You. This blog. Two questions.

     Our humble little web log debuted Sept. 23, 2005, so we're coming up on our third anniversary as The Herald's only general-interest sports blog -- still a work in progress. I believe one of the keys to bloggery is to encourage and grow a sense of community, so in that spirit I offer two questions here:

     1. WHO ARE YOU? Tell me (and others in the bloggerhood) about yourself. Whether you are a valued regular who visits daily and adds comments often, a reader who maybe votes in polls but only occasionally comments, or even someone wandering by for the first time, I'm interested in your story. How old are you? What do you do? Where do you live? What is your passion in sports? Tell as much or as little as you'd like.

     2. WHAT ABOUT THIS BLOG? Tell me what you like, or what you don't (or both). What would you want to see more or less of? Is there something about the content or format you'd change? Consider this your open invitation to help shape what we do.

     My plan is to leave this post in the top slot for a few days, well into the holiday weekend, and respond to your comments and suggestion in a new post by early next week. Meantime, please participate. We get thousands of visitors most days, and poll votes come from all over the country and beyond. Let's see what a cross-section of you looks like.

Comments

[OC Dolphin]

Greg. Some of my story:

1. Grew up in Miami attending Saint Michael, Kinloch Park, Coral Park and Dade South. Dolphins fan since its birth. Sold Cokes as a ZumZum teen and attended every game of that 72 undefeated season. Set out west in 76 to finish architectural studies at Sci Arc. Ardent Dolphins and Lakers fan. Played all sports, from Jai-alai to gymnastics. Still able to do black diamond runs and play in the 80's on many tough west coast tracks. Buried first wife at age 30 (CF), remarried, father of one great 14 year old. Currently own and run a small PR/marketing firm with my wife (she's the words, I'm the visuals). Use this format to improve writing skills (few years ago it wood have bean writting skills). Equally comfortable listening to anything produced between 1961 - 2008 (except for hip-hop and some country).

2. Love this forum, the regulars who contribute, and your creative approach. My only suggestion would be for you to hold some form of yearly contest (much like what Jim Rome does), where regulars are encouraged to contribute something of substance and style. Whoever wins the blog "write-off" would subsequently hold the blog champ crown for the year.

Keep up the good work, and a happy 4th to all!

[ginrai]

Greg no offense but I like to keep both my life and I private.

[Eddie]

OC,
You married the father of a 14 year old? Was it a California fruit affair?

[OC Dolphin]

Eddie (haskell?). There is a coma after remarried. And yes Greg, it is appreciated that you ask about backgrounds. Requesting more details from those who take the time to partake in your forum. We should all thank shadow for doing as much. In taking the lead and voluntarily disclosing some of his story some two weeks ago.

[tony]

1. Streaky poster. I was more active during the previous Dolphins' season. I usually vote in the polls. 32, Aerospace Engineer and living in the metro Boston area. I was born and raised in Miami, so my passion in sports is, has been and will always be the Heat, Dolphins, Marlins, and UM. As you may imagine, the last year has been hell for me from a sports perspective.

2. I always enjoyed your sense of humor going back to when I used to read the Herald in print. So its nice to see you carry that over to this blog. I also like the variety of topics on here. However, the format is archaic and clunky. Also, I think more moderation is necessary since various posters on here get their jollies posting under a variety of pseudonyms.

[OC Dolphin]

Eddie, (Haskell?) there is a coma after remarried. You may wish to borrow any 5th grader's English book and check out that bit of grammar.

Kudos again Greg. Disclosure brings about honesty and a desire to be known for what you stand for. It is far easier to spout bullsh*** from afar. Not willing to own up to one's own brand. Shadow ought to be commended for being the first, and owning up to his individual brand some two weeks ago. But that's neither here nor there. When you opened up this topic, you had to suspect that perhaps six regulars would take you up on this level of honesty.

[Tom]

Who am I? Well, I grew up in Miami and went to Miami Palmetto where I graduated in 1970. My father still lives in Pinecrest out by the old Parrott Jungle. The first football game I ever attended was in September 1963 in the Orange Bowl, Miami v FSU. The Matador got his arse kicked that night 24-0. I've been a lifelong Canes fan since then. Years later George Mira lived in my Apt complex on Kendall. In fact, he helped me jump start my car when the battery died. Small world.

