How did you become a Cardinal fan?

[RobbleRobble]

Kind of an interesting idea, I thought. People typically grow up rooting for the team in their area. Either that or they root for a team that has had a lot of success. But many folks that live in the valley are from other parts of the country originally and clearly the Cardinals haven't had a lot of success. So its an interesting breed that makes a Cardinals fan.

For me, I moved out here in 97. I grew up in Ohio as a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan. But when Modell moved the team, I swore them off. For the next couple of years, I remained a devoted NFL fan, but didn't have a team to root for. When I first came out here, I mocked the Cardinals like everyone else. But after time, it seemed to me, that for a die-hard NFL fan with no team, the Cardinals presented a clean slate. No identity. No real success. If they were able to get the franchise going in the right direction, I'd be on board early on. Plus, they were tied to Arizona, which has become part of my identity.

For the last seven years, I've gone through the same motions every year. The highlight of the season is in March and April. My enthusiasm steadilly builds up until the start of the season. My wife warns me that they'll disappoint, but I can't be dissuaded. "This is the year the Cards turn the corner" I say. Then the season starts, and reality sets in. But with a good draft, I'm always hopeful for the season ahead.

So its fun to see them at the point where they have some identity, some hope of winning and a new stadium on the horizon. I'm at a point where I feel like the positives I'm seeing with the team might be more than wishful thinking.....

But the question remains How did you become a Cards fan?

 

[arthurracoon]

Used to be a Bills fan when I was born and lived in Buffalo.

When I moved here, I remained a Bills fan (I went to the game when the Bills came to SDS and rooted for the Bills).

I started becoming a Cards fan in about 2000, and over time became a die hard (when I found this site).

 

[SuperSpck]

Much like you, I wanted a clean slate. My Grandfather was a Wisconsin native so a Packer fan by decree of law, my father grew up in Tampa, so until recently (as far as NFL history goes) enjoyed bitter fruit as well. My uncle was a Lions fan having grown up in Detriot. I wanted to be seperate from them just for the sake of being different. I hated all the Cowboy fans running around in frickin Iowa just 'cause they were a dynasty. The Cardinals on the other hand, were always the underdog, so in that era of the time, one of continual sucess for a small number of teams, I thought it would be fun to become a Cardinals fan.

In retrospect... No, I'm kidding. Go Cardinals!

 

[TigToad]

Cards fan

I was born in AZ, and was never much of a football fan. I have always been a big Cubs fan, so I kind of followed the Bears. Really, it wasn't until I met my wife in 95 when I started watching football. She is a HUGE Bears fan, being from Chicago. I started watching football on Sundays with her, because that is what she did on Sunday morning. (How's that for the opposite tale). Well, as I couldn't see the Bears reguarly (pre-Sunday Ticket) I watched the Cards games. It wasn't until 2 years ago that I really started getting gung-ho about football and I started looking for draft information. I found this board and I went from being a closet kinda-Cards fan to a die hard Cards fan in about a month... and this during the off-season. (Well, historically, the off-season is the best time to be a Cards fan -- hopefully Denny changes that).

I do remember buying a Cardinals shirt right after they announced they were moving to Phoenix. I also remember being confronted in the grocery store by a guy from St. Louis saying how glad he was to be rid of the Cardinals and that we were welcome to them.

 

[Clif]

I grew up in the south where we didnt have a team so I naturally became a 49ers fan. I did have a strange interest in the cards when I was stationed in Albuquerque and they would always do a break in and show the Cowboys beating the cards.

I moved to arizona after my military stay was over and I became a cards fan in 98 after my first live NFL game which was the cards win over the Ditka led saints at SDS. I believe it was like Dec 12, 1998. I figured if I live here I must be a hometown fan. My wife says I am obsessed now.

