The Drubbing

If you own a Terrible Towel, or you’re a resident of the Steel City, then you can stop reading here. But if your team already got booted from the NFL playoffs then read up. For the next two weeks your team should be the Cardinals and there’s plenty of reasons why.

The underdog

Everyone loves to root for the underdog. There’s something admirable about David defeating Goliath. Something in our psyche wants the field of play to be even, and when one competitor has a distinct advantage, we naturally want to see them overcome the odds that are stacked against them. And if the favorite wins, well, that’s what they’re supposed to do. That’s why they’re the favorite. It’s a win-win.

Class

T.O. works out in his front yard

The Cardinals are a classy bunch of dudes, don’t let the dreadlocks fool you. In a league where head cases dominate the headlines, class is rarely a word used to describe an NFL team not named Patriots. Their stud receiver, Larry Fitzgerald has even been called the anti-T.O.

With every game this year, Edgerrin James saw his role diminished. But in the last couple of regular-season games, and throughout the playoffs Edge and his fresh legs have been called upon to deliver key rushes and he’s done it without a single complaint.

Anquan Boldin started the season on a rough note watching his close friend and receiving cohort get a huge multi-year deal while he was stuck with his same old agreement. In a situation where T.O., Michael Strahan and many others would’ve held out all season if that’s what it took to get more money, Boldin decided he was there to play football, and did just that. Until he took a hit that would’ve sent most NFL players into retirement. Boldin was back at practice just days after sugery to repair his face and jaw after the hit

And what about the quarterback that threw that hit? Kurt Warner was so disturbed by that play, and so overwhelmed with guilt for throwing the ball to a place that lead Boldin into that hit that he considered hanging it up. After the game, Warner told his wife that this season may be his last.

And then there’s Adrian Wilson, the longest tenure Cardinals player at eight years, turned down big money back in 2004 in free-agency. Instead he opted to stay in Arizona and help the team that drafted him in the third round in 2001 out of N.C. State, turn their franchise around.

Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated

Young stars

The Cardinals have some of the biggest young stars in the league and Larry Fitzgerald is the biggest of them all. Arguably the best wide receiver in the league with undoubtedly the best hands in the league, Fitzgerald is only 25. And on top of that, there is no one in the league that is more excited when one of his teammates scores a touchdown. If you haven’t seen it before, watch the celebration the next time the Cardinals score (don’t worry, it happens often). Fitzgerald will be the first person to congratulate the scoring teammate, even if he has to run across the entire field to get there.

Then there’s Anquan Boldin, arguably the second-best receiver in the league, next to Fitzgerald, and certainly one of the toughest, up there with the Steelers Hines Ward and he’s only 28.

The newest kid on the block is the 22-year-old rookie out of Richmond, Tim Hightower. He started the season as an occasional goal-line specialist behind Edgerrin James and J.J. Arrington. He later took over all the goal-line carries from Arrington and later the starting job from James.

Title drought

It’s been 62 years since the cardinals won their last championship in 1947, back when they were the Chicago Cardinals. A drought only eclipsed in North American professional sports by the 100-season drought that the Chicago Cubs are suffering through. Prior to this years playoffs, the Cardinals had only won two post-season games in the history of the team. And this last year of champions has been a return to prominence for so many teams. Phillies ended their 28-year drought. Celtics returned to prominence by winnng their 17th championship after a 22-year lapse, and the storied Kansas Jayhawks won their first championship since 1988. (I’m not gonna lie, I have no idea who won the NHL’s Stanley Cup. Are they even still playing hockey?)

Patrick Daniel Tillman (November 6, 1976 – April 22, 2004)

Patriotism

If for no other reason, during a time when we’re fighting two wars, with our armed services men & women defending our country throughout the world, and when our great nation is poised to undergo a great transformation under the leadership of a historic president that will be sworn in later today, lets not forget about the sacrifice that members of the Cardinals family has made. Let’s not forget about Pat Tillman. A great man who shunned millions of dollars to do what he believed was right and defend our country.

So you don’t need to rush out to Sports Authority to pick up a Cards jersey, but set aside for favorite red tee to wear to the Super Bowl party on February 1st.