, as well as the bougenvilla hedges surrounding it. It looked like we'd been bombed. Inside, our kids were terrified and our housekeeper was huddled with them, just as frightened. Within a half hour all signs of the storm were gone, but the damage was worse than when Andrew hit.

There was one last hurricane that came through a couple of years back--I don't even remember the name. It didn't leave a mark anywhere, except at our place. A tornado came through our backyard and tore a path all the way through. Thankfully, it missed our mango tree, which is our most treasured possession. We never put a pool in because we would have had to give up that huge, wonderful, delicious tree!

At last, this morning, the bands of heavy rain have stopped coming through and it's just drizzling lightly. It was nice having Peter home yesterday though He needed the break from working like he does. I loved having everyone home the extra day. Next week we're going on a cruise, so I have a whole crew coming to stay here so Princess won't feel neglected. I'm pretty sure I'll be without Internet, but who knows these days--the ship we're going on is practically a city...

[Emeritus]

I just checked the forecast for Beaumont, TX. It is supposed to stop raining here on September 4. Of course we are well accustomed to rain here, so it won't bother anybody. We are expecting quite an influx from Louisiana today, since we are on the safe west side of the hurricane. I hope that you have a wonderful time on your cruise!

[cklaurence]

Thanks, Em. I don't know how much I'll be enjoying it if Peter doesn't finally tell me I can take Princess. Today at the Vet's office she was so terrified, the Vet said she'd never seen a dog so attached to her master before. I'm going to be a mess thinking about her on my cruise, and worrying about how she's going to be. Peter tells me the whenever I go out, she just lays by the front door crying for me. What will she do with me gone an entire week? I have 2nd bestie, Joy, my housekeeper of 30 years, coming to stay here the week, spending the nights, I do hope that's enough to keep her pacified for the week...

[cklaurence]

BTW, I hope you don't buy into those weather forecasts, I don't. I've been sitting here in rainstorms listening to them say, "No rain forecast," far too many times to believe them!

[Emeritus]

In the days when people listened to the radio, I was driving to school and a local station predicted a twenty percent chance of rain. I had pulled over to the side of the road because it was raining so hard that I couldn't see. I was wondering if the radio station had a window.

[cklaurence]

It seems not much has changed since then, Em. I often ask myself the same thing when the weather forecast is on and the weather is doing totally opposite of what they're predicting.

And speaking of radio broadcasts. This morning while I was running my errands, listening to the sports news, the subject was The Dolphins. The news was bad, but they didn't say anything that I haven't said myself, right here in Switzerland. Aside from one bozo who called in with arguably one of the stupidest calls ever, saying the reason the Fins aren't doing well is because the stadium is too hot and no one wants to go to that stadium--which had me laughing so hard I thought I'd choke, it was all pretty much in line with reality. The talking heads immediately explained to the idiot that people come to stadiums in burning heat and sub zero weather if their team is a winner (thankfully), and got rid of him, then went on to say that my precious team will be one of the worst, if not THE worst team in the NFL this year. That's about right, too. Every year they make more boneheaded moves and fall further and further out of any chance of contention for anything but loser's parade.

Ah, sadness...

[Emeritus]

It is beginning to look like your best hope is for a change in ownership. With your owner and his back-stabbing GM the Dolphins are looking like a lost cause. The Texans wagon is still empty, so you're welcome aboard. I don't know how well we will do this year, but I doubt that they will be embarrassing.

[cklaurence]

You're not saying anything that I haven't been shouting since Ross bought the team, Em. It's just becoming more and more apparent to the 'outside' world. Our GM is beyond obnoxious, and why Ross keeps him on the payroll is beyond me, as he has driven off players and coaches alike. Questions he has asked "Is your mother a prostitute?" (among others) are so outside normal limits, no one would question WHY. The deterioration of the Team has been so rapid and so miserably depressing to those of us who love it, and there's no where to turn.

I would love to be able to take up for another team, but I am so strongly a Dolphin fan, it's just not going to happen. I joke about it, but truth is--I'll go to my grave pulling for my Dolphins, hoping the next game is turnaround time and next season is Super Bowl season. Just you wait!!! GO DOLPHINS

[Emeritus]

I guess that you are just going to have to be philosophical about it until things turn around, ck. The problem is that the Dolphins have such great traditions that it makes the present situation look worse by contrast.

[cklaurence]

So true, Em. We went from zero to a hundred and fifty in no time flat, and stayed there for a long time. We were a pretty damned classy organization in the early years and on up through the entire Shula/Marino years. It all went south when Shula left.You might have thought J Johnson would have kept his winning tradition going, but it was as though he decided to destroy the Fins from the very beginning of his reign. He went after Danny and when he left the building, he put Wannstadt in charge with the caveat that he continue the bid to drive him out (which he did!)...
Following the destruction of Danny and finally, getting rid of Wannstadt, it was coach after coach with no interest at all in seeing the Fins go anywhere, but merely a string of assholes looking for better positions in college and other pro areas for themselves. Now we've bottomed out with the most clueless owner; the single worst NFL owner ever; the mot inept GM and player after player in every position who just can't handle their job, whatever it is. I I feel so totally defeated by what has transpired and short of this Ross selling the team, I see NO WAY OUT...

