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Tuesday Night Random Thread:What Sport Do You Follow In The Off Season Edition


Well with the passing of the Superbowl so ends the season. Well at least from the prospective of us, the fans. Sure the NFL has become more or less of a year round league with news coming nearly every week in one form or another but many fans now start to gravitate towards other sports. Its a much different league from when I grew up. I can still remember scrambling for every bit of news I could get in the off season back then.

I subscribed to Dolphin Digest but while it was a weekly publication in the pre-season and during the season it was only a monthly publication in the off season. I would get it in the mail and read it front to back and then read it again several more times. I would also stop by the library at school a couple of times a week to read the current and back copies of the USA Today hoping to find any scrap of news about the Phins. Lets not even get in to the stacks of NFL previews that I purchased in my youth. Its not that I was a huge nerd like Nicky, I just really loved my Dolphins! Damn I hated the off season and God bless the internet (yes I am so old that when I was in school the internet was not a place that you could access news on your favorite NFL team).

Star-divide

There is of course the combine (February 22nd-28th) in Indianapolis this month. Leading up to that we should see some stories about guys from around the country training with this guy or at this place or another in preparation for the draft. I read recently that the great Michael Johnson, who owns a top flight training center (http://elite.michaeljohnsonperformance.com/NFL_combine_training/) here in the DFW metroplex is preparing for his annual influx of big name NFL recruits to come in and train for their next step in life. I am sure this sort of thing is going on all over the country.


Then of course a couple of weeks following the combine is the beginning of the league year for the NFL followed by the beginning of the free agency period ( Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at 4:00 pm ET). Then starts the lead in to the draft (April 26 to April 28, 2012).

Of course we will all be here following the every move of our beloved Dolphins but when you are not knee deep in the middle of the NFL season what sport do you spend the most time following and who is your team in that sport? Most of you that know me probably already know that mine is baseball and the Texas Rangers. What is yours?

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Comments

Mine is Hockey and the New York Rangers

And this looks like quite the year for them. Not to mention my T-Wolves are actually playing .500 ball this deep into the season which is quite an improvement. I love my Yankees as well, but baseball is getting nauseating to me. Not fun when it’s win or bust every year, gotta set a salary cap

A Yankees fan that is in favor of a hard cap? You know why it will never happen?
IMO baseball desperately needs a hard cap

I remember watching the ‘96 World Series with my grandfather when I was 10. That championship over the dominant Braves coming back from 2-0 series deficit was awesome. That joy has been washed away. 2009 was more like half relief half "it’s about time" than anything. I was happy, but maybe 15% of the thrill I had felt nearly two decades ago now. I mean Texiera, Sabathia, etc. it would have been a disgrace if they had lost that year. I’d like to just call up the entire farm system and start from scratch. The fun and prestige of Don Mattingly, Paul O’Neil, Tino Martinez, Bernie Williams, Scott Brocious, etc are gone.

To answer your question, I’m not sure but I suppose all owners would have to come to an agreement that the higher financed organizations wouldn’t do?

But a hard cap does not fix the problems. Where do you set the cap? There were years that KC spent less then

30 mil. in payroll and still lost money while the Yankees spent nearly 200 mil and still made giant profits. Its a media market size thing and what each team can generate from the broadcasting of the games. If the NFL were like MLB GreenBay would have zero shot against the large markets. Its like the genie that is out of the bottle. You can not go back and change the structure of how baseball operates. At least no in this generation and not while a Steinbrenner is running the Yankees.

@ phinsphan85

Longtime Rangers fan, as well as a Panthers fan. Haven’t followed hockey like I did in the 90’s, but still love the blueshirts! Hope to see a NYR vs Panthers playoff series!

I think your hope is slowly shaping into a reality.

Football, the Miami Dolphins

I pay more attention to that during the offseason than all the other sports put together lol
The only thing that comes close is the NBA finals

Watching the heat game now...

….so yea

I watch the lanterns too, but wen both r playing (like today) I’m watching the heat

same here ... I even started listening to Miami sports talk radio stations because they tend to talk Dolphins football...

On the Michael Irving show on 560 WQAM, Irving was explaining today how he wants to talk Manning into coming to Miami to play, and how he would make the case to come to Miami(he is a Miami native and a big Dolphins fan). Believe me Mr. Ross, you want him to talk to him… even if it is unofficially right now.

