Cardinals vs. Steelers: Super Bowl XXLIII

Well it shouldn't take a genius

to figure out who we're rootin' for down here.

Go Cards!

The … Arizona … Cardinals … are … in … the … Super … Bowl.

Wow. Those 8 words have NEVER been said together before now. In fact, we thought it was incredible when they made it to the playoffs - first time in 61 years. Talk about a drought. Not going to pretend that we were one of those "believers" ... and we "just knew they'd make it" but now that they are here, of course we'll cheer them on. Found these facts posted that I thought were interesting:

• Arguably the worst professional sports franchise in this country's history is going to be a participant in its biggest sporting event.
• The oldest continuously run pro football franchise in the country will have a chance to win its first championship in 61 seasons, and its third championship in 110 years.
• An organization so cheap it once charged players the Federal Express cost of mailing their contracts is playing in the richest sporting event in the country.
• A team so poorly run it once gave players only one pair of socks per season is playing in the most popular sporting event in the country.
• They once lost 29 games in a row.
• They once lost the keys to their workout facility during Joe Montana's free-agent visit, and he never came back.
• They once threw a game-winning touchdown pass on the final play of the final game of the 2003 season … and the victory cost them the No.1 overall draft pick.
• They once had to use a silent snap count because the stadium was filled with the angry roar of an opposing crowd … during one of their home games.
• In the past 24 years, they have had a winning record twice.
• In one memorable moment late in one game several years ago, safety Lorenzo Lynch broke his facemask and ran to the sidelines for some tape, only to discover that the tape had already been loaded on to the bus.

NOBODY thought they'd make it here! But I have to say, we're pretty darn excited. The family favorite? Fitzgerald. Love to watch him play. So now that the BBQ pork for the sandwiches is simmering, the beans are cookin', the football pool is all set to go, TV'S are on - all of them, and of course, the beer cooler is full ... we're ready to go! Bring on the Super Bowl!

Now to reminisce a bit ... THIS is how we used to celebrate Superbowl. Okay, so maybe us kids. Us meaning Theresa and I, and the Bales' kids. Before I saw the date on the football Nick is holding, I knew I was in 4th grade. Those were my "fourth grade" glasses. Nice. Anyway, 24 years ago we were cheering on the Raiders. Ironically, they also played in Tampa. This picture was taken Super Bowl, January 22, 1984. I had no inkling what football was about, and I'm pretty certain I never watched any of the games at the time. We went there to play. And sneak baskets of pretzels or popcorn downstairs hoping no one would notice one less snack on the table. And watch anxiously as our parents dug in their pockets (or simply reached over to their poker change if it was still on the table) so we could write our names in the squares of the football pool. Now in case you can't read the signs (yes, cardboard and sticks, maybe even a ruler or two? high class!) they say, "Raiders Are The Best!", "We Want The Raiders To Win!", "LA is #1", "We Love LA Raiders". Ah ... the good ol' days. And yes, we all admit it - we were pretty much dorks.