Favorite game day stories (not related to the actual game)

[Duckjake]

Post your favorite game day stories but not ones related to whether the Cards won or lost or how they played. Stories about meeting other ASFN members or outrageous tailgates or close encounters with the twilight zone sort of stuff.

Skorps passing reminded me of the time I rode the bus from the Vine to SDS with our mutual friend PDonaldo. The bus driver had just recently emigrated from Nigeria. The guy got lost driving from the Vine to SDS!!! (For those of you not familiar with the area the Vine is only a few blocks from SDS and you could see the stadium from their parking lot.)

We missed the opening kick and Don and I thought for sure we would be walking back to the Vine after the game. BUT as we walked out of the stadium here comes the Nigerian Dale Earnhardt hot rodding the bus down the side street next to Fumbles, ignores the traffic cops, drives up on the sidewalk and parks right in front of us. Amazing!

Or how about more recently when we had an altercation on a certain bus returning from Glendale and the driver called the Chandler cops. The police blocked off the parking lot and while we watched tasered a fan or two. About an hour or so later they left and suddenly several people came out of the shadows of the shopping center where they had been laying low until the law left. So much for taking the bus to avoid problems driving home after a game day of adult beverages.

Or the visit by a certain New Jersey girl who forgot to get her bobble head give away so I ran back up the ramp to the west entrance in 110 heat to grab her one of the last bobble heads. I think I lost 3-4% of my memory cells during that run.

Another New Jersey story: Jeff Gollin making his one and only trip out to SDS only to almost be asphyxiated in a bear hug given him by a very large Cardinal fan ecstatic over the Cards win over the Cowboys (JRein for you old Cards Corner posters). We thought we were going to have to send JG back to Mrs. Gollin in one of those tubes used to ship wall posters.

And finally the afternoon where I stopped to high five a crazy ex marine wearing a Cardinal hard hat standing next to an SUV with a SAT dish and large Cardinal flag. Turned out to be Jumbotron Eddie aka Jstadvl. We're still tailgating with Derm 9 years later.

I won't mention how I managed to get thrown out of my room at the Tempe Mission Palms hotel after a win over the Giants. Maybe having 10 people and 5 cases of beer in the room and yelling out the window at the Giants fans on University wasn't such a great idea.

 

[Mulli]

My dad and I tailgating last year with A$fn types. Deep fried turkeys!

Cheap eats at the Spaghetti Factory in Tempe back in the day.

 

[LVG]

Two Big Ones:

The playoffs - where Jersey, 'Bee, and others set up that Saturday night get together for all of A$FN, getting to meet so many of you and put a name with the face (DCR, 'Bee, Jersey, English, Ouchie & Cheese, OK Card, WI Card, and many, many others). At the half time meet, getting there a bit early, and getting to meet more of the A$FN family, including Jim S. and BIM (three little letters, so many meanings!). Getting to thank Jim then and there for setting up A$FN, I was lucky to do that then when I had a chance, though he looked a bit uncomfortable as I said thank you.

Being welcomed at a few tailgates, nice of abomb (great cheese steak sandwiches) DCR to welcome me and my bro with open arms (though, sadly, we didn't realize that they didn't sell beer in PHX on Sunday, so we carried a case of Dew each, paltry as it was), and that jungle juice.

Great times.

Also, just one moment sticks in my mind, where it was my first Card game, went with my dad at SDS, and we were playing the 49ers. Beat them by one point (last second field goal, IIRC), and these white plastic cups, the little stupid ones, the entire crowd seemed to throw them up into the air at once and they all just came down, all over the place.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

every game i've been to has been a blast,but i'd have to say the best one was the playoff game in Carolina last year. My wife and i met up with Wisconsin and his son and went to a local bar that was taken over by Cards fans. The Cards destroying the Panthers was icing on the cake.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Or the visit by a certain New Jersey girl who forgot to get her bobble head give away so I ran back up the ramp to the west entrance in 110 heat to grab her one of the last bobble heads. I think I lost 3-4% of my memory cells during that run.

This was the first laugh I had all night. Thanks for that.

Though the TRUE story is this: I tried to get a bobblehead, but did not have season tickets so I was not eligible to get one. I left SDS dejected and whined to DJ (and anyone else that would listen) about how I felt I SHOULD be eligible since I traveled all the way from Jersey just to see the team. DJ stated he had an extra "season ticket holder coupon" and VOLUNTEERED to go back and get me one of my choice (aka Boldin).

