#34, for the Miami Dolphins . . . Ricky Williams Herman!

Lots of people stuff their dogs into cutesy coats and costumes — especially this time of year.

Not me.  I suppose the fact that Ricky has adamantly refused any kind of outfit, time and again, has made my decision a little easier.  At one point a friend of mine gave me a harness that would keep Ricky safe in the front seat of my Jeep when I have the top down.  I tried to ease Ricky into it, but he yelped as if he was in pain.  So I stopped.  That’s the kind of firm stance, I, the alpha around here, always take.

Now if I were going to have my beagle do a little dress-up, there’s no question what I’d have him wear: the #34 Dolphins jersey my sons got him for one of his early birthdays.  A lot of you may know our beagle was named after Ricky Williams, the then-Dolphins running back.  (Most people who know my family say they automatically assumed Ricky was named after some football player or other.)

The fact is, Robby had named Ricky long before we ever laid eyes on him.  Robby was, is, and always will be a Dolphins fan (we all have our albatross to bear).  He also was, is, and always will be the world’s most stubborn and relentless person, so when he started his campaign for a dog at age 8, he already knew he was eventually going to get one.  I don’t know if he realized it would take him two years, but for him, time is not an issue, as long as he ultimately gets what he wants.  And all the time he was wearing me down, Ricky Williams, the star running back for the Miami Dolphins, was his favorite player.  He had a framed, autographed photo of Williams on his wall; a football signed by Williams on his shelf; a miniature University of Texas helmet, signed by Williams, in his trophy case.  So he always knew his would-be dog would be named Ricky.

This only became a problem just about a year after we got our Ricky — when his namesake was drummed out of the league on drug violations.  Williams’ backup, Travis Minor, took over as the Dolphins running back.  And Robby wanted to change our dog’s name to Travis.  For once, I held firm.

It was all good again once R.W. did his penance.  He was eventually re-signed by the Dolphins, and actually had a few more good years for Miami before moving on this season to the Baltimore Ravens.

Our Ricky still, though, refuses to wear the uniform.