“Where’s the Hometown Spirit?”

Last time I checked, the Arizona Cardinals are in the biggest game, not just for “football” but for the entire sports world, the Super Bowl. No game in any sport is bigger! People that don’t tend to care for football much, turn out to watch this game year after year. So where’s the hometown spirit? There are certainly fans here, but the town doesn’t seem to be as enthusiastic as other towns that reach the pinnacle of an NFL season.  As a Washington Redskins fan, I can remember the Season of 1987-88 when the Skins went to the Super Bowl - - sure I was only 6-years-old, but I’ll never forget the atmosphere; streets were decked out with burgundy and gold, and almost every store you’d go to showed some Redskins pride (although it’s possible it was just a clever way to generate revenue). In fact, when the Redskins went back to the Super Bowl in 1992, I would see several people wearing Redskins’ jerseys and gear the entire week leading up to the big game - - and I was living in California at the time! I don’t see that kind of spirit here, and I have a couple of theories as to why…

For starters, Phoenix is still a developing “big” city, which means there are many people from other parts of the country (myself included) that have already pledged allegiance to other franchises. It’s amazing to attend D-Backs games, Cardinals games and my first Suns game last, and see how many people favor the visiting team. At a Diamondbacks game, if I wasn’t watching (got up for a drink or some food) I couldn’t tell what was going on. I couldn’t tell whether the boos where for the Cubs or the D-Backs.  When cheers for a visiting team drown out cheers for the home team, a home team that won a World Series, then there’s a problem… However, as time goes on, I believe this trend will change. Same with the Cardinals, if they continue to improve, this trend will change.

My other theory is that the Cardinals’ ability to disappoint still plagues the disposition of the hometown. This town, this state, just isn’t used to the Cardinals winning - - after all, their success could, for all intents and purposes, be an anomaly, an aberration, and I think people understand that. So if that’s the case, why deck out your town or your retail store with Red and White for team that’s never accomplished this feat before? Could be a waste of money in a down Economy.

The bottom line is, the team has never done this before, and in fact, has done the complete opposite in the past. As long as the fans stay loyal and the team keeps winning, the bandwagoners (many of which are people that moved here from another part of the country and previously pledged allegiance to a different franchise) will become loyal. Once your bandwagoners become loyal, your fan base size increases; once your fan base size increases, the enthusiasm of the hometown increases. So give it time.

If it helps, when the Diamondbacks won the World Series the country was in a recession… the country’s currently in a recession, and the Cardinals are in the Super Bowl - - this could very well be the year.

Producer SEAN.

“I Like Being The Underdog”

The Super Bowl is Sunday and I am getting increasingly nervous about our Cardinals’ chances of winning.

I am not a Doubting Thomas.  I truly believe they can win and raise the Lombardi Trophy high on Sunday night.  But I am also highly superstitious.  When I went on a diet a few years ago and started losing weight, I would only eat grilled chicken breasts, slathered with Rudy’s barbeque sauce, and steamed green beans.  For the next two years that was my dinner because it worked.  I use the same locker at the gym when I work out, and I like to park in the same spot at the grocery store.   I’m not quite a triskaidekaphobic, but I do detest the number 13.  (I don’t even like typing the numbers one and three together in a sequential order, e.g., 4,561,389.)   

Why do I stay steadfastly to these seemingly OCD rituals?  Call me a creature of habit, lazy or even slightly crazy, but when I find something works, I stick with it.  Sometimes to my detriment, but I will white-knuckle a habit or ritual until it proves me wrong. 

So what does this have to do with the Cards in the Super Bowl? 

For years, people have dismissed the Cardinals, even when they were in St. Louis, as an under-achieving, banal team with a fair-weather fan base.   People didn’t count on the Cardinals to do anything. 

I became a season ticket holder this past year and after the first home game, I believed.  I can’t explain it, but I had this gut feeling that if I came to each game, taking the same route into University of Phoenix stadium, wearing the same hat and buying a soft pretzel between the third and fourth quarter from the same stand, I would help the Cardinals win. 

And they did.  At one point they were 7 and 2 and pointed toward winning the Division.  And still, no one believed they could truly do it.  But I knew; even after losing to New England by 35 points.  I had repeated my routine for every home game. 

Sportswriters and Cards fans alike thought winning the Division was a mere fluke, beating Atlanta was some crazy aberration, crushing Charlotte was dumb luck, and finally plucking the Eagles was because Philly had an “off day.” Not to me.  This was all in my superstitious plan.

Now Sports Illustrated and ESPN, (as well as numerous Johnny-Come-Latelys firmly sitting on their newly-constructed bandwagon) have actually picked the Cardinals to win and I hate them for it. 

Just my luck, the Steelers will win 13 to something…

Mac

Con-Rail

     Light Rail is turning out to be a disaster of epic proportions.  First, the honor system was implemented.  That means you are being asked to pay for the ride, but you will likely not be checked to see if you actually paid for the ticket.  Next was the slogan for light rail, “Look around or you’ll be in the ground,” and “this rail don’t seem so light when it’s running u over!”  I TEASE!    Anyway….the other issue is that there are no bathrooms for you to use when you arrive at your destination.