I still have that bobblehead. Thanks, DJ.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I won't mention how I managed to get thrown out of my room at the Tempe Mission Palms hotel after a win over the Giants. Maybe having 10 people and 5 cases of beer in the room and yelling out the window at the Giants fans on University wasn't such a great idea.

Sounds like a great idea to me.

Two great memories. First is before I met you guys. Came out for the Cards-Pats game at SDS. We got killed, but I got into the players area after the game, which rocked. Met Wadsworth, Aeneas, Jake and others. Was a ton of fun.

The second is when I came out for the home opener in 2004. Jim (DieHard) and Mike (Bleeding Red) invited me to their tailgate. Ran into Ryan, Assface and jw7 prior to that. Met a ton of ASFNers at halftime. Me, Section 11, birdie and Cardinals.Ken didn't make it back to our seats after halftime. WE had a blast. After that, Jim and company took my sister and me out. It poured rain and Jim had no wiper blades on his jeep because "I live in Arizona."

So many great memories from SDS, even though I was only there twice.

 

[Duckjake]

Sounds like a great idea to me.

Two great memories. First is before I met you guys. Came out for the Cards-Pats game at SDS. We got killed, but I got into the players area after the game, which rocked. Met Wadsworth, Aeneas, Jake and others. Was a ton of fun.

The second is when I came out for the home opener in 2004. Jim (DieHard) and Mike (Bleeding Red) invited me to their tailgate. Ran into Ryan, Assface and jw7 prior to that. Met a ton of ASFNers at halftime. Me, Section 11, birdie and Cardinals.Ken didn't make it back to our seats after halftime. WE had a blast. After that, Jim and company took my sister and me out. It poured rain and Jim had no wiper blades on his jeep because "I live in Arizona."

So many great memories from SDS, even though I was only there twice.

That's too funny.

Those halftime meets at SDS were a riot. Mainly because we met right next to a beverage station and you had to introduce yourself to people you'd just met at the last halftime meet.

 

[justAndy]

Even though it was in SDS stadium, I was so high on LSD that I was more focused on the clouds, lightning, and bats emerging from the eaves of SDS at sunset.
btw - Cards beat Cowboys 7-6.

 

[CardLogic]

Back in the early days of ASFN a group of us invaded a Chicago Bears bar (Payton's in Ahwatukee) for an away game vs. San Francisco. We all were pretty optomistic that the Cardinals were going to put a whoopin' on the 49er's. (That may have been the year that SF won only two games - both vs. the Cardinals. ) That was the game with the infamous Josh McGown pass into LJ Shelton's facemask, while in their own endzone! I'll never forget the uproar of that moment! Or the good time I had meeting a bunch of fellow ASFN posters

Also, it was that day at Payton's, I met Jim Skane.

 

[MrYeahBut]

I had to drive back to Albq after the Atl playoff game. Was fine going over, but on the way back it was one of the worst snow storms I'd ever been thru. I mean, I grew up in Wyo & Montana and know how to drive on ice.

Anyway, you could have played hockey on the Interstate between Sedona and Gallup. White knuckles all the way. Probably at least 10 semis jacknifed and dozens of cars in the median.

I'm not sure how my wife survived it. She basically sat in the passenger seat with her eyes closed for about 6 hours. I think she was praying to something or doing Buddist monk chants, whatever, we made it but I'm not sure I ever want to do that again.

Of course, we came back for the Philly game, but the weather was good. Got to meet lots of ASFNers at the meet the girls put together.. English was the highlight of that as you all know.

 

[DieHardCardFan]

Sounds like a great idea to me.

Two great memories. First is before I met you guys. Came out for the Cards-Pats game at SDS. We got killed, but I got into the players area after the game, which rocked. Met Wadsworth, Aeneas, Jake and others. Was a ton of fun.

The second is when I came out for the home opener in 2004. Jim (DieHard) and Mike (Bleeding Red) invited me to their tailgate. Ran into Ryan, Assface and jw7 prior to that. Met a ton of ASFNers at halftime. Me, Section 11, birdie and Cardinals.Ken didn't make it back to our seats after halftime. WE had a blast. After that, Jim and company took my sister and me out. It poured rain and Jim had no wiper blades on his jeep because "I live in Arizona."

So many great memories from SDS, even though I was only there twice.

