CAR-DINAL KNOWLEGE

October 23, 2008

This Sunday we will “entertain” a franchise from a city that’s only had pro football for twenty years. Although that’s a few more than we’ve enjoyed, I thought I’d dig around and find out a little more about these Arid-Zona Cardy-noles.

DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIID YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU KNOOOOOOW-

That the Cardinals are the OLDEST chartered team in the NFL? And they are older even still than the league itself! In 1898, they were formed in Chicago as the Morgan Athletic Club. When they moved to Racine in 1901, their uniforms were some used maroon togs from the University of Chicago, faded so much, that the players complained they were CARDINAL red-

Hence the name.

In 1920, the team, along with the Decatur Staleys and Green Bay Packers, became the first charter members of the American Professional Football League, which two years later became the NFL. Scratchin’ yer head about the Decatur Staleys? Heard the name before? You should have- They became the Chicago Bears! In their 40 years in the Windy City, the Cardy-noles only won 2 NFL championships, and one, won in 1925, was won by default! In 1932, the team was purchased by a Dr. Bidwell, and has been in this family ever since, also making them the NFL team owned the longest by a SINGLE ENTITY. After WWII, the game became more popular than ever, and expansion sent the team to St. Louis in 1960, the same year the Dallas Cowbabies joined the league, with the noble Tom Landry as their coach. The Cardy-noles had a largely unspectacular history in the Gateway City, making the playoffs (YES, Coach Mora, I’m talkin’ PLAYOFFS, ‘cause I’m talkin’ about history!) only three times, and never winning a game. They DID have their share of decent years with Neil Lomax and Roy Green, Jim Hart and Otis Anderson. Many of you remember Bidwell’s move to Phoenix in 1988, and the years of suckage they’ve had out in the desert. Actually, many fans of the franchise will remember DECADES of suckage due to the Bidwell’s notorious reluctance to open the checkbooks to pay players and coaches. Some of you may remember Arid-zona’s lone trip to the posteason in 1998, when Jake Plummer and his boys whooped on the Cowbabies for their ONLY PLAYOFF WIN in their 100 year history! So, we fast forward to now.

Today, the Cardy-Noles are a surprising 4-2, a commanding lead over the other three teams in the division. They’re winning games largely through a prolific and aggressive passing attack with the ancient Kurt Warner (‘memba HIM??) at the controls. The biscuit is generally flung at Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Boldin, when healthy. He’s not, at this posting. Here’s something else you may not know- Ken Whisenhunt, the head coach? 12-10 since he got there last year. After 100 years, who knows, maybe they’re putting something together really special there! One thing though- This team SUCKS on the East Coast, and after looking at this team objectively, I’m more confident in victory than I was immediately following our dismantling of the Saints last week. I’ll tell you this- The Cardy-Nole “D” is MUCH tougher than the Saints, and we will really have to nut it up to score on these guys. I suspect it will be much like the Bears game, when we put ‘em away in the 4th quarter. Where the Panthers have the distinct advantage is, however, is OUR VASTLY superior defense, #2 in the league against the pass, and you can imagine that the scoring result for the Cards will be much like the Saints last week. The score wouldn’t surprise me to be something like 21-10 or something like that. I’m anticipating MUCH more Foxball this weekend than last Sunday.

So Fanz, when you’re looking at the red and white adorned team from Arid-zona, take a moment to reflect on the history of this perennially bad but improving franchise, and put out of your mind the notion that they’re due a great road win on the East Coast. Because it’s not happenin’ this Sunday.

See y’all tomorrow with the picks.

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