One of the more annoying “traditions” in the NFL is the 1972 Miami Dolphins popping champagne corks as soon as the last team loses each year. This way, the Dolphins can keep their distinction of being the only team to have gone through a season unbeaten (17-0).
The coach of that team, Don Shula, admits he hopes that the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints (both 13-0) each lose at some point this year.
“They’re a legitimate concern,” Shula said of the Colts and Saints in an interview with the Fox affiliate in Orlando. “I’m rooting secretly inside that somebody beats them.”
In the next breath, Shula tried to walk back his comments.
“We’re very proud of that but we’re not a bunch of angry old men that sit around and can’t wait for that last undefeated team to get beat,” Shula said. “If somebody breaks that record . . . I’m going to call that coach and congratulate him.”
He’ll call the coach — how gracious of him. The ‘72 Dolphins, as a group, have always struck me as petty for their open rooting against any unbeaten team. They act as if another unbeaten would somehow diminish what they accomplished, but in my mind it would do the opposite and serve as a reminder of how rare a feat it is. They wouldn’t lose their Super Bowl rings or have an asterisk placed next to their name.
Two years ago, I rooted against the Patriots (who wound up 18-1), because they are the NFL’s Evil Empire. But even then a part of me would have been happy to have seen the champagne corks stay intact on the Dolphins’ bubbly. For Shula and those Dolphins, a Saints-Colts Super Bowl in which both are 18-0 would have them rooting for a comet to destroy the Earth seconds before the final gun sounded.
on Dec 15th, 2009 at 5:38 PM
After the Patriots’ 16-0 season, I think some luster fell off the whole “undefeated” thing. Still no one has gone 19-0, but even if the Saints or Colts did do it, I don’t see anyone crowning them the “greatest team of all time.”
I personally don’t care if a team wins them all anymore. I’d love for the first 19-0 team to be the Patriots, but I don’t care if it’s someone else, even the insufferable Peyton Manning.
on Dec 15th, 2009 at 7:08 PM
I appreciate that ESPN has not been giving air time to the likes of Mercury Morris, at least not that I’ve seen. During the Patriots 16-0 season, that douche was on ESPN just about every day.
on Dec 15th, 2009 at 7:33 PM
There really is a long way to go. Both teams would have to go 5-0 to make the SB unbeaten, a third of a season. I can see the Colts losing Thursday at Jax since they will rest injured players, and even see Dallas giving the Saints a game Saturday.
on Dec 16th, 2009 at 9:07 AM
Do you need to call him petty when at least the guy is honest?
Do you really expect him to cheer for the Saints or Colts?
Jack N. is willing to admit that he thinks Tiger will break his record. But do you honestly think he is cheering Tiger on?
Come on that is why people compete in athletics. They want their records to be there forever and not underneath someone else.
Don is at least honest about it. If the record is broken, he will call and congratulate the team that breaks the record (with more wins and undefeated). But don’t expect him to be cheering for the Saints and Colts.
Most guys would just be cheering the opponents in secret. So what if the 72 Dolphins are open and honest about it.
Though I do admit that Mercury on ESPN too much last time but who is to blame Mercury or ESPN for trotting him out every chance they had – probably both.
on Dec 16th, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Oh no what a disgraceful human being that Don Shula is.
on Dec 16th, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Petty? What a terrible article. Jim have you ever competed at anything?
on Dec 16th, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Yes, I have competed in sports my whole life.
Listen, I can see rooting against a contemporary in a given season or era. But we’re talking about a team from 1972 still rooting 37 years later. Also, no one can break Miami’s record. They will still be in the record books as having an unbeaten season; this will be true even if the NFL expands to 18 games and 21-0 then becomes the standard. This is not the same as an athlete watching one of his records being surpassed.
on Dec 16th, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Go Dolphins! It’s just something that is unique to the Dolphins franchise, which is why some don’t want any other team joining Miami. However, even though I don’t want to see another team go undefeated, it won’t matter to me because there can only be one team to do it first, and that was the Dolphins.
I don’t see it as petty. It’s fun for us to root against someone doing it. The Super Bowl between the Giants-Patriots was that much better for us Dolphins fans watching our division rival lose and not be able to become the 2nd perfect team.
on Dec 17th, 2009 at 4:22 AM
Records are made to be broken. It is unfortunate that Shula is harming his outstanding coaching legacy by being so petty. He just appears to be a dottering old man who yearns for yesteryear.
on Dec 17th, 2009 at 1:50 PM
I really hope an undefeated Colts team makes it to the Super Bowl against an undefeated Saints team so that the 72 dolphins and their champagne toasts can finally end. Disgraceful.
on Dec 17th, 2009 at 2:09 PM
In an era where there is no pride (at least no comparable to that in college) in professional sports, it is refreshing to see that a group of players and coaches, who accomplished a so far one off feat, still take pride in that and maintain that competitive fire that pushed them to that 16-0 season. Just because they may no be playing anymore doesn’t mean that they still aren’t a team.
And how exactly does Shula backtrack by saying that he will “call and congratulate the coach?” He is being in honest in a time where people are so terrified of not being politically correct, that it is difficult to sort through the fluff to find the real truth.
And besides, in a few years when the Phins are about to go undefeated, I bet those players, along with Shula, will be cheering for them.
Lame ass article.
on Dec 20th, 2009 at 12:30 AM
You are a little late to the dinner table. Your piece on the ‘72 Dolphins has been written 100 plus times over the years. What is the point of rehashing what has already been written?
The corking of champagne has been debunk for years now, but some writers like to spread the a media myth.
How about something original? Your piece is somewhat sophomoric.
Check out objective writing : http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2009/12/1972_dolphins_wouldnt_mind_if.html