     I could deal with all of the above, but what we found out today was a deal breaker for me.  I will not be riding the light rail.  Sheriff Joe Arpaio will begin transporting inmates on the Valley’s new light rail system.  Who wants to ride a train with a convicted criminal?!  I can see it now….The next time I get on “con-rail,” I’ll be saying “hey, isn’t that the serial shooter?” Will I have to ask the Baseline Killer, “is the seat next to you taken?”

     Back to the issue of where to go to the bathroom on light rail, most people get off at their stop and run into a local bar or restaurant to “take care of business,” but what about the convicts in the pink underwear?  Will they also be “taking care of business” at the nearby Denny’s?  I could be standing at a urinal right next to a convicted ax-murder!

     Forget about the safety issues of having criminals on light rail with the everyday citizens.  Forget about the fact that little kids will be riding the train with their parents.  Forget about safety.  Forget about the possibility someone on the ‘outside’ could duct tape a weapon under the seat for a prisoner that was being transferred on light rail.  Forget about all of that.  Sheriff Joe apparently has.

Gaydos

“Volunteering”

Last Friday morning I had one of the biggest surprises of my life. 

I attended a Volunteer Thank You assembly at the local elementary school where I, as well as others from KTAR, work with kids about once week. 

I teach public speaking to 6th graders.  My goals are two-fold;  Not only do I teach them how to get up in front of their classmates and read a speech or demonstrate a certain skill, but I also am helping them find their own voice, own their space and say their name with confidence.

When I was first approached to work with kids, I was hesitant.  I don’t have kids, I’ve never coached a team, and I thought I was too busy.

I set high goals for these kids from the first day I walked into their classroom.  They were to write and deliver a 3-minute speech from memory, while developing a sense of pride and assurance along the way.  It was a tall order.  But, as I have learned, if I don’t expect a lot of myself, who will? 

For the first couple of classes, some kids would put their heads on their desks when called on.  Some girls could only whisper their name when asked to speak.  “Louder!” I would encourage from the back of class.  “Pretend I am your little brother and I am getting on your nerves!  Now, what is your name?”  “Hello, my name is…” they would reply meekly and carry on with the lesson of that day. 

Some would freeze and look down at their shoes, not knowing what to do.  I would place myself in front of them and their classmates and ask them to just focus on me.  They would lock onto me and I would walk them through the assignment while blocking out the rest of the class. 

There were a few who enjoyed getting up in front of the class, but the first couple of weeks were tough as I thought I wasn’t getting through to these kids, who, in most cases, do not speak English in their own homes.

So imagine my utter surprise and delight when I found out during the assembly that all the kids who were up on stage reading parts of their collective thank you’s all volunteered to get up on that stage in front of their entire school.  And one was a child, who early on, would not look me in the eye when called on.  Not only had she memorized her part, she was the loudest and most articulate. 

Please, don’t assume volunteering doesn’t make a difference in a community; I know firsthand how important and imperative it is to get involved and make a difference in a child’s life.

If you have the time, volunteer.  You’ll be surprised at what you can learn…about yourself.

Mac

The headline in several papers today read “Cards Head to Super Bowl!”  That’s right…they boarded the plane for Tampa today.  I am still trying to grasp the fact that the Cardinals are playing in the Super Bowl.  I never thought I would see that headline….EVER!!!  Here are a few headlines I thought I’d see before the Cardinals actually headed to the Super Bowl…

Palestinians and Israelis call truce, spend day watching ‘Marley and Me.’

Janet Napolitano named Miss Arizona.

Racial issue occurs at major university.  Al Sharpton has no comment.

Oprah turns down seconds at celebrity buffet.

Barack Obama photographed without shirt on, John McCain photographed without pants on!

Anquan Boldin and Todd Haley seen screaming at each other on sidelines about who will win American Idol.

Paris Hilton preaches celibacy, education.

Keith Olberman bashes Obama, praises Bush.

Dick Cheney meets with children, doesn’t scare them.

Other thoughts…

I watched Nancy Pelosi on ABC’s “This Week.”  She makes me sick to my stomach.  The Speaker of the House avoided most of the questions by just throwing numbers around trying to confuse us about certain issues she did not want to talk about.  Maybe Pelosi could explain to me why she included contraception and education in the $825 billion stimulus package.  Really??  Birth control will stimulate the economy?!  She said “contraception will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government.”  LAME!  Did you know that she also included $20 million dollars worth of sod for the national mall in the economic stimulus package…That’s not a joke.  It’s actually in the bill!

Finally…Did you hear about the chick in Phoenix who lost a $70,000 ring down the toilet???  She accidentally flushed it while sitting on the can at a diner!  That’s right, a diner!!  A woman wore a 70k ring while eating at a place that serves hash browns.  She had to pay a plumber to spend about eight hours fishing down the toilet with a fiber-optic cable.  They ended up finding her 7-carat diamond.  The bill for the food was about 20 bucks…the bill for the plumber was 5,000 bucks.  I hope those Moons Over My Hammy were faaaantastic.

That’s How I Roll!

Gaydos