 

[Tyrestud]

Born in Dallas, but moved to the valley when I was 2 and grew up in the Glendale / Peoria area. Even though as an adult I have moved to New Mexico to West Texas, to Northern California and now Georgia, I will always call Phx my home. I was a Cowboys fan until 88 when the Cards came to town. I instantly adopted them as my team, I've always believed fans should be loyal to thier hometown teams regardless of thier success or failure.

 

[Syracusecards]

Used to be a Cowboys fan(my brother loves the Cowboys, that's hard to forgive these days) back when they had Staubach and Danny White. Then I read an artice on Chuck Cecil in SI that talked about him hitting people so hard that his teeth went numb. SOLD! I started rooting for the Cards when they'd play the Cowboys, and I got to see them quite a bit on TV because they played the G-men twice and the Cowboys always got televised. It's been very frustrating, but the reward will be that much sweeter when we do well.

My girlfriend wishes I wasn't, since I spend most Sundays screaming at the TV. I actually get free cable with my apartment but pay for Directv so I can get NFL ticket.

 

[100%CardsFan]

1988 my Dad took me to the first game here against Dallas. I was only 11 years old. Right when I saw the Red and White uniforms I fell in love. I was raised a Bears fan since that is where my family is from, but even though my Pops was born in NY and raised in Chi-town he still roots for the Dback and the Cards no matter what. He is the one who taught me loyalty to the City I am in. Born and raised in AZ, Cardinals will run thru my blood forever.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

My father's side of the family all grew up in the St. Louis area, so,even though I grew up in Northern California, I was raised a Cardinal fan in both major sports and I have remained loyal ever since.

Conicidentally, my dad and his side of the family now live in Mesa, Tempe, Phoenix, and Glendale. So, it gives me a reason to see a game...

 

[Stronso]

Family had Jets tickets at Shea was I was growing up but whenwe moved to AZ in 1976 I pretty much had no favorite team. Even then I could not root for the Cowboys

When the Cards moved to Phoenix I immediately became a Cards fan and that has grown into a deeper passion as the years go by. Die hard Cards fan and I will turn my kids into them as well.

 

[danny l]

I have been a Cardinals fan (football and baseball) for my whole life. How could anyone from eastern MO. ever be anything else. The old Cardinals- John David Crow, Ernie Mcmillen, Jackie Smith, Roger Wehrli and many others shopped in my wife's parents Western store for years. In addition I personally met Johnny Roland, Bobby Joe Conrad, and Larry Wilson. How else could a kid indoctrinated like that not become a lifelong Big Red fan?

 

[Mark22]

I was born in St.Louis...Dad turned me on to baseball & football cardinals.. die hard ever since..1st cardinal experience was jim hart, johnny roland,jackie smith,larry wilson,etc

-coach

 

[HoodieBets]

Been a cardinals fan since before i remember. I was born and still live in Rhode Island and nobody in my family is a cards fan. Honestly its the first game i ever remember watching. It was a game between them and the eagles and i was about 5.

I used to see the cards a lot here bc they played the giants twice and thats the NFC team thats played out here weekly (AFC team is the Pats). My father is a redskins fan and my grandfather was a giant fan so it was a division thing i guess.

Being a Cards fan has turned me on to Arizona and i plan to move out there within the next couple of years. They also made me become a suns fan. So thats my weird story.

 

[ny redbird]

I went to a Giants - Cards game in the meadowlands back in 1992. I've ben a Die hard ever since. Never have or will be called a bandwagoner when we finally win. In the last 2 years I have finally tasted the champange when My Syracuse Orangemen and Red Sox won it all in my lifetime. Now my last sports goal is 2000 miles away. I read this board all the time , but rarely post. GO RED!

 

[black]

Been a fan since '78 I believe, the logo does something for me. I remember the days of Hart to Gray and Tilley. I had the chance of meeting Tilley in '79 but was sick with the Measles and I missed out, that was in the 5th grade. My 5th grade teacher dated Tilley (she was a hottie BTW) and told us all to stay tuned in to watch the Big Red.


