Thank you Cardinals

// February 2nd, 2009 // family

Super Bowl XLIII FootballI find myself still emotionally spent this morning. The physical and mental fatigue after yesterday’s game was much more than I expected.

I can probably count 2-3 times this morning that I teared up listening to KTAR sports on the way in to the office and the clips from the game and sound bites from the players. Larry Fitzgerald said it hurt…and I couldn’t agree more.

Yeah, I’m not a player, so I can’t imagine their level of disappointment in losing that game. But I somehow think the die-hard fans of the team are feeling something close to it.

And we’d all probably not be feeling this way if the Cardinals hadn’t manned up after going down 20-7 and making us all believe they were going to win the game. Up 23-20 with two and some odd minutes left…it was a reality and within our grasp. The comeback was of epic proportions and the game itself will go down as one of the best ever.

Those that made it to our party yesterday will all remember the moment that Fitzgerald caught that go-ahead 64-yard touchdown pass. I’ve never experienced such sheer happiness and euphoria. As Fitz blew past the defense, I somehow lifted my buddy Adrian off the ground and carried him six feet. People were hugging, screaming, high-fiving and laughing hysterically.

fitz-pittsOkay, maybe it was just me laughing hysterically, but it was one of those moments that transcends normalcy and you have no idea how you’ll respond or act. It was pure exhilaration.

My friend Bryan kept muttering at halftime about the 14-point swing with that interception. And I told him that we are a resilient team and after going down a point to Philly two weeks ago, we came back and won the game. And we’d do it today.

It almost happened too. Against the mighty Pittsburgh defense, we scored 14 straight points and had a lead.

But with everyone pacing around our dining room and living room, praying and whispering to themselves, that exhilarating feeling we just experienced disappeared in a instant.

There is something remarkable about going from 100mph to zero in a heartbeat that destroys you. The mental hangover from that Santonio Holmes touchdown and subsequent loss is still sitting with me right now. And will be all day. Maybe all week.

Despite all that, I want to thank the Arizona Cardinals for a thrilling post-season. Never have I been able to watch my team play all the way into February and it was worth the ride. My excitement for next season will be at a level I’ve never experienced before. Jina and I are already planning on going to the home opener.

Also, thanks to everyone who came to our little party. Adrian, Nicky, Claire, Tyler, Sara, Rachel, Tom, Isaac, Rich, Lisa, Bryan and Jill.  And my wife and baby girl.

I’ve never hugged so many people or been that pumped for a Super Bowl before. Last year with the Giants, we all agreed that it had been the best Super Bowl in awhile, which made the party a lot of fun.

Yesterday’s blew it out of the water.

Thanks to everyone for bringing food and for all the leftover beer in my fridge. I think I’m going to need to put on a poker night soon to get rid of it. *grin*

Now we’re left with the Suns to fill the sports void…and they just lost to the Bulls. At home. Ugh.

At least it’s Hollywood Week on American Idol!

9 Responses to “Thank you Cardinals”

  1. Josie says:
    February 2, 2009 at 7:34 am

    I can just picture you laughing hysterically. lol Sorry it didn’t work out! Maybe next year. :)

  2. D.L. White says:
    February 2, 2009 at 8:20 am

    Good post Mike. I think you accurately summarized how everyone is feeling today in Arizona. What an exciting and entertaining game though! And a great opportunity to bond with friends… whether at a party or thru online status updates. ;) Here’s looking forward to next year. :)

  3. jina says:
    February 2, 2009 at 8:31 am

    What a ride! Today, I am proud to be a Cards fan.

  4. adrian says:
    February 2, 2009 at 9:57 am

    Mike, you carrying me across the room after a Fitz touchdown… priceless. :)

    With Jina talking about being proud of the Cardinals, something hit me. Because of this great season and this great Super Bowl, we are no longer going to be ‘crazy’ to be Cardinals fans. We can proudly show our gear without being ready to explain some reason why we put up with them. Thank you Cards!

  5. Scotty Dub says:
    February 2, 2009 at 10:35 am

    Great year for the Cards. Hold your heads high Cards fans.

    Hopefully, the team can continue to build and get better.

    In the meantime, the Suns are struggling, but D-backs baseball starts soon.

  6. Mike says:
    February 2, 2009 at 10:47 am

    @ Adrian – Good point man…it’s a good feeling to know that this team has turned a corner…they they’ll want to stay at this level and perhaps the futility of being a Cards fan is gone.

    Of course, having been one forever, I don’t know if that will ever completely be gone in my eyes, but we can definitely hope :)

  7. Marlayna says:
    February 2, 2009 at 11:02 am

    Great write up Mike. We had our own little party here and the boys are completely crushed. They don’t have the advantage of living in Cards Country and hearing all the talk of pride even though a loss. Most of their friends are Steeler fans and begged me to let them stay home from school today. I prayed all night long for them, have shed tears for them as today feels like it will be the worst day in their little lives (to them). I don’t know how to help them. I just pray it isn’t as bad as they invision it will be. Kids can be so mean. Love what your friend Adrian said though. My kids wore their AZ jersies with pride over the last month, to church yesterday… despite all the razzing and next year will be fun. We love the Cards and always will, win or lose.

  8. Mike says:
    February 2, 2009 at 12:00 pm

    Marlayna, I hope they are okay today…it’s pretty tough to deal with kids being relentless and totally unfair in their criticism of things like that…

    I would have let them stay home, but then again, if I had any PTO right now, I’d have stayed home today too :)

  9. Cap'n Schwartz says:
    February 3, 2009 at 9:21 am

    Awesome season…. Kurt Warner totally underrated…. he took the hapless Rams too two superbowls and won one fo them… he took the hapless Cardinals too a superbowl and ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh mannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn almost won it…. Doh!

    Great write-up, well said, as it also speaks for me….

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