In addition to being a huge Canes fan, I also love the Dolphins. I have a couple of great Dolphins stories, but only one is the best and here it is. In 1972 I was at the Miami v San Diego game when Griese broke his ankle. At the time I was 20 years old and I worked for Bell South collecting the money out of pay phones. The next day my route took me to the Dolphins practice facility. I had just collected the money from the pay phone when I looked up and there was Earl Morrall. I introduced myself and told him I had been at the game the day before. I was so awed that I didn't call him Earl. Instead, I referred to him as "Mr Morrall." I told him that I had been cheering loudly for him in the stadium the day before, something along the lines of "Way to go Mr Morrall!" Mr Morrall, not Earl? Yup, that's what I told him. I can only imagine he and his friends got a good laugh out of that one. Bottom line is he was incredibly nice. I asked him for his autograph and the only thing I had for him to write on was a small manila envelope that I used for loose change I found when collecting the pay phones. That little envelope with "Mr Morrall's" signature is still in my lock box as well speak.

I've done several things in my life. I was a policeman in Miami for 13 years. A practicing CPA in northern California for 7 years and now I'm a tenured associate professor of accounting at a major state university in the southeast. I got my undergrad degree from FIU and my PhD from Arizona State.

I have 3 great kids. My oldest is a LT in the Army and just got back home from Korea. He is headed to Ft Knox next week and most likely Iraq the beginning of next year. If you believe in prayer, as I do, please send a few his way. My second will be a sophomore in college next year. Both of the boys played (play) college golf. My youngest will be a junior in high school. She's the brains in the family and she's all pumped right now because she got her first new car yesterday.

This blog? I generally visit every day and contribute pretty regularly. I enjoy the blog and the interaction with the regulars. The CamMoron experience last year tested us all. I hope we have something equally as compelling this year to discuss, but on the positive side this time.

On a personal note, I was heartened by OCs story and how his life has gone. I think he knows why.

[tony]

in my late 30s, straight, hialeah high graduate, college professor, cuban-american, lives in the northeast now, last lived in miami in the early 1990s, primary sports interest is football: dolphins and hurricanes, father of one, left of center politically.

i mainly read the blog during football season. turned off by the the constant polling--feels gimmicky. think you do about as good a job as possible as a "corporate" blogger, i.e., a blogger with a newspaper standing behind you (herald blog, e.g., as opposed to a blogger space). wonder how much more upfront you might be with that question: your tie to the herald as blessing, curse, especially as the blog becomes more and more--is it?--the main thing you do.

one of the things, in fact, that marks the corporate blogger off from the indie blogger is that the latter will often give a shout out to other indie bloggers, will rely on a back and forth between his blog and theirs, and that generates much of what the blogosphere is great at: creating public exchanges that are vibrant, risky, productive, and that stand in contrast to the mostly canned exchanges we see in most of the corporate media. your blog lacks this sense of blogosphere exchange, cote, and you would do well to cultivate it by engaging with indie bloggers more--and you might be doing this already...who knows? correct me if i'm wrong. but i think you'd benefit from taking the spirit of exchange you clearly have with your commentators into the wider indie blog world.

[N.J. John]

OK, here we go. 59 years old, born in Jersey City, New Jersey, moved to the Jersey countryside at the age of five. Spent several years in the Norfolk VA area while in the service and two years in northern VA near the Skyline Drive. Moved back to Jersey mid 60’s and still here.
Been a Dolphin fan since about 1968, before that as a child liked the Rams (color of uniforms attracted me as a child) other interests include Classic cars of which my wife and I own two and spend a lot of our spare time at various functions and charity events. We both also have a love of animals and have taken in a number of strays and feed and tend to many wild animals that live behind our house, if I told you how many and what kind you would laugh. Just to give you an idea, we spend over $100.00 a week on them.
Joined the service in 1968 after seeing many of my friends being drafted and not returning home. Had an attitude that I had to do something to help and seek some type of revenge for their lives being taken. Served six years as a Navy Seal, doing two tours in Nam. Was injured on each tour fairly seriously, but was fortunate to return with my life.
Currently employed as an Inventory Control Manager for a large building material supplier in Jersey with seven locations. Do a fair amount of traveling each day, but still find the time to check this blog while travelling.
Really enjoy the give and take that goes on here daily and the insight into the Dolphins that many of you have. Just as a final note, I can’t stand liars, thieves, and ignorant people who attempt to attack verbally others while hiding behind the keyboard of their computer.