He also got into the Brandon Marshall issue today and yelled at someone who was talking about Marshall dropping the ball today. He pretty much made the point that I have been making the past few weeks… and he is a hall of fame WR…. so take that however you want it …

Lanterns lol, I meant panthers

Stupid ipad

Miami Heat and the Fl-Miami Marlins.
Oh yeah, forgot the marlins, lol
Basketball

Heat. Also summer movie trailer watching, today’s choice The Amazing Spiderman

Marlins and Heat (mostly heat)

But I have my season tickets for the Fish.

Baseball, by gum!

BASEBALL!

Longest game ever played is on NFL Network if anyone cares

Dolphins Chiefs 71’

I care, thanks

I missed the original airing of this special

I recorded the game. Nice piece.

I follow the Marlins, Magics and F1 on Sundays, but mostly, i look for Dolphins news everywhere lol

So why (in the pic above) in the dude jumping form the 40 yard dash?
Newcastle United
I like Newcastle beer. Does that count?
I think so TCP

I like it too

I would imagine that it does.

It is called ‘Newcy Broon’ where I am from.

Nice. I got hooked on it in Australia because it was so damn cheap but I also drank a lot of Coopers down there.
It's pretty expensive.
It was not down there back then. Beer and food was cheap. Everything else there was expensive.
Don't follow soccer very closely but they are my favorite team as well.
H'away the Lads!!!

“Gannin’ along the scottswood road” … etc … that’ll confuse the stateside majority!
Yep .. Newcastle United and of course the Cricket for me – Worcestershire and England – As for US sports – Love Gridiron (of course) and Hockey … but never got the Baseball bug.

Liverpool FC in the EPL
MotoGP
World Rally Championship

Unfortunately the Australian football seasons are about to start, can’t stand them. And that’s all the media cares about over here…

Heat and Yankees. grew up in NY, so ive been a Yankee fan my whole life and fell in love with the Heat when i moved to south fl...
Drinking

And watching College Hoops

I follow Soccer, here in mexico it's the main sport

but I watch football before I start to watch soccer…

but in offseason I play a lot Madden

So do you like me believe that Mexico city is a prime spot for an NFL franchise? I think it would be brilliant.

London is totally foolish but Mexico and Canada seem like no-brainers.

in 60's and 70's trhe college football in mexico grow a lot

and then the NFL start to be transmitted in Mexico, and the fathers of my generation (I’m in 30’s) got in love of the NFL.
in central and north Mexico are a lot popular NFL, MLB and NBA (I think in this order)

Yeah its huge in Texas with the Mexican community. Another reason why I think a team in San Antonio would

do well. Also now the 7th largest city in the US and the only one in the top 9 other then LA without an NFL franchise. Also with Austin (the 14 largest city) just up the road not to mention all the other cities in the area it would have plenty of fans to pull from.

I honestly think they should just add a team to every division

It may seem like a lot for now, but it will be Bette in the long run. My top choices for cities would be savannah GA, Los Angeles, Mexico city, San Antonio, London, salt lake city and maybe Tallahassee or Newark.

maybe even Juneau

Honolulu has the pro bowl, so that’s okay

Your high if you think they will EVER put a team in Alaska. You need people to go to the games to begin with.

You listed several cities without the population to carry a franchise. Besides Juneau, Savannah, Salt Lake City and Tallahassee are all too small and your overlooking the fact that much larger cities are without a franchise. The NFL looks at media markets. Think of it in those terms. Hell some of the cities do not even have an adequate airport for the mass movement of out of town fans.

Here are your top media markets. I would look at this list and the cities starting from the top down with no team would be the most likely to be able to make a bid for a team.

1 New York
2 Los Angeles
3 Chicago
4 Philadelphia
5 Boston
6 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
7 Dallas-Ft. Worth
8 Washington, DC
9 Atlanta
10 Houston
11 Detroit
12 Tampa-St. Petersburg
13 Seattle-Tacoma
14 Phoenix
15 Minneapolis-St. Paul
16 Cleveland-Akron
17 Miami-Ft. Lauderdale
18 Denver
19 Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto
20 Orlando-Daytona Beach
21 St. Louis
22 Pittsburgh
23 Portland, Oregon
24 Baltimore
25 Indianapolis
26 San Diego
27 Charlotte
28 Hartford-New Haven
29 Raleigh-Durham
30 Nashville
31 Kansas City, Missouri
32 Columbus, Ohio
33 Milwaukee
34 Cincinnati
35 Greenville-Spartanburg, Asheville, Anderson
36 Salt Lake City
37 San Antonio
38 West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce
39 Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo
40 Birmingham
41 Harrisburg-Lancaster
42 Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News
43 New Orleans
44 Memphis
45 Oklahoma City
46 Albuquerque-Santa Fe
47 Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem, NC
48 Las Vegas
49 Buffalo
50 Louisville, KY