[Emeritus]

I see that the Power Picks computer ratings are picking the Texans to win this week. Should that make me nervous? I don't believe anything that I see at Fox.

[Emeritus]

Good morning, ck. Here's hoping that neither of our teams suffer any injuries today.

[Emeritus]

ck, are you there?

[cklaurence]

Honey, I'm home! Just in time to catch that phenomenal performance by my team against yours today, Em. I guess I pretty much called it, huh? You play a rookie, you get a rookie performance (at least a rookie like Tannehill vs. a Luck or an RG3, right? I like Tannehill, but he should be learning this year by watching a veteran and not by playing. Three tipped balls for interceptions in a row--he should have been benched. "Hurting his confidence" is B.S. We went from 3-3 to 24-3 in 2 minutes. UNACCEPTABLE! Philbin is another bogus choice for coach. I'll stand by that.

How are you? Did you miss me? My doggie sure did! She wasn't eating or drinking much. I felt so bad. I missed her as much as she missed me, though--I'm pretty sure of that...

[Emeritus]

I think that Tannehill has the talent to be a NFL-caliber quarterback, but I agree that the position of quarterback requires too steep a learning curve to start a rookie. He had to make his career start against the team that led the NFL in pass defense last season. Wade's defense is designed to confuse quarterbacks and it is just too much for a rookie. In his defense, two of the interceptions were off deflections by JJ Watt at the lime of scrimmage. The Dolphins have a lot of assets, though. The offensive line is excellent and the defense played well. If they can keep the score close they can win a lot of games.

[cklaurence]

You're always so optimistic about my Fins, which is very kind of you. I'm a realist, though, and this Philbin just doesn't have the stuff it takes to put this team right. He just doesn't get it, and by "it," I mean everything! He's not head coach material and can't see the whole picture. He cut Marshall (who I really didn't care about), but then he let Chad go, and he was the closest thing to a decent receiver he had next in line. He's insisting on playing a rookie QB and even went so far as to cut Garrard, who was working his ass off to come back strong. He's too impatient and does things with the jerk of his spastic knee. Not good for a head coach. You need the strength to be patient and prepare for the next step. You can't start cutting before you know what you've got to fill the gap. Just like leaving a job when you don't have another job waiting. You lose your income. In football you lose your games...
I can see it on the player's faces and in their movements. We'll see it in the stands come Sunday too. I'll be there, as always. Sadly. In the 90-plus heat at 1:00 p.m. They wouldn't give us any games but 1:00 games. No one wants to see the Fins play--with good reason...

[Emeritus]

"HBO had a difficult time finding a team willing to participate in its training camp reality TV show “Hard Knocks” this year, and now we know why: the show can put the team at a competitive disadvantage." That's from an item that I just read. Last Sunday Houston's J.J. Watt had 1.5 sacks, many hurries and four pass deflections that resulted in two interceptions. He said that he picked up the Dolphins snap count by watching them on "Hard Knocks." I'll bet that they will have an even harder time finding a host team next preseason.

[cklaurence]

It's long been known that "Hard Knocks' puts teams at a disadvantage,Em. Besides the distraction of cameras in everyone's face, wires all around the facilities and the general problems of chaos of the in-your-face aggravations of a media organization whose main thrust is to discover shit you don't want out there--and get it out there for the world to see--there's always the chance (did I say 'chance?'--I meant to say "certain probability" that the players on every team you face this season are studying every move you make so they can beat the crap out of you in the games--as you just pointed out! That was why I went crazy when we so graciously accepted "Hard Knocks'" invitation--
Any kind of publicity is publicity that Ross wants. "Hard Knocks," Chad Johnson, Movie Star itsy bitsy percentage owners, orange carpet owners, Margaritaville so-called 'fight' songs. The man hasn't a clue about football, and it seems the longer he owns the team, the less he knows about the game. My frustration is killing me!!!!!

[Emeritus]

Fortunately the Dolphins have another fifteen games to get it together. Their rookie quarterback will get better as he gains experience. He needs the rest of the offense to step up and help him him, though. Frankly, his receivers seemed to be hearing footsteps and his offensive line had difficulty protecting him. Perhaps they just need more time together as a group.

[cklaurence]

Well, one last post before I leave for my holiday Birthdaqy Bash. I'm not taking my computer with me, so I won't be posting here because I don't know how to get into Switzerland on my phone. I've forgotten my password and Peace hasn't been able to retrieve it because of some glitches with our webmaster (or whoever) some time ago. Until he straightens that out or I re-register with another name, which I suppose I could do, but for the lousy two days I'll be away with activities planned for every waking moment, really, what time will I have to make posts anyway?

We'll be playing another NFL team, so we're the underdog at home at home. I'm not sure what the point spread is... Maybe something like, hmmmmm, let me think, Oakland 42 - Fins 3? I'll be on Monday with my post-mortem review! Hope all is well with you, Em--missing you!!!

[cklaurence]

BTW--Plaxico Burris would have been a nice fit for the Fins. If he hadn't been, they could have cut him, but at least they should have TRIED him on for size. We're hungry for receivers, desperate for someone who can hold on to the ball! We ought to apologize to Chad Johnson and take him back too. I'm just sayin'...

[Emeritus]

Have a wonderful time on your birthday, ck.

[Emeritus]

Congratulations on a convincing win.