[Jose Can-snitch-o]

Hello, Cote. I'm an English major at a local university. I'm a late bloomer, in my mid-30's. I do enjoy reading your postings, although you drove the whole Jason Taylor-Bills Parcells bit into the ground. Much ado about nothing, Cote. (Sheesh! Enough already.)

I'm a big sports fan. I love to play basketball, baseball, and football, so naturally those are the sports I most enjoy watching. Can't afford to attend many sporting events, so I'm relegated to watching games on my TV. That's fine with me.

I love your "music." My favorite song was the one you did on the LeBatard show about Marlins games and you being sooooo lonely! That was a riot.

I find your disdain concerning Marlins upper-management to be misplaced. You follow the mainstream opinion (unanalytical!) in that regard; and that's pathetic, needless to say.

Everytime you're on the LeBatard show I listen intently. I especially enjoy how LeBatard says he always laughs when he looks at you. I have friends like that too. They're just comical in nature. You look like Fozzy Bear indeed.

As for this blog, I really enjoy the question-and-answer period that you do periodically. I like the frankness; I like your humor for the most part; and I like the back and forth.

The sports page wouldn't be the same without this blog.

[Jose Can-snitch-o]

Cote, if you do create some sort of "write-off" like OC Dolphin suggests, I fear you'd turn into a type of Tony Reali from ESPN. That dude, and his pukey little talk show, is so freakin' annoying! I don't know what's more annoying: Tony Reali's stupid mannerisms or Clayton's way of ending sentences when he speaks.

No, I take that back. Tony Reali is far more annoying. ESPN's Clayton is just plain weird.

A "write-off" sounds fine, but actually implementing it sounds silly.

[Dolphanatic]

Born/raised in Mia. 7 when Shula came to town. As an adult have lived all over FL, GA and now reside in AZ. Still - and always will be - a Miami sports fan first.

Dolphins, Hurricanes, Heat, Marlins, Panthers in that order. (Hockey just wasn't in my wheel house growing up in So. FL.)

Now 46 ... a Music Pastor outside of Phoenix ... Football, football, football - then everything else sports. (My favorite tv show is Mike & Mike in the Morning.)

Enjoy the blog from time to time ... especially the polls ... this is my first time contributing.

Love the Herald Sports page for more in-depth coverage of my favorite teams from afar. (All time favorite sports writers are Edwin Pope and Mr. Cote.)

Keep up the good work! Go Phins!

[Dave in VA]

Getting ready to retire from active duty military service after 24 years. After a six-week decompression period I'll start my second career with a consulting firm.

Have a great family, a wife and four kids. The apes keep me busy, I have coached my boys youth sports teams for years.

Like NJ John, we are animal lovers. We have a fat-assed lazy Basett, two Westies and about fifty bird and squirrel feeders in the back yard. Don't think I pay $100 per week to fill them though. Only the wife knows.

My dad took me to Dolphins games as a kid in the early 70's, I've always been a rabid fan. I remember him pulling an old record player out the front door and playing that horrible "Miami Dolphins #1" song after the '72 Super Bowl win. A couple years back my mom gave me a framed section of the local paper, it has a big picture of me fully dressed in a Mercury Morris uniform on Miami Dolphins Day, when I was a second grader at Addison Mizner Elementary School. Great memories.

I took a tour of duty from 2002-2005 at US Southern Command in Doral and moved my family to Pembroke Pines. We went to several games while there. The highlight was taking my dad to watch the Phins destroy the Patriots while he was visiting. It was a suprise, he thought we were going to Home Depot (didn't see the grill and cooler in the back). We cooked brats and drank beer in the lot for a couple hours and reminesced about the old days at the Orange Bowl. Awesome day.

[I am Kazaam]

UM student from Miami and Baltimore, season ticket holder to Marlins, Fins, Ravens, Heat, and UM Football.

Like the blog, but you seriously need to start checking more often and deleting political posts, they pop up almost every blog.

