It's just a few short days until Christmas Eve. Are you ready? Are the stockings hung by the chimney with care? Been dreaming about sugarplums? Yes, it must be Christmas.

I have a wish that I believe only Santa could deliver. This Sunday, the 14-0 New England Patriots host the 1-13 Miami Dolphins. I have been a long suffering Dolphins fan since 1970, and it would be so sweet for the admitted hapless Dolphins to swat the haughty Patriots from the ranks of the undefeated and once again preserve the accomplishment of the 1972 17-0 Miami Dolphins, the only team to have an undefeated season that culminated in a Super Bowl Championship.

The undefeated season is one of the last remaining myths and legends we Dolphin fans have to help keep our hope alive, year after year. In their heyday, the 1970s, the Dolphins had a wonderfully balanced team with many weapons on both sides of the ball. My personal hero as a child was Larry Csonka, number 39, the bruising fullback that carried several defenders for extra yards before being brought to the ground. He was awesome.

When the Dolphins played the Minnesota Vikings in the 1973 Super Bowl, I made many 50¢ and $1 wagers with classmates, knowing full well that the Dolphins would win. Csonka was the MVP of that Super Bowl, running roughshod over the "Purple People Eaters."

It was a good time to be a Dolphins fan, even in the heart of Vikings territory.

My hopes were raised again in the 1980s as the Dan Marino era came and went with only one Super Bowl appearance, a loss to San Francisco. The years A.M. (After Marino) have been trying, but I continue to hope for another championship.

The New England Patriots have been, up until this year, difficult to dislike. Tom Brady is likeable and capable leader and seeing former Dolphins Wes Welker, Junior Seau, Larry Izzo and Sammy Morris find success is heartening in a sad way. I think it was the addition of Randy Moss and the revelation that the Patriots were cheating by videotaping signals being sent in by coaches that put me into the Patriot hating camp.

Yep, blood enemy time. In the same league as the New York Jets, or the Buffalo Bills of the 1980s.

In 1985, when the Chicago Bears were rolling to an undefeated season, it was the Miami Dolphins that gave them their only defeat. So don't tell me it can't be done. Besides, the '85 Bears were a much more likeable bunch. Who could hate Walter "Sweetness" Payton? William "The Refrigerator" Perry? Come on, these guys were great, and deserved to eviscerate the New England Patriots, the sacrificial lamb offered up by the AFC. But the Dolphins rose to the occasion and preserved the 17-0 season.

Santa, I haven't asked for much in the past. I'd like to think I've built up some credit. I haven't lost the faith, simply accepting loss after loss as punishment for some unknown wrong, perhaps arrogance about the 17-0 season or celebrating vanquishing the Vikings. Whatever it is, I'm sorry.

I'm not asking for you to give me the team, which is for sale by the way, just a good old fashioned win. I know the team can do it, they finally won their first game of the season this past weekend. Six of their losses have been by three points or less. If they just believe in themselves and don't make mistakes (and put Tom Brady on the frozen tundra of Foxboro Stadium numerous times) they can win.

I know it will be a day early, but this would be a Christmas present I will cherish forever. It would restore my faith in my team enough to be able to endure the lean years ahead.

Ok, I know I should ask for world peace or an end to hunger, but this is what I'm asking for. I hope Mrs. Claus, the elves and reindeer are well and that you grant this Christmas miracle.

If you can't, I'll understand. I'm used to being disappointed.

I'm a Dolphins fan.

As always, I welcome your comments. You can reach me by email at tstangl@lemarscomm.net, telephone 712-546-7031, x40 or toll free 1-800-728-0066 x40.

Thanks for reading, I'll keep in touch. Feel free to do the same.