EDIT: I removed the pictures because they were too big for the viewing panel, and I think it's easier to see all of them on Facebook. So here's the link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=2357066&id=10123559
On a final note, it is no secret that I am a Broncos fan first. My first game at UoP Stadium was Broncos at Cardinals, and I wore my orange and blue Plummer jersey and cheered for Jay Cutler's offense. I enjoyed that game, though it was bittersweet--it was supposed to be the "Jake Plummer Revenge Tour," finally playing the Cards in the regular season after leaving the team... only at that point, Plummer had been benched for Cutler (the timing of the decision I still do not defend--Plummer may have got past that Seattle team where Cutler wasn't quite ready). As if that wasn't bad enough, Leinart passed Jake's rookie Cardinal passing record in that game.
I digress. Anyway, I admire Kurt Warner tremendously, as a man and as a player. When I first saw Fitzgerald play in person when Aaron Mertz took me to the Patriots/Cardinals game, I was impressed. He was instantly my favorite receiver in the league, with apologies to Hines Ward. I also enjoyed the tenacity of the then-no-name defense. I liked watching the Cardinals play. Clearly Whisenhunt knows what he's doing as a coach--he's done more than any other Cards coach, and in only two seasons. I liked Denny Green too, and the decision to bring him here (as well as Warner and Emmitt Smith), especially his soundbytes about the Bears, who we thought they were and where we can crown them. I've been paying attention to the Cardinals--not as much as the Broncos, but more than any other team besides.
Whether this makes me a Cardinals fan, you decide. I don't want to take anything away from those that have been following this team since their first season in Arizona (or before). Doubtless the Cardinals will have plenty of bandwagon fans claiming they always believed or they've been following from day one (trying to dig up an old Phoenix Cardinals shirt or buy one on Ebay). I'm not one of those. I wasn't even a football fan when the Cards came to Arizona--I didn't start liking football until I was in high school, and I chose the Broncos because my dad had always followed them AND they happened to be fun to watch at the time.
So take my "status" with the Cards for what you will. But if it's any consolation to those true fans who couldn't get tickets to the game, I made as much noise as I could for four quarters whenever the Eagles had the ball. I did as much as I could to affect the outcome of the game. So despite the status of my fanhood, I tried to play the part--in the good, non-self-serving way--the best that I could, without diminishing the fanhood of those who have been here longer than me.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=2357066&id=10123559
On a final note, it is no secret that I am a Broncos fan first. My first game at UoP Stadium was Broncos at Cardinals, and I wore my orange and blue Plummer jersey and cheered for Jay Cutler's offense. I enjoyed that game, though it was bittersweet--it was supposed to be the "Jake Plummer Revenge Tour," finally playing the Cards in the regular season after leaving the team... only at that point, Plummer had been benched for Cutler (the timing of the decision I still do not defend--Plummer may have got past that Seattle team where Cutler wasn't quite ready). As if that wasn't bad enough, Leinart passed Jake's rookie Cardinal passing record in that game.
I digress. Anyway, I admire Kurt Warner tremendously, as a man and as a player. When I first saw Fitzgerald play in person when Aaron Mertz took me to the Patriots/Cardinals game, I was impressed. He was instantly my favorite receiver in the league, with apologies to Hines Ward. I also enjoyed the tenacity of the then-no-name defense. I liked watching the Cardinals play. Clearly Whisenhunt knows what he's doing as a coach--he's done more than any other Cards coach, and in only two seasons. I liked Denny Green too, and the decision to bring him here (as well as Warner and Emmitt Smith), especially his soundbytes about the Bears, who we thought they were and where we can crown them. I've been paying attention to the Cardinals--not as much as the Broncos, but more than any other team besides.
Whether this makes me a Cardinals fan, you decide. I don't want to take anything away from those that have been following this team since their first season in Arizona (or before). Doubtless the Cardinals will have plenty of bandwagon fans claiming they always believed or they've been following from day one (trying to dig up an old Phoenix Cardinals shirt or buy one on Ebay). I'm not one of those. I wasn't even a football fan when the Cards came to Arizona--I didn't start liking football until I was in high school, and I chose the Broncos because my dad had always followed them AND they happened to be fun to watch at the time.
So take my "status" with the Cards for what you will. But if it's any consolation to those true fans who couldn't get tickets to the game, I made as much noise as I could for four quarters whenever the Eagles had the ball. I did as much as I could to affect the outcome of the game. So despite the status of my fanhood, I tried to play the part--in the good, non-self-serving way--the best that I could, without diminishing the fanhood of those who have been here longer than me.