[Dave in VA]

Forgot to answer question 2. Best thing about this blog is the regulars. Whether serious sports talk/debate, or general BS during slow times (like now), these guys provide some pretty damn entertaining stuff. A lot of real people. A lot of comics. A lot of true Dolphin fans.

What don't I like? Threads not centered on the Phins. But that's just me being greedy.

[the bostonian]

heh, heh

[klndry]

I am from Halifax NS Canada. I have always been a Dolphins fan. We didn't get to see a lot of football when I was growing up but I read a lot about the Dolphins perfect season in SI. I retired from the military about 8 years ago. I played a lot of sports none of them real well.

I participate in the blog and read the blog daily. Best thing about this blog are the members who respond to your sometimes funny, often twisted perspective. But such is life. I have never been to a live NFL game. But, I watch every phins game I can (ignor New England) and since the phins when 1-15 last year, I will be lucky to see the Dolphins play once this year unless I subscribe the to NFL network. (run that one by my wife)

[George Takei]

Well look who's back, none other than my old butt-buddy, the bostonian. Good to have you back.

[Joe in Leo]

Hey, i post sometimes. I was born in the Bronx, but raised in Miami-Dade County. Graduated from North Miami Beach back in 2005, and is going to graduate from college next year. I spend most of my time in school in Tampa Bay, where i catch a lot of heat for my love for South Florida teams (except for the Marlins and Panthers). I'm a Sport Business Major, and yet dont have a clue on what im going to do. No kids or anything like that.

I love this blog because Cote provides great insight, funny comments and nice polls. I love the people who blog because they add another dimension to the blog that i may not have thought of. Overall, I thank you for making this blog, and keep up the great work.

[Dave in VA]

NJ John, thought you would appreciate this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfK2BQCIIes&eurl=http://www.blackfive.net/main/2008/03/us-navy-seal-mi.html

[N.J. John]

I’m sure you know how watching something like that affects me, it seems once you are in the brotherhood we all think alike. There is nothing sadder than a military person giving their life in the line of duty, they are all heroes. But when one of your own is lost the emotions are overwhelming. I watched love on TV when President Bush awarded the CMH to the parents of Mikey. My wife looked over at me, as I was not able to control the tears of emotion streaming down my cheeks. Several members of my team where lost in action, and I will NEVER forget my lost brothers.
Congratulations to you my friend on your 24 years of faithful service and may God always be with you.

[N.J. John]

I meant, I watched live, not love

[Flipper72]

Who am I? I am Flipper72...the most loyal, optimistic, die hard Dolphin Fan that ever lived. I loved the 70's & early 80's teams.
The 90's were'nt bad but we should have tried to help Dan out by getting him some better talent to make a serious Super Bowl run. I used to hate the Bills big time back then.

I am not going to reveal too much about myself but I will say this- I live in Coral Gables and I graduated from the University of Miami in 1992. I have a Bachelors Degree in Business. I moved to San Francisco for a year, right after graduation and then to Los Angeles to pursue my musical career.
I moved back to South Florida in 2002, right after Wanny started stinking up the place (but no one will ever be worse than Cam).

I was married for 13 years and recently got divorced. I was married in San Fran in August of 1992. We lived in the Bay Area for six months before moving to LA. We stayed in LA until June of 2002. She stayed with me for three years out here in Fort Lauderdale and kept on complaining about going back to LA. I filed for divorce in October of 2005, two months after she moved back to LA. The divorce was finalized in September of 2006. It will be 2 years in two more months since I've been single again. I do miss her at times but I feel in my heart that I made the right decision because she was being way too materialistic about everything and I am not that way at all. She is and still is a hot looking lady but looks aren't everything. The bitching and complaining was way too much. It kind of reminded me of Fran Dresher of the sitcom the Nanny. Yes, my ex. is Jewish and yes here family has lots of money. They live in Pacific Palasaides, California- which is right by Malibu. I do ok and live rather comfortably but by no means can I compete with their wealth. Daddy Warbucks is the real deal. I am sure he'll be happy to have his little girl back. Her Mom liked me and said we made a great couple but that's all water under the bridge now.

OK....I got way too personal with this but I guess I had to vent a bit and get some stuff off my chest. I am 38 years old and I still look good but I hate the dating scene and dive bars. Thats never been my scene!

I'd rather go to a concert, play, football game, the beach any place else but a dumpy little bar. Whatever!!