That was a hell of a game, tailgate and after fun! Hahaha! My wife at the time and I got into a fight with Patriots fans after the game and Bleedingred almost got tazed trying to stop our round two by the gates. Good times. And hell I still rarely have good wiper blades !

 

[Duckjake]

I'm not sure how my wife survived it. She basically sat in the..... seat with her eyes closed for about 6 hours. I think she was praying to something or doing Buddist monk chants,

That's exactly what my wife used to do during the games at SunDevil.

 

[Duckjake]

There was a game weekend where Pariah came out to the Stadium Club to meet up with myself and AZCards21. We went over to 21's house to shoot some pool. AC21 had a couple of 12 packs in the fridge when we got there.

The next morning they were all gone. I still swear Pariah stole 'em all.

 

[Captain Matt]

The scene: After the New Orleans game at home in 1998.... adjacent to the parking lot.... Jake Plummer was getting mobbed as his huge extension was just signed.... meanwhile a very modest, casually dressed Pat Tillman slid by the press mob on his way into the parking lot.


Pat sees my brother, sister-in-law, fiance' and I standing by the parking lot talking about the game and turns away from his b-line to the car and tells us how "great we look." Then we start talking about how far the Cards have come from training camp to now. He offers to take OUR picture. We talk briefly about my heading off to flight school and about us getting married. Pat, in his usual, humble, good natured self wishes us all of the luck in the world, thanks us for supporting the team, and shakes my hand in thanks for supporting our country. Pat-freaking-Tillman. He's still my all-time favorite player. But not for playing football, but for being a real man.

 

[bleedingred]

Sounds like a great idea to me.

Two great memories. First is before I met you guys. Came out for the Cards-Pats game at SDS. We got killed, but I got into the players area after the game, which rocked. Met Wadsworth, Aeneas, Jake and others. Was a ton of fun.

The second is when I came out for the home opener in 2004. Jim (DieHard) and Mike (Bleeding Red) invited me to their tailgate. Ran into Ryan, Assface and jw7 prior to that. Met a ton of ASFNers at halftime. Me, Section 11, birdie and Cardinals.Ken didn't make it back to our seats after halftime. WE had a blast. After that, Jim and company took my sister and me out. It poured rain and Jim had no wiper blades on his jeep because "I live in Arizona."

So many great memories from SDS, even though I was only there twice.

You mean this one? That's when lot D was flooded out and they moved us to C. As always great times.

 

[AzCards21]

There was a game weekend where Pariah came out to the Stadium Club to meet up with myself and AZCards21. We went over to 21's house to shoot some pool. AC21 had a couple of 12 packs in the fridge when we got there.

The next morning they were all gone. I still swear Pariah stole 'em all.

I'm positive he did!

And seeing that guy get tasered was awesome! (not Pariah the guy from the bus).

 

[ANDY440]

The last couple of seasons there I sat in the top row of section 38 in the South end zone at Sun Devil. Had my binoculars in a zipper top belt pouch and stood up & turned around to do some people watching. The binoculars poped out of the bag & over the rail directly onto the keg tap for the beer stand below & busted it off. Beer was spraying like mad everywhere. Never went down to claim them fearing a bill for a keg of beer at $5 per 12 ounces.

I once mooned the Denver Broncos team bus on their way into the stadium,the DPS Motorcycle escort was not impressed.

Never recived my season tickets one year so the cardinals gave me hand written form tickets for the first 4 games. Put a 7 in front of my section which made it the loge where the food was free. I like free food

 

[JeffGollin]

There's More to the Story...

Another New Jersey story: Jeff Gollin making his one and only trip out to SDS only to almost be asphyxiated in a bear hug given him by a very large Cardinal fan ecstatic over the Cards win over the Cowboys (JRein for you old Cards Corner posters). We thought we were going to have to send JG back to Mrs. Gollin in one of those tubes used to ship wall posters.
The trip was my first and only trip to AZ to see a Cardinal game. It was part of Dave Baker's (remember him?) effort to put Cardinal fannies in the seats to avoid being co-opted (still again) by the usual hordes of Cowboy (aka Team Felon) rooters.

I flew into Sky Harbor, made it to the hotel and hooked up with both Prices and PDon (if my memory serves me correctly) and, later on, BosunPipe (formerly of NJ with whom I shared a common communications/PR background).