Since then, I've been hooked. This is a great place and AZ is a good state, I lived in Casa Grande for a spell. Go Cards.

 

[Avondale_Larry]

I can't remember the exact year, but the St Louis Cardinals came to town for a preseason game. It was at SDS, and called the "Valley Big Brother Bowl". If memory serves, they played the Raiders, and George Blanda took a few snaps at QB.

I rooted for the Cards, since everyone else in my family was rooting for the Raiders. I followed them, but not avidly until the move to Phoenix.

 

[BigSky]

Living in Montana, I am one of the very few Cards fan. I became a fan as a kidin the late 60's. Being a Cardinal baseball fan , I decided I should be Cardinal football also. The earlyto mid 70,s were fun withHart,Gray,Smith,andMetcalf. The Cardiac Cards with Coryell were good times. I sometimes wished I had picked another team but once a fan always a fan!

 

[Indiana Hoosier]

Alway's will be a Cardinal fan!

I grew up in Sterling, Illinois and you were either a Cub and Bear fan (which most of the town was) or a Baseball Cardinal, and Football Cardinal fan. My Dad and Mom were die hard Cardinals fans, so my brother and I followed suit. I have been to a lot of parts of the country to see both Cardinal teams play New York, Chicago, Pittsburg, Green Bay, Baltimore, Indianapolis and of course St. Louis. Some of my most memorable times were watching, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Ken Boyer, Tim MacCarver, John David Crow, Jim Bakken (7 Field Goals vs Steelers 1 Game), Mel Gray, Jerry Stovall, Jim Hart, Tom Banks. The memories are un-real. Always a Cardinal fan. Love the message board!

 

[Billy Flynt]

I was born in St. Louis back when the Cards were still there.

I remember when we had Roy Green, Pat Tilley, EJ Junior, Neil Lomax, etc. and one of the local gas stations was running a promotion with pencil drawings of the players. I'm sure I have them somewhere in storage.

I'll always be a St. Louis team fan well except for the Rams -

Go Big Red!
Go Redbirds!
Go Blues!

 

[abomb]

I am an Arizona native, but my dad was more into racing then football or baseball. I liked the Bears when I was 10, for no other reason than their Super Bowl win and #34. I didnt follow football much in HS or early in college and the girl I was with in college hated sports, so I never watched much. Once I kicked her to the curb, D-Dogg got me into watching football, more specifically, the Cards. I fell in love with this team in 1998 and havent looked back. Girls come and go, but your football team is forever.

A-Bomb

 

[Mulli]

I liked the Cardinals because my Dad liked them. He is crazy about Don Coryell. When the Cardinals moved here, we got season tickets. South end zone, section 38(??)) right behind the goals post 12 rows up. It was awesome. By 2000, we couldn't take it anymore. My dad is waiting patiently for the new stadium. He lives 10 minutes away.

 

[azdad1978]

Started following the Cards around 1995 and bought a couple of tickets here and there in 1996. I bought a season ticket in 1997 and the rest is history.

 

[Wildfire]

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, LA and got hooked on the Cards back in the 60's when I found out that I could hear their games on KMOX.

I used to sit out in my car and listen to the radio on sundays. It was frustarating as the signal would fade in and out all the time.

Wife thought I was crazy, and maybe I am, but still a Cardinal fan after all these years.

 

[chickenhead]

Grew up in Arizona. Was a Dolphins fan when the Cardinals moved, but immediately cheered for them as well. Ultimately realized that when push came to shove, I'd never cheer against them. Also realized that someday there would be success, and contrary to all the local skeptics (which is fine), I wanted to have been around the whole time. The upswing is the greatest part. Ie - the Chambers/KJ/Majerle/Hornacek/West years werebetter than the Barkley years, IMO.

 

[earthsci]

I'm an Army brat but my family is from Massachusetts so I grew up a Patriots fan. The Cardinals moved here and I became a Cardinals fan. I hated the Cardinals before they moved here.