The Irony of #17

We all have different ways of finding/choosing our favorite teams; whether through family or friends, by jumping on the bandwagon, where we live, because of a favorite player, etc. For me, like most things, I chose mine through inheritance. I’ve lived in Ohio my entire life and not once was I steered to root for the Browns (I can’t say I’ve missed out on much). Instead, ever since I was a kid, I’ve rooted for the teal and orange that is the Miami Dolphins. And although just about every season has brought me disappointment to this point, I am hopeful that one day the Phins will reign supreme against the rest.

How did this happen? My dad and a close friend of his were massive Dan Marino fans. So much so, that I remember these distinct things growing up: 1) My dad carved a wooden cutout of Marino and placed it in our front yard every Sunday/ weekend of the NFL season (see picture below), 2) Every Sunday we would watch the Phins game and play touch football during halftime at my dad’s friend’s house (in a nearby parking lot), and 3) Every Monday Night Football game that Marino played in, my dad (and friend) would have a party at our house to watch the game.

Through this and much more, it was quite simple to be able to follow in his footsteps in becoming a Dolphins fan. What would follow after Marino’s retirement (in 1999) however would be anything but enjoyable as a fan.

I don’t think there is anything more difficult than replacing a franchise quarterback in the NFL (Unless you’re the Colts who were ‘Luck’y, and had things fall in their lap). I witnessed this first hand with my favorite team. As Marino left, it was trial and error for the next 12 years at the most important position in the game. The lowest point was winning just 1 game in 2007. Miami tried everything, mostly bringing in veterans who were at the tail-end of their careers. The one staple in those years was Jay Fiedler who started 4 seasons. But even he, like the rest of his counterparts, was nothing more than a journeyman.  

The only coping mechanism over that 12-year ‘drought’ of not having a franchise quarterback: the 2005 Hall-of-Fame induction ceremony of Dan Marino in Canton, Ohio. It was an opportunity to revisit the past and the history of a once consistent franchise. And as we were at that ceremony, it made me think to myself, “What if?” What if the Dolphins could one day find a gem and another quarterback that would restore the franchise back to its glorious days of old?  

In the 12-year span from 2000-2011, 16 different quarterbacks started at least one game for the Phins.

The lengthy list (games in parenthesis):

1) Jay Fiedler (59)

2) Damon Huard (1)

3) Ray Lucas (6)

4) Brian Griese (5)

5) A.J. Feeley (8)

6) Sage Rosenfels (2)

7) Gus Frerotte (15)

8) Joey Harrington (11)

9) Daunte Culpepper (4)

10) Cleo Lemon (8)

11) Trent Green (5)

12) John Beck (4)

13) Chad Pennington (20)

14) Chad Henne (31)

15) Tyler Thigpen (1)

16) Matt Moore (12)

The best result of any was Chad Pennington, who led the Dolphins to the playoffs and a division title in 2008. But even then, he was at the end of his career, so as a fan, it was time to look ahead to the future. 

It was Thursday, April 26, 2012. The NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall was about to get underway. The class was loaded with quarterbacks, highlighted by Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. My Dolphins had the 8th pick and were on the clock. Commissioner Roger Goodell approached the podium. My heart was racing. Could this be the year Miami selects a QB in the first round? 

"With the 8th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select Ryan Tannehill, quarterback, Texas A&M." 

We finally selected a potential franchise quarterback! As most football fans know, Tannehill was a receiver for the majority of his collegiate career. He only started 20 games as a quarterback. Even with his critics however, he had all the tools to be the next leader of this franchise. Since being drafted, Tannehill has done just that, starting all 32 games the past two seasons. 

From Marino to Tannehill, I believe we've finally found the Hall-of-Famer's replacement!

The irony? The 17th quarterback (Tannehill) to start a game since Marino retired just happens to wear #17. In addition, when Ryan Tannehill made his first start in 2012, it was the 13th season since Marino's retirement. Tannehill is also the first quarterback taken in the first round of the draft by the Dolphins since Marino was selected 27th in 1983. 

From old-school to new-school, #13 to #17

I think the Phins have a keeper!

The Things I've Learned About Life Through Sports

Sports can be so powerful. They can teach us so much, not only about the game, but about life in general. Sports define teamwork, and what it takes to be successful. They show us how to overcome adversity and endure the greatest of trials. 

I honestly don’t know if there is a more competitive family than mine! Growing up in a family where losing lead (and still does lead) to arguments, fights, not talking to each other for hours after competing, or holding a grudge until the next day, competition with the Opfer’s means everything! In simple terms, we HATE losing.

