Happening in Arizona: something big

A few months ago, when the Cardinals beat the Seahawks here in Seattle, I received a few hate texts from local football fanatics. I just shrugged and said, "I was never a Cardinals fan when I lived in Arizona, why should I start now?"

Well, those guys have given me, and everyone else in the Zone, a reason to wear red.

While perusing facebook last night almost all my friends from Arizona had changed their status updates to reflect excitement or disbelief at the Cardinals' victory. Several people made comments along the lines that they didn't like that suddenly people were interested in football. The term "fair weather fans" was used.

I say, who cares? As a true underdog team, their winning is luring new fans. That's good for the sport, and good for the camaraderie of all Arizonans.

When I was in second grade, I had a crush on a boy in my class. One day at lunch he had a football with the Cardinals' emblem on it and I tried to talk to him about it. He brushed me off. "The Cardinals suck," he said. "No offense." They pretty much continued to suck for years after that exchange.

My knowledge of football could fit in a single short latte cup, so I hope I'm not speaking out of turn, here. But I think this is about more than football as a game. It's about an Arizona team giving us something to be proud of. (I use the term "us" loosely as I am no longer an Arizona resident. But I was born and raised there and I lived there for a total of 23 years. So you bet your ass I'm going to be cheering for the Cards on Feb. 1.)

Since moving to Seattle, I've been impressed with how fiercely proud the locals are of their city and its modern history. From music, to coffee to basketball Seattleites like to stand behind their city and its champions. The same is not true for Phoenix.

But maybe ... just maybe ... the Cardinals are going to turn that around.

PS The Cardinals were awesome yesterday, and so was the photo desk at The Arizona Republic. Check out these photos of the game: http://www.azcentral.com/closeup/articles/0119spt-closeupcardswinnfc.html