Christmas in Miami is usually very different from traditional Christmas days in other cities.  First of all, is there a holiday meal in South Florida that does NOT include black beans and rice?  And whereas kids in other cities unwrap presents and take their new galoshes and toboggans out into the winter wonderlands of their backyard, Miami kids throw on their new flip flops and ask their parents to lower the AC in the house.  

Sadly for Dol-fans, Christmas brings the unfortunately new tradition of yet another meaningless game in December.  A decade ago, Miami’s holiday game always came with playoff implications.  Whether they controlled their own destiny or needed a little help, more often than not the playoffs were within reach for the Dolphins come Christmas.  This year, Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor, Ronnie Brown and Nick Saban are opening presents and scheduling tee times for early January.  

All is not lost, however, as the Dolphins prepare for their Monday night game on Christmas night.  As they game plan to take on the NY Jets – correction ….. the HATED NY Jets – the Dolphin players have the opportunity to add a couple of other NFL players to their golfing reservations.

The old adage is true.  Misery does love company, and all I want for Christmas this year is to share my home-for-the-playoff misery with those fans in New York.  I realize my statement is not exactly keeping with the holiday spirit, but all is fair in love, war and NFL fanaticism.  Bitterness and envy are words that can be used to describe what transpires in any given rivalry, and I am bitter and envious the Jets have a shot at making the postseason while the Dolphins do not.  

For me, Monday night’s game is anything but meaningless.  Coming off a colossally embarrassing loss to that other hated team from New York, the Dolphins can salvage some sense of dignity and pride this season by beating the Jets.  Even though they are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the Dolphins are perfectly positioned to play spoiler to the Jets hopes for games in January.

It's not all bad, though.  This Christmas, as Miami fans get ready to settle in and have Hank Williams Jr. ask them if they are ready for some football, they will do so knowing their counterparts in NYC are doing the same thing with a world more anxiety and nervous anticipation.  The greenies will have their furnaces running and their Maalox and Tums easily within reach.  The butterflies will have to compete with the heartburn as the Christmas dinner will sit ever so uncomfortably because of what is riding on this game.  Miami fans, however, will sit back in their recliners, pleasantly rubbing their bellies following their Christmas dinner and enjoy the fact the AC is set at 74 degrees.  Merry Christmas indeed!