Growing up, (aside from playing myself) I got the pleasure to learn from watching each one of my siblings compete in their respective sports in high school. I was able to learn a valuable trait from each one that I have been able to carry with me into my future endeavors.

Aaron - Being Ready When Called Upon in Unexpected Moments

It was my brother’s junior year during the football season; he was battling with the senior quarterback for the starting position. With the current senior being the starter the previous season, it was probably likely that the same guy would be the starter for the coming year. However, a scrimmage before the first game would drastically change that. The senior quarterback of the team got injured and would be out for the majority of the regular season. Many within the program may have panicked. My brother had other plans. #13 became the starter and he and the team would never look back. He would not only have an incredible year, but he would help lead the Panthers to the Regional Finals of the playoffs. In all, he seized an opportunity when called upon. He was ready to be the starter from the beginning of the season and that is why he excelled and made the most of the opportunity given.

My brother taught me to always be ready in life. Whether with a job or school, or through the calling of God, we have to be ready to take the next step. We can’t always expect the expected. Many times, we have to expect the unexpected.

“Great moments are born from great opportunity.” – Herb Brooks

Kelsey – Toughness/Sacrifice Defined

If there is one thing I will never forget about my sister from her basketball and softball days; her massive, disgusting bruises. She would come home with bumps and bruises that even football players wouldn't come home with. She was that player that everyone hated playing against because everyone knew she was going to give well over 100% every time she took the court/field. When I went to basketball games, she would be on the floor more than upright. She took charges, was a pest on defense, and out-hustled everyone. In softball, her athleticism took over in center-field. She collided into fences and other players to make plays. She recorded hit after hit and stole bases at an alarming rate. In all, she always sacrificed herself for the betterment of the team. Quite simply, my dad didn’t give her the nickname “bulldog” for nothing.

She taught me that everything we do in life isn't going to be easy. There will be tough patches/times in our lives, but instead of shying away, we must embrace them. We should view them as opportunities to grow rather than letting them bring us down. Overall, we must be willing to give of ourselves in order to be successful.   

"Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness." - Napoleon Hill

Alex - Humble Greatness

HS Basketball District Finals: SMCC vs. Colonel Crawford. The greatest basketball game I will ever witness in person. After being snubbed MVP of the league (S.B.C.) after leading the league in scoring and assists (ranked 5th in rebounding), my brother saved the best game of his career for last. In a game that went back and forth, it seemed like the Panthers were out of it late in the fourth quarter. That’s when #3 put the Panthers on his back. I remember my brother getting fouled on a ridiculous and-1 shot. He sunk the free throw. The very next possession he drilled a three at the top of the key. He continued to make play after play leading his team from down 4 with under a minute, to tied at the end of regulation. He was so determined to get a W that night. In a game that went into double overtime (SMCC lost by 1), my brother unfortunately fouled out early in the first overtime (the foul was called on him even though another player committed the foul). Had he not, I truly believe SMCC would have won the game. My brother was in a zone that night and nothing was going to stop him. The plays he made were miraculous! Take a look for yourself…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoUs89I9axo

The one thing that sticks out about my brother more than anything is just how humble he was/is. He scored 38 points that night, and not once did he mention it or boast about it. He was more disappointed in the loss more than anything. In fact, every time my brother had a great game that season (which was just about every night) he cared way more about winning than any statistical numbers. [I distinctly remember him coming home in bad moods when his team lost.] In all however, he taught me that being humble can translate to greatness.

“Talent is God-given. Be humble.” – John Wooden

Ayden - Adversity Overcome (Defining a Teammate)

If there was a tougher moment I had to endure than my brother’s injury his senior year of his football season, it would be tough to realize. If you know my brother, his passion for the game of football is like no other. He was the first one to arrive and the last one to leave. He would study playbooks every night and prepare at a level I had never seen before. He simply loved the game!

Unfortunately, his season took a turn for the worse when he broke his leg during the fourth game and would be sidelined for the duration of the season. Being his brother, this was the first time a significant injury occurred to anyone in our family in our playing careers. It was devastating to know everything he put into the season was wiped away because of a single play (especially with it being his senior year). But the most amazing thing about this whole situation; my brother embraced it. He was extremely disappointed and deservedly so, but he still had the courage to make an impact on the team. One thing I’ll never forget; while having a brace on his leg and being cleared to go home from the hospital, my brother chose to stay there after learning that another teammate was on his way to the same hospital. He defined teammate.

He acted as a coach, continuing to prepare as he did before, and made posters each week with a team motto on them. He was as actively involved after his injury as he was before it. He taught me so much from this incident, but among them was how to be a true teammate in the face of adversity. He could have very easily shut down his season, but he chose to continue his duties to help his team be successful.

