Author: Topher

I've always enjoyed writing. I see this as an opportunity to share my love of movies, action figures, comics, music, and just about anything else. As much as I enjoy writing, I also enjoy interacting with other folks online. If any of my stories or articles spark an idea for discussion, let me know. I read every email and comment I get! So look around, make yourself at home, and above all, enjoy your visit to my virtual discussion page!

Remembering a Man with “No-Name”

Tom Landry once quipped that the Miami Defense of the early 1970s was a “bunch of no-names.” In fact, it seemed the only defensive player on the team with any kind of recognition at all was Middle Linebacker Nick Buoniconti. The rest were treated like uncredited extras in a B-movie. That didn’t stop them. In fact, it seemed to fuel the fire in their bellies. They were the first team to make it to 3 Super Bowls in a row (winning 2 of them.) The 1972 Dolphins remain the only completely undefeated NFL team in the Super Bowl era.

Manny Fernandez – the college years

In spite of his lack of name recognition, Manny Fernandez absolutely dominated opposing lines – on a defense chock-full of dominating players. Manny was undrafted out of Utah in 1968 before signing with the Dolphins. One of the unofficial reasons for signing him was his Latin heritage. The large Hispanic population was an under-represented demographic within the Miami fan base; and the ownership wanted to change that. In an interview with NFL Films, he laughed, saying, “I am a Spaniard, but I don’t speak a word of it.”

The team also joked about his poor eyesight. Without his glasses, he was “blind as a bat.” But that was OK. He only needed to follow the moving blur that was holding the football. Some sources cite him as the first in the NFL to play the Nose Tackle position (directly opposite the Center.) This meant that he was typically blocked by 2 offensive linemen. In Super Bowl VII, the Washington Redskins attempted to contain him against a single player. Manny said, “It was like a vacation.” He racked up an incredible 17 tackles and 3 sacks that game. And he played all 8 seasons of his career with the Dolphins.

Both Pro Football Weekly and USA Today have listed him in ‘all time Super Bowl’ lists. In a January 2015 article in Shutdown Corner, Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports named Fernandez among the all-time greatest NFL Super Bowl players. Manny was ranked 10th.

This morning, the news reported that we Dolphins fans have lost another great.   Manuel Jose Fernandez died at the age of 79. His name and jersey #75 are immortalized at Hard Rock Stadium’s Ring of Honor in Miami, Florida. Although never enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his photo and signature are proudly honored in my personal (and literal) hallway.

Rest in Peace, #75. We all remember you.

-Toph

You Silly Goose

I got my first car in late 1983. I drove the hell out of it, and my dad finally sold it when I was in college (only after the transmission stopped permitting movement in reverse.) We had to push it out of parking lots. It wasn’t very dignified, but I was still under 20, so I wasn’t very dignified myself. So, doesn’t count, right?

Anyway, that first car fit me perfectly. It was a 1972 Jeep DJ-5B. That’s the official designation for a Post Office Jeep. It was one of the first Jeeps to have an inline 6-cylinder engine. It had the slide open doors, and was very ‘bare bones’ on features. And by that, I mean no AC or heat. It was painted primer gray. My dad helped me put in a radio with a couple speakers in the back. The stereo was an 8-Track, so I had to have one of those Kraco cassette adapters. Oh, and the speedometer didn’t work. So there was that.

Not my original, but online, it looks A LOT like it!

 

 

 

 

 

Cool, but it never did much for me.

Owning that vehicle sort of set my course as far as transportation preferences. Some guys are into muscle cars or big trucks. Some have classic vintage autos or sophisticated, luxury tastes. Others are motorcycle types. From age 16 forward, I was an SUV guy. I’ve certainly owned other cars, but I always gravitate back to the old go anywhere, do anything. 

Now THAT’S more like it!

I also love the Jeeper lifestyle. I’ve come to accept that Just Empty Every Pocket is a harsh reality. I give the ‘Jeep wave’ to the Wrangler drivers with whom I cross paths. I take it camping. I like bumpy, muddy trails. And I never wash it. It has dirt on it from 10 years ago. If it needs to be cleaner, Mother Nature takes care of that for me when it rains. And my dog loves it almost as much as I do. I installed an old baby gate to keep him in his own space.

There’s a (relatively new) Jeep activity that doesn’t really fit my lifestyle. The Jeep ‘ducking’ seems incongruous with my 210,000 mile dirt and rust monster. I can’t really put them on the dash without them falling out into the street (my doors are off.) So I decided to share them all. If you’re one of the fellow Jeepers, and you got one, it means I think your Jeep is cool. There’s a pretty good chance it’s shiny and clean. Great! If it happens to be more like mine, it means I’m showing respect for another rough around the edges, hard-core off-road.type. And if you found this article because you got one of my ducks, shoot me an email. It’s a Jeep thing. I’m sure you understand!

-Toph