Comments on: Fans: Don Shula’s 80th birthday party was no better than lost yardage

By: Ed From Colorado

Ed From Colorado — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:29:49 +0000

This is why the Dolphins will NEVER win anything.

When Joe Robbie died, the spirit of this team changed. Robbie was cheap in some ways but he was a man who worked hard and cared about the fans. I let Mr. Robbie in the airport headed to New York for an owners meeting. He had a driver but didn’t have planes, helicopter, none of that stuff.

All that Steve Ross wants to do is prostitute the franchise and rape it. He’s starstruck and I find it pathetic. The Dolphins haven’t won a Super Bowl in 35 years and he acts as if they have 6 trophies in the case.

I’m willing to bet you that Shula didn’t know about this at all or he would have demanded steaks or something. The Dolphins, since Robbie have died, I have been in the hands of rapists. This is why Miami will never win anything!

By: guby poor- pie hat

guby poor- pie hat — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:13:03 +0000

i WASN’T there but, i think it would’ve been funnier if they were treated like CARP

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:53:55 +0000

I did not know Rush Limbaugh was a new owner of The Dolphins.

By: Armando

Armando — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:12:43 +0000

Wow I am not even a fan of football but this is horrible. It says alot about how the NFL and The Dolphins think of thier loyal fanbase. Personally if it were me I would have thrown that food down at them. Chances are I would have hit JLO’s big ass. 80 dollars for cold hot dog and on top of that you had to pay for the wine. The Dolphins should be ashamed of themselves but I suspect they don’t care. They know the suckers will be back.

By: Biggie

Biggie — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:23:28 +0000

After all that you are only considering cancelling your season tickets? There is he problem right there, they know no matter how many shit sandwiches they feed you, you will keep coming back.

By: PBGDolphin

PBGDolphin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:15:07 +0000

I too was an invited guest to this so-called celebration. After waiting out in the cold for over an hour, we were herded like cattle through a back door adjacent to the rest rooms as to not possibly have any contact with the “dignitaries.” Once in the elevator we were taken to the third floor where we were greeted by the hostess who politely pointed to barren bar top tables. After we gained our composure from realizing we were seated on the balcony unable to join in on the celebration of Don’s 80th birthday, the hostess advised us that the bar was open and the buffet was available. She warned us however, that if we blocked the unoccupied space between the table we were sitting at and the adjoining pillar that we would be asked to leave! The cash bar served up nice three ounce plastic glasses of wine for $9.00 and domestic beer for $8.00. The buffet was adorned with half cooked hot dogs, dried chicken fingers, chips and what appeared to be Publix chocolate chip cookies. How appropriate for an invitation only semi-formal event at $80 per person! The tables below, covered in fine linen, were adorned with massive centerpieces – a one foot cube with Don’s face etched on each side, filled with fresh cut floating flowers and topped by a hand painted football, each celebrating one year in Don’s history with the Dolphins and Colts - (a door prize for one guest at each table). The non-paying invited dignitary’s meal consisted of a Chef inspired blueberry balsam vinaigrette salad, filet mignon, and a hand made chocolate and vanilla cream desert, each topped off with strawberries and an orchid flower. After laughing that the organizer used the fans to offset the expenses associated with the main celebration enjoyed by the dignitaries barely within view, it was time to take a break from the festivities. The only problem was that the elevators were on lockdown to prevent the paying guests on the balcony from entering the real celebration. This only added insult to injury. Believe me, I have been to events with entertainers far more famous than the non-paying invited guests and never been treated so poorly. However, I must say that this was an insult to the highest degree, demeaning, and disgraceful. Responsibility lies solely with the organizers, not Don Shula or the invited guests. Would there have been any issue with setting up six or eight additional tables at the rear of the ballroom for these dedicated fans. Most certainly not! I would hope for an apology letter but am not holding my breath! Non-renewal of my season tickets is under consideration!

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:27:41 +0000

After reading most of the responses, It is exactly whats wrong with the NFL and the United States Today.
We want your money, and nothing else. So you can keep us rich and you poor. So we dont have to work and you do. Wake Up. Stop paying hard earned money to go and watch over paid people. Stop giving to Charities, Realize the CEO of every charity lives as a millionaire, but if your in need, what do you get a meager hand out. F the banks, F buying a new car, F buying anything new, buy on EBAY and buy it used, Pay off your debt, Stop spending and see how the rich fall….

By: Easy Ed

Easy Ed — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:00:16 +0000

$80.00 to watch other people have a party? The Dolphin organization absolutely blows.

By: finfan23

finfan23 — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:04:20 +0000

Just for clarity here is the email sent to season ticket holders - at least one part

“will be able to purchase 2 balcony seats for 80 dollars each to be part of one of the most memorable evenings for Don Shula and his fans.
With the 80 for $80 package you will receive
Access to watch Orange Carpet arrivals
Balcony view of the Shula Birthday Celebration

No mention of food or being in the party. Just “balcony view” of the celebration. In my previous post I sent an email back upset they dared to ask. But in fairness they did say we get nothing and eat nothing for 80 dollars.
Still, we are treated like dirt and you see it on Sunday in the stadium when the stadium is nothing like Orange Bowl Days. Even when we weren’t as good in the 80s it was a different feel in those days. J Lo and Venus aren’t changing any of that. Fans are not a priority and no one cares how we feel about anything. Thinking we should be honored that 80 out of 50,000 season tickets holders can pay 80 dollars to watch “their” party says it all. How appalling

By: finfan23

finfan23 — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:51:08 +0000

I was one of the fans “invited” to the event. I emailed them back an incredulous response. “I am one of the honored ones to be given the opportunity to pay 80 dollars to watch it in the balcony? You must be kidding” No response from the team.
The fans knew what they were getting. I was upset they would even have the gall to be all excited to offer us this opportunity to watch in a balcony and get charged. Typical treatment of season ticket holders. We mean nothing to them. They just want our money. Football is never going to be what it used to be. It is all a business. And if we don’t like the service from our business we take our business elsewhere. They shouldn’t be surprised season ticket holders drop like flies every year.