This is a picture I took before the game he got injured #57
It looks like there may be the shadow of a face on his right side?

"Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are." - Arthur Golden

“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle.” – Mother Teresa

Each of my siblings taught me something different by performing in their respective sports. Being ready, sacrificing, being humble, and overcoming adversity. Sports are more than just competing. They have the ability to teach us about life!

The Super Bowl: The Greatest Event in all of Professional Sports.

If you’re anything like my family, the NFL season is the greatest of any of the professional sports. In fact, the rest of the nation may tend to agree as a recent Harris Poll indicated that the NFL is the most popular sport in America for the 30^th year in a row! In the 2014 survey, the NFL garnered 35% of the vote while baseball was a distant second at 14%. I think it’s time we start calling the NFL America’s sport.   

When I look at the NFL, it is so much more exciting with a higher intensity/interest level than any other professional sport. In the NFL, EVERY GAME MATTERS. In MLB, NBA, and even NHL, with the season's being so long, teams can afford to lose games here or there and still have a shot at the playoffs. And while every game is important, it is not as important to the same degree as the NFL. The NFL has one game every week that is oh so important to the final destination: the playoffs.

I experienced this first hand when my Dolphins were on the brink of making the playoffs for the first time since 2008. All they had to do was win one of their last two games. I was pretty optimistic as they were playing the lowly Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets. Not only did the Phins lose both games, but they were embarrassed in the process. As if getting shutout by the Bills wasn't bad enough in Week 16, they were ousted by the Jets (and the ever so annoying Rex Ryan) in front of their home crowd in Week 17. Another season of hope and possibilities erased.

So although I haven’t seen my team in the playoffs since ’08 (a one-sided loss to the Ravens in the first round), and I have never witnessed them in the Super Bowl, I am cheerful that one day it will happen. With that said, my family still views the Super Bowl as the greatest sporting event in all of professional sports. The reasons are quite simple.

The Super Bowl is one game, one event, of 60 minutes. There is no mulligan for having a bad game (just ask the Broncos). On the contrary, MLB, the NBA, and NHL all have best of 7-game series to determine a champion. And if you want to throw NASCAR in the mix, they have something like 10 races to determine a champion. In essence, if a team is off one night (or even 3), they still have a chance to regroup and win a title by winning 4 games. It’s very hard for me to have a high interest level in a best of 7-game series (Especially if a team is over-matched) unless it goes the distance to a seventh game. These sports simply don’t have the hype or interest level that the Super Bowl has. I’m not saying I don’t enjoy the other pro sports from time to time because I definitely do (especially watching the Pittsburgh Pirates), but to me, nothing compares to the NFL.

Aside from this past Sunday's rare Super Bowl rout, we haven't seen a blowout of similar magnitude since 2003 in Super Bowl XXXVII when Tampa Bay demolished Oakland by 27 points (48-21). In fact, if you consider the 10 Super Bowls from 2004-2013, the average winning margin was 6.3 points! Six of those games were decided by 4 points or less! So even though from time to time we may have to deal with a blowout, we are usually in for a classic come Super Sunday. 

A Tradition Like No Other (Opfer's Super Bowl MVP Caricatures)

That leads me to one of my family’s greatest traditions surrounding the Super Bowl. Aside from family predictions of the winner, score, and MVP every year, our family has carried on a more significant, lasting tradition. In what started in our basement at our old Marlboro Street home back in the day, my dad drew caricatures of the players who were honored as Super Bowl MVP. From the very first Super Bowl, when Bart Starr was named MVP, my dad had a knack for creativity in drawing these players with distinction in a fun cartoon type of way. Go ahead, take a look. 

Roger Staubach (DAL);  Jake Scott (MIA); Larry Csonka (MIA); Franco Harris (PIT)
Super Bowls VI; VII; VIII; IX

But then as we moved to our new house, these suddenly became an afterthought and for whatever reason the process was halted. That’s when we as kids urged for the restoration of the project to continue. It was too historic and too unique not to keep it going after all the years our dad had put into it. So with our help, our dad returned to the drawing gridiron, and has continued to draw these awesome caricatures every year after the big game! Something that started as a simple hobby has turned into one of our greatest family traditions. How awesome that we have been able to carry this on for over 30 years!

Deion Branch (NE); Hines Ward (PIT); Peyton Manning (IND); Eli Manning (NYG)
Super Bowls XXXIX; XL; XLI; XLII & XLVI

Drew Brees (NO); Aaron Rodgers (GB); Joe Flacco (BAL)
Do you see the symbolism/significance in the drawings of each player?

While other professional sports or other families may have some awesome traditions themselves, if you ask the Opfers, nothing will ever beat the simplicity of our SB MVP Caricatures.