Also remember these little cities that you mentioned would not have the ability to raise the funds

for a stadium in the current world of the NFL.

ok, replace them with

Cleveland, Portland, Milwaukee and salt lake city. Plus London, Mexico city, la and maybe Raleigh or Charlotte (whichever the panthers don’t play in)

Um pretty sure that the Browns would object to another team in their city as would Green Bay

to one in Milwaukee. London is like the WORST idea ever. Do you have any concept of how long it is to fly there or here from there? How would any team have a shot flying to the US and back 8 time a year? Not to mention the other teams that are not going to want to fly there or foot the bill for the extra travel to get there. NO ITS A TERRIBLE IDEA!

Its not just the flight but the time zone difference as well.
Well sure. Its an asinine idea IMO.

Also the idea of having the Superbowl overseas is about as stupid a thing as Goodell has ever suggested.

I don't know....... that might actually be a good thing.

I have a lot of European friends that don’t like “North American football” but love to watch the Super Bowl. It could help create more fans.

I don’t think it’s as terrible idea as having a team in London.

Yes but to take away a $200,000,000 impact from a US city to send it to another

country seems like a TERRIBLE idea.

I am not American so I don't care much. sorry :)

It would increase the bottom line for the NFL though with all the extra merchandise, TV contracts ect.

Yes but as most fans are I can see quite an uproar over taking it out of the States.

Terrible PR move and as such I don’t think it will ever happen.

Plus remember outside of the TV contracts the most money they bring

in is from sponsorship’s. If they do something that riles up the fans has causes any sort of backlash it will potentially cost them sponsorship dollars. Just another reason it will never happen.

Most people won't care

It will still be at the same time. None football fans might make an uproar.

I like the idea of moving it to Saturday though.

Oh you would be surprised what gets people up in arms here.

I can for sure see that being one of the things.

Moving it to Saturday?

When all the college teams play? On a permanent basis? Yeah…. That’s a fat “not gonna happen”

How do you figure? College ball is long over by that time.
What do you mean?

NFL plays from 1PM until close to 11 PM. College games would still play between those hours. Unless you mean JUST the Superbowl. In which case moving that cut out tourist dollars and revenue on Saturday for the host city.

Yeah thats what he meant as thats what he was talking about

the entire time. The host city has an entire week of revenues.

For those coming into town

the weekend of the game (who work during the week) Saturday is the day you’d go shopping, hit up amusement parks, go out to clubs etc. Moving the game to Saturday, you miss that. And most would travel back Sunday instead of staying after the game to do those same things.

In the end if the NFL thought that moving the game

up a day would somehow bring them a bigger TV audience and thus more TV revenues then it might happen. The effect on the host city is not going to be forefront in their mind as TV revenues are the lions share of what they bring in. Also they know that cities will still scramble to host the game no matter what day of the week it is on.

Just the Super Bowl
The NFL wouldn't do that...

They’ll milk as many profitable days as they can leading up to the game.

Well I wouldn't have to take a day

off if it was on Saturday, so I want it damn it!

but, but, what about tea and crumpets?
Proposed ExpansionTeams, Locations and Divisions

Beijing Olympians (NFC South)
Australian Roos (AFC South)
Iraqi WMDs (NFC North)
French Pacifists (AFC North)
Alaskan Huskies (NFC West)
Egyptian Pharaohs (AFC West)
London Floggers (NFC East)
Goodell Goldenboys (AFC East)…. Oh wait, damn, that’s the Patriots!

true, those were just off the top of my head

I agree that, other than salt lake city, they are too small. But they were just ideas

LOL I take it you have not been to many of those cities.
The most I can see it 4 more teams and then go back to 4 division per conference.
Tallahassee? Lol

I’m in Tally currently, I don’t think there IS space for a stadium in Tallahassee. With two universities in town and a huge community college, it may be profitable… but it is also largely college students so prices may be too steep. This place almost becomes a ghost town during holidays, so the college population is pretty substantial.