Thats all I'm gonna say..!!

I've said too much already. Cheers!

No kids but I'm dating and looking to settle down with a decent gal who is not a gold digger. Yhea I know, good luck huh?

[the bostonian]

Flipper,

Amazing that while living out there you never learned to spell Pacific PALISADES!
You're a lying sack of crap!

heh, heh!

[the bostonian]

A BA degree but you can't spell the name of a place you lived at?
You expect anyone to believe you? Coral Gables? heh, heh!
You are such a turd!
You're a penniless slob that has never had a wife.
Posting about how great you look and how great she looked ... what a freaking LOSER!

[Hagar The Horrible]

bostonian, Let's hear something about your life, if you even have one.

[Kasey Kasem]

Throwing one out to Hagar the Horrible, my favorite bostonian hit from the past.

I'm truly depressed ... and those of you who still have a shred of reason within, a shred of dignity within, will admit ... not here on the blog, of course, but to yourselves ...
how truly sad what we are engaging in is.
Now, go ahead ... shoot the vulgarities. I'll read them and I'll respond ... my hope is that eventually I won't. If any of you have any self-respect left you should be aiming for the same goal.

Posted by: Boston laddie | January 27, 2008 at 07:43 PM

Wow, what a hit that was. Keepem coming.

[Hagar The Horrible]

bostonian is not depressed, he is just a moron.

[Tom]

Breakfast at Wimbledon? I'd rather stick toothpicks under my fingernails. I think I'll mow the yard instead and then let my boys kick my ass out on the links.

[naplesjackpatsfan]

bostonian- back from rehab huh?

[the shadow knows]

Mr Cote,

you have managed to get at least a couple of screenplays out of my fellow bloggers life sTories; the shadow prefers to remain a shadow- besides i have already written my life story in previous posts.

passions: real rock'n'roll (it ended with the death of lowell george of little feat), good radio of any sort, b&w TV shows and movies. and of course the world of athletics. favorites: gale sayers, steve young, bill walton the player, and affirmed.

[Yitz]

Greg,
I grew up in Miami but currently live in NY. I read the herald sports online to keep up with things.
I'm a 23 years old student, and I don't always have too much time, but I try to follow watch what games I can online.
My one request for the blog would be to allow the full text in the RSS feed. Most of the time, I read from my phone, and it is much more convenient to not have to click the link (b/c then my phone browser has to reformat it). Otherwise, I like the variety of topics you cover. I've been a fan of your articles for as long as I can remember.

[Grandma's still uncer the bus]

BARRY O'BOMBER REPORT

Here's something you won't hear Barry mention. Al Qaeda's crushing defeat in Iraq appears to be virtually complete, now that it has been routed in its last remaining urban outpost -- Mosul. The Times of London reports:

After being forced from its strongholds in the west and centre of Iraq in the past two years, Al-Qaeda’s dwindling band of fighters has made a defiant “last stand” in the northern city of Mosul. A huge operation to crush the 1,200 fighters who remained from a terrorist force once estimated at more than 12,000 began on May 10. Operation Lion’s Roar, in which the Iraqi army combined forces with the Americans’ 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment, has already resulted in the death of Abu Khalaf, the Al-Qaeda leader, and the capture of more than 1,000 suspects. . . .Major-General Mark Hertling, American commander in the north, said: “I think we’re at the irreversible point.”

It's too bad that you have to look to the foreign press, or here to my BARRY O'BOMBER REPORT, to learn about this significant victory.

[Flipper72]

It's the beast you can do...!!!

[Flipper72]

It's the beast in you Patty- LOL...!!!

No mistake made on that one.

heh...heh...heh...!!!

[the bostonian]

You're still not spelling PALISADES incorrectly.
Heh, heh!
Talk about low self esteem ... you have to come to a reject blog like this to tell us you're a good looking guy. Are you that far gone that you have no notion of how much of a LOSER move that is?
Heh, heh!
I love this!

[the bostonian]

A BA in biz, my ass!

[the bostonian]

I meant you're still spelling PALISADES incorrectly.
Face it, Flopper, you've NEVER been to California, you've NEVER been married, and you are a geeky slob!
Heh, heh.
PALISADES!
PALISADES!
PALISADES!
PALISADES!
PALISADES!

