DolFan Encounters: Miami Dolphins Fans of RI
December 8, 2013 – PhinPhanatic.com Staff Writer Paul Picken, Jr attends a DolFan meetup in Warwick, RI. Pictured with group founder Dave Fazzina, the Parent Family, Ron Mosca and other DolFans at Bonehead’s Wing Bar
For those of you unfamiliar with my work on here, one of the things I have begun attempting to do is attend as many DolFan gatherings as possible. DolFan Encounters is a new feature being hosted here on Phin Phanatic, and an exciting one for me that enables me to help shine the spotlight squarely on DolFan groups around the country during my travels (NOVA DolFans, you’re definitely in my spotlight to attend as soon as possible!). This is a great opportunity for Dolphin fans to be aware of gatherings wherever they may be so that you have the opportunity on Sundays to watch with your fellow fans if you so choose if there is a meetup group in your area.
Previous articles have featured DolFans NYC, the MetLife takeover and Web Weekend X. This past weekend featured a breathtaking nailbiter of a game for the Dolphins against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I had the pleasure of viewing this game with a new group that is just starting out in Warwick, RI who are entitled “Miami Dolphins Fans of Rhode Island.” Gathering at Boneheads Wing Bar at each weekend, the RI group has a pretty eclectic mix of fans as it stands right now with between ten and twenty-five DolFans attending on a regular basis.
Started by Dave Fazzina, co-owner of Bonehead’s and avid Dolphin fan, the DolFan group is slowly growing in number. Lea Parent, an employee at the bar is also a gigantic fan and even when she isn’t working a shift at the bar during a game you can find her in attendance along with her husband Dave and their two small boys (their sons Ethan and Jared will trash talk every opposing team fan in the bar, given the opportunity!). Another member, Ron Mosca, is a local business owner who is a lifelong DolFan and a season ticket holder in Miami, attending games at Sun Life whenever possible and having “his own reserved booth” for himself and his family in the bar each week.
When Dave started the restaurant with his two co-owners (who are not Dolphins fans) one of his visions for the location was that it turn into a haven for Dolphin fans in the Rhode Island, Eastern Connecticut and Southeastern Massachusettes areas. The location is new, having only opened in May, and Dave started the Twitter account and Facebook page for the group only recently. The turnout for such a young group is definitely an encouraging sign that this is a group that will be able to grow and thrive going forward.
This past weekend marked a critical weekend in the growth of the Rhode Island based group. Being located deep in the heart of Patriots country, however, the number of Patriots fans in attendance has always outnumbered the Dolphins fans – giving them the bar audio and the big TV for the Dolphins game despite playing in the same time slot as the Jets and Patriots. There are at least ten to twelve tv’s throughout the bar, with various games playing throughout, though the Dolphins game was up on at least seven tv’s.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the food at Bonehead’s was absolutely phenomenal, with more variety of wings than I’ve seen in a long time. The staff is extremely friendly as well, despite a few of them wearing Patriots shirts. Despite the “bar” title, the restaurant is family friendly and a great place to watch the game with your kids as well, as Lea and Dave do with their boys each week. I look forward to seeing this group grow and expand in the near future, and making further trips to see just how they are doing in their growth.
If there was ever a weekend to show up at Bonehead’s and show your support, it’s for this coming weeks matchup against the Dolphins bitter rival in the Patriots. The Miami Dolphins Fans of Rhode Island can help ensure that the Dolphins fans at Bonehead’s outnumber the Patriots fans, metaphorically helping send the message that while the past ten years have belonged to the Pats there is something special brewing in Miami for the years to come. While Miami hopefully fires that first salvo at the Patriots this coming Sunday to let them know, the Dolphins fans here in New England can begin to let the Pats fans know that we’re here, and they better get used to what Miami will be bringing to the table over the years to come.
If you’d like to attend their event to watch the game, Bonehead’s Wing Bar is located at 131 Washington Street, West Warwick, RI. Their FaceBook page is listed under “Dolphins Fans of Rhode Island,” and the DolFan group can be followed on Twitter via @DolfansNE. Tell them I sent you.
Fins up!