Newark is too close to East Rutherford, home of the Jets and Giants.
Missouri needs one... Missouri Raiders... lol
I am pretty sure they have one until that one moves to LA.
move te bills to Toronto and get extra teams in la and Mexico city
I honestly don't know how a team would do in Canada

I don’t think it would do great to be honest. I think it would do ok but people in the States don’t realize how big the CFL is here.

I have literally NEVER seen a CFL game.
Most Americans haven't

Obviously the NFL has the better players but the CFL is very exciting and is a lot different. There have been rules implimented in the NFL from the CFL (2 point conversion is the first to come to mind). I personally don’t follow it much just have gotten more into the NFL. The Grey Cup is a better trophy IMO and has been around since 1909.

The two point conversion was actually borrowed from college football as it was used there before the CFL ever used it.
Could have sworn it was from the CFL

Unlike you I wasn’t around in 1958………

Nor was I.
Sure sure, you're still 21 right? ;)
Oh no. Nearly twice that.
Also the AFL before the merger in 68 used it.
Thanks for that fact, didnt knew that
Go Santos Laguna

We WILL win this year the Championship! Long live la Comarca.

Hockey all the way. If you don’t watch you don’t know what you are missing. I always get pumped for march madness and baseball spring training as well.

I do just not as much as baseball.
Red Wings baby!!!

But I still come to this sight numerous times a day

el heat! Miami all the way!

Also gotta love my cricket (world champs 2010!) and soccer (fc Barcelona 4 life). The olympic as well this year (team India!)

Minny a 12 point lead without Kevin Love. Nice
Sup
Now its a party. Did you bring the quarter?
Yes
Thank God. I have the shot glass. Lets do this!
Hockey...San Jose Sharks

And they’re finally going to win the Cup this year, guaranteed!

Better them than bastard Vancouver

What makes you so sure the Sharks won’t choke this year?

They got rid of that waste of space Heatley

He was taking up over $7.5M and was playing on the 3rd line in the playoffs! Highest paid player on the team with zero playoff value! That’s terrible! Plus they signed Havlat who is a proven playoff performer. They finally got their #2 D-man Brent Burns. Handzus was an under the radar pickup to sit in front of the net. And Couture has gotten just that much better this year.

Plus Pavelski is healthy this year.

I really think he was playing through a big injury last year which was why he was non-existent.

Don't be like that ;)
competitive beer tasting, and recliner races until football starts again!!!

oh yeah and Olympic style lawn mowing in between !

Everyone can relax now. The Rangers just extended Elvis Andrus for 3 more years.
alright, let's say we get manning and don't take a qb this year

Here are your choices next year: Matt Barkley, Tyler Wilson, Landry jones, Tyler bray and Jordan Rodgers. Who do you take if manning shows he can last another 2 or 3 years. I would take Jordan and sit him behind manning the same way his bro Aaron sat behind favre.

Barkley all day, every day and twice on Sunday.
People say we can't "afford" to trade up for RG3

If we have Manning (healthy) we are not going to have a top 15 pick (probably not even top 20), it’s going to cost a TON to move to #1. :)

I am pretty sure that his question was not if it were possible and who knows what happens between now and then

including with Barkleys draft value.

I know you don't like my plan

but I want Manning and RG3.

BTW let a fan dream. lol

Its not that I don't like it. I just know it wont happen is all.

I LOVE RG3 and the idea of Manning.

That's my dream scenario as well

At least get one of the two. Not a fan of the whole Flynn idea

Me either

Although would be ok with it with Philbin here.

I'd feel better about it with Philbin, but still hoping for another scenario
Hockey is my first love

I grew up playing hockey in the winter (well ice hockey, ball hockey is year round) and baseball in the summer. I follow the NBA and MLB but my 2 favorites are NHL & NFL. I will check the standings from time to time in the Premiership as well.

How is everyone tonight?

I am well and while hockey is not in my top 2 its a damn fine sport.

Surprisingly its gaining in popularity around here. Especially with the kids as there are a lot of youth organizations around here now vs. barely any at all 20 years ago.