[the bostonian]

Got it now? PALISADES!

[the bostonian]

It's not Palasaides and it's not Palisaides!
It's
PALISADES!

[the bostonian]

Tell us how good looking you are again! LOSER!

[the bostonian]

Of course, no one will admit it now because no one want to agree with me ... no problem.
I know that everyone here understands what a loser you are.
Why would anyone come to a blog, a sports blog full of guys, and talk about how good looking they are?
Heh, heh!
This is great!
I don't have to insult you ... your very being is an obvious insult. Everyone here knows it.
Heh, heh!
Thanks, Flopper ... you made my day.

[Flipper72]

Naples Jack,

I think Patty/Bostonian turd is a bi-polar,
manic depressive, speed freak.

His depression is probably triggered by lack of sleep, poor nutrition and emotional instability.

I think you nailed it big time....Rehab indeed for the Patty Squat but just like Amy Winehouse says in her lame ass song-

They tried to send him to rehab and Patty said...."NO-NO-NO"...!!!

So life continues to be a living hell in South Boston for the man of many names who we all know by the alias of "Bostonian".

So why don't you share what it is that is triggering your depression Patty??

Oh wait, I forgot- your too scared to reveal something personal about yourself because then you'd lose your edge right?

The truth will set you free but you choose to live a lie and live in fear. Therefore, you are the cause of your own misery...!!!

[Flipper72]

Palasaides, Palisaides, Palisades...the spelling was off who cares. The word is Latin in origin and I was thinking in Spanish terms. There are a lot of Spanish names for cities and streets in LA. I think the word means cliffside in English.

There is also a Palisades in Jersey. Did you know that? Google that Patty Twat...!!!

As far as my looks go, I'll say this-
anyone who is in the entertainment business has to maintain their good looks or else it will cost them money and they will no longer get any gigs. The same thing goes with music. I grew up in the 80's and was exposed to all that vanity with the hair metal bands in Hollywood, CA. I was a lead singer in a Hard Rock Band and had mild success when I went out to LA. I was always worried about my health so I would work out vigorously. I became addicted to working out that I had a rock hard body when I was 26. I no longer have that rock hard body but still look lean and mean. I'm 6' 1"
215 lbs. and proud that I still look good at age 38. I see some of my fellow Fin buddies that are married with children and I see how they have let themselves go- beer gutts, going bald, health issues, etc.

Yes, I know that we will all experience those things at one point or another but I would like to prolong it as much as I can.
I know that raising kids is tough and having a wife that bitches at you all the time can surely take it's toll on you as well. I am convinced that because of these factors, a man's appearance can drastically change. It's called stress and I truly believe that stress in the number one factor in speeding up the aging process.
The way to counter that is by working out and eating right and getting plenty of sleep. So thats what I do to maintain my healthy appearance. There is nothing lame or wrong about that and it doesn't make me a loser shithead...!!!

You need to grow up and grow up fast before you turn into a super size freakoid...!!!

If you are not at your optimal best as far as your health goes then you might as well kick the bucket now. Enough said jokester!!

I'm done with your pathetic ass!

heh...heh...heh...!!!

[the bostonian]

Flopper,
We all have our issues here. But without a doubt you are the weirdest cat in this alley.

[the bostonian]

Flopper,
What makes you a LOSER is that you find a need to tell us this. What makes you a LOSER is that you are making it up. What makes you a LOSER is that you obviously care what I think.
You are a LOSER.

[the bostonian]

Flopper,
The fact that you googled Palisades so that you can try to explain why you can't spell it is truly beyond pathetic. You are one hell of a freak.

[the bostonian]

You claim that I Google everything, yet, it is so obvious that you just Googled "Palisades."
You are so pathetic.
Look at this ... Flopper just found out the origin of the word Palisades. And, Flopper now knows there is a Palisades in Jersey.
Man, you are a hell of strange one.

[Karl]

I'm a 22-year-old guy who grew up in Miami. I grew up reading the Herald as much as I could and grew to love sports so much that I'm currently a sports writer for my college paper (as well as freelance work for other outlets).

I don't read the blog as often as I should, and I'm generally just a reader (not poster) when I do read. I enjoy voting in the polls and seeing how other sports fans think.

[the bostonian]

Anyway,

http://www.livinginthepalisades.com/baycam/