We are the Last in All Pro Sports

The Miami Dolphins are the last of their kind. No, I am not talking about being last in their division, last in their conference, or even last in the NFL. No, I am talking about the last professional sports franchise to go through a period of being the doormat.

The Dolphins were in a class by themselves, now, that final team has joined the rest.

Sure, the Phins have had years where there were no playoffs, a sprinkle of a .500 team, even a losing season. But did anyone want to see the Dolphins on their schedule? Ever? No. The Dolphins always were in contention for the playoffs whether they made it or not. They were always in contention for the division, whether they made it or not. They were never the doormat to anyone. Every OTHER pro sports team has been the doormat. Now, EVERY pro team has been the doormat. Consider the numbers.

In 1977 the Dolphins finished with a record of 6-8, they followed that up the next year winning 10 games. From 1986 to 1989 the Dolphins finished with 8, 8, 6, and 8 wins. The worst drought in team history until now. In 3 of those seasons they were at .500, and 2 of those years they finished 2nd in the division. Hardly doormats. Just not playoff contenders.

Perhaps the most well known pro team is the New York Yankees, even they have had some pretty lean years. In the 60’s they finished 20 games plus out of first place in their division 6 times and 15 games out once. In the early 1990’s they spent 3 consecutive years towards the bottom of the pile and finished below .500 in all of them.

In the NBA, the two teams who have always stood out were the Lakers and the Celtics, and both have had the doormat life. In fact the Celtics, winners of 9 titles had an 8 year span from 1993 where they could not finish with more than 40 wins. In fact in one season they finished with 15 wins.

The Lakers? In the early 90’s the Lakers would go 2 consecutive years with sub .500 seasons, those two year were bookended by a .524 season and a .585 season.

In the NHL, no team has ever not had consecutive losing seasons.

The NFL has had their share of winners and losers as well. The Dallas Cowboys were “Americas’ Team” but even they had some doormat year. The Steelers? Same thing. Even the mighty Patriots of recent history have played doormat to the AFC East.

Everyone has but the Miami Dolphins. That no longer is the case, and no other franchise can boast that success. It now turns to who has had the most years of success, the least amount of losing seasons, the “who is going to win now” teams.

The Dolphins have entered an era that every other sports team has gone through, it has finally become our turn. The question now is how long will it be before they pull out of it?