It's a great sport....... I grew up playing it 365 (ball hockey especially)

We use to play screen ball as well in the summer. I actually I played twice today, shinny hockey in the afternoon and ball hockey this evening (every Tuesday for next 2 months).

Yeah I grew up playing all kinds of things and being on swim and dive team but I was in S. Florida. Not a big hockey town back then.
Even with the Panthers I doubt it still is.

It’s a part of the culture here. Fact of the day though……. its not our National Sport.

What is your national sport?
Lacrosse
Cricket?
Think that's India
Oh for sure there.
Never even seen cricket until Afghanistan
Wait!

You never rad the Flashman novels?

novels?

Is that a ESPN series or something?

I think he meant Flesh Gordan....
I never saw it till I lived in Australia. OMG it was on TV there all the damn time.
Aussie rules football is the best
I never followed it. I did have a buddy over there that would go hang at the casino

in the middle of the night with me so we could watch the Phins games and drink some beer. They do love their beer there.

... and shrimp.
Not so much. Lots of lamb though. Oh and chicken sausages.
Yes they do

My sister live there for a year.

... is she hot?
uh......... noooooo

Not to you anyways.

LOL Good answer. Even if she looks like a VS model the answer to

Alpha is no, she is not attractive!

Yeah I was there for 8 months. Really want to get back and also spend some

time in NZ on the way there or the way back.

The one good thing about my time in Anchorage...

…was that going to minor-league hockey games got me hooked on the sport. So now I’m a Panthers-and-hockey-in-general cheerleader to any South Floridian who will listen (seriously, guys, it’s pretty awesome, go attend the Panthers’ games).

That, and the salmon runs... with trout fishing, camping, Alaska bake and soudough bread!
Anyone else find this very interesting given these are the people that are questioning Peytons ability to play?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/07/polian-says-gronkowski-failed-colts-physical/

I've always been up for signing him since the possibility was brought up

The fact that some are saying choosing Peyton over Flynn would be like choosing Culpepper over Brees all over again is ludicris

... and until the real games begin, no one lnows how Manning will be....
Might be something to it..... who knows

Bottom line is, if the Colts do plan on cutting Manning at all, they want to try their best to say he was unfit to play to Colts fans.

20/20 is always hindsight...

… but what if it was the other way around and he didn’t work out?
Colts would look smart and the Pasties would be out a pick and player.

The Manning decision could go either way. Depending on the Colt’s cap space.
I don’t think his injury is going to fool anyone as an excuse.
He’ll still be recovering when the Colts make their decision.
Manning ain’t gonna be right till pre-season….

HEAT and Marlins

maybe i’ll start watching the Panthers again, i was a huge fan in the 90’s, stopped when they moved to Sunrise…gonna be an exciting year for miami sports

KMB, you still here?
He hides a lot.
He found his ball-n-paddle....
In Bacon's pants.
There it is....
Wolves almost blew it

but almost = a win so it’s all good :)

LA LAKERS!!!
booooooooo
nice to see you to
Porn

when its the off season, porn comes on….

Bet your glad Porn does not have an offseason!
I usually get into beach volleyball..

.. and golf for watching something on tv….

Summer Olympics this year for sure
Hello and bye!

Stopped by to drop a line and a Bacon joke. Now I’m out. Night!

A drive by slutting....
That's all I'm good for.
Ok guys I am out for now. See ya tomorrow.
Peace
Jesus alph you need to find a date
your right hand doesn't count!
basketball, and all the nfl stuff that happens in the off season like the draft hell i spend more time on this site in the off season lol
Sports is a year-round committment for me

Right now, I’m following the seasons of
Hockey – Washington Capitals
College BB – Terps
EPL – Man City
NBA – Wizards (ashamed to admit)

Later…. Baseball season and the summer olympics

Don't ever be ashamed to claim your teams. That's what being a good fan is all about.
thats easy...

…UFC, HEAT, MARLINS !!

let's see... where in the sports calendar are we??

LET’S GO BULLS!!!! (sorry, that’s my pride and joy is the Chicago Bulls), Marlins, Cats, ManU/ Barcelona, and hell yes to Summer Olympics this year. Go Team USA!!

Hello Phinsiders!

Anybody out there? Just here having some beer, checking out the phinsider. How is everybody doing? Hope all is well in phinsider land.

WOW you mean there are other sports besides the fins, child please
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS!

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