That night, a bunch of us dined together at a local Tempe steakhouse. I hope I don't forget anyone but Zeno, NazDrew, Carl Panicucci, SBNetSport, Maddjak, RPrice, BPrice and Reino were all there (The baseball cap everyone autographed still sits atop the sculptured bust of Louis Gollin (my grandpa) in my office).

The following day, I was treated to my first tailgating event held in a parking garage. It was hosted by Reino, and the brats were outstanding.

I don't remember the precise temperature outside, but I seem to recall it hovering somewhere around 105 - 110 (and humid). I was all decked out in my Sunday finery - Cargo Pants. T-Shirt. Sandals. And one of those Buddy Ryan plantation hats.

The game couldn't have gone any better. We upset Dallas that day, with the game-winner coming in the form of a Butthead bankshot off one of the uprights in OT.

Not much later, a throng of crazed Cardinal fans tore down the goal posts. But, alas, I was not among them. I was already on the way to Sky Harbor on the way back to NJ. But here comes the fun part -

Instead of changing back into "street clothes", I chose to continue wearing my game-getup - with shirt and shorts now clinging to my sweaty body like Saran Wrap. ("What the heck", I figured. It was a red-eye flight and nobody I knew would see me anyway).

What I failed to consider, however, was that the Northwest Flight had a short lay-over in Detroit. There I was sleeping across two seats in the partly empty flight when suddenly the lights go on and a bunch of Detroit auto execs (remember them?) - no doubt traveling to NYC to visit ad agencies & all decked out in their 3-piece suits come marching up the aisles of the plane.

I looked (and felt) like a homeless person. Thankfully, there was no one on the plane that I knew from any previous lives and, when we arrived in Newark, I skulked off to long term parking and back to the world.

An epic trip for sure. Best part was that we won...wait! I'll take that back. Best part was meeting everyone.

Th best way I can describe how I feel about all of you is to remind us all what it's like to attempt to talk Cardinal football with non-Cardinal fans who simply "don't understand." What are you going to tell them: "Geez! Wasn't Sean Morey's blocked punt awesome?" Or "You're not going to believe this guy named, of all things, Dominique Rodgers Cromartie?"

They'll give you a look somewhere between "stink-eye" and a cocked-headed puppy. They're just not going to get it, so where else to turn?

Answer: You guys.

And Skkorp was smack dab at the center of it all.

And, in more ways than he probably would have imagined, he still is.

 

[Zeno]

That night, a bunch of us dined together at a local Tempe steakhouse. I hope I don't forget anyone but Zeno, NazDrew, Carl Panicucci, SBNetSport, Maddjak, RPrice, BPrice and Reino were all there (The baseball cap everyone autographed still sits atop the sculptured bust of Louis Gollin (my grandpa) in my office).

I remember that well, we were at Monti's. I still have the hat too.

I miss those days. Cards Corner was fun, the basics as far as Internet message boards go for sure but fun..does anyone still keep in touch with PDonaldo? He and I rode up to Flagstaff a couple of times together during training camp.

I didn't realize that was your only trip to AZ though Jeff. You better plan another one for January, you have to experience a home town playoff game.

 

[JeffGollin]

I didn't realize that was your only trip to AZ though Jeff. You better plan another one for January, you have to experience a home town playoff game.

Correction - That was my only trip to AZ to see a "live" game. Mrs. (Dr.) G and I did manage to visit the Valley on two other occasions but there was no opportunity to see a game.

One major regret that, in hindsight, looms larger now: On one of my 2 other trips to AZ, the Skanes and the Gollins were supposed to meet for dinner; however a simple cold turned into a major medical emergency for Skkorp and plans were scuttled; so I never got to meet Jim face to face.

 

[English on tour]

Well mine goes something like this....

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/help-me-127048.html

 

[WisconsinCard]

every game i've been to has been a blast,but i'd have to say the best one was the playoff game in Carolina last year. My wife and i met up with Wisconsin and his son and went to a local bar that was taken over by Cards fans. The Cards destroying the Panthers was icing on the cake.

That was a fun time. Funny story after the game.

We had taken the train from our hotel to the stadium, so on the way back it was packed. We were one of the last stops so as we got closer to the end the train was getting empty. A Panther fan tells me to look in the back of the train. When I did I see that some one had taken off their Jake Delhomme jersey off and hung it in the back of the train. Frre to a cards fan as he was the best player on their team tonight.

 

[WisconsinCard]

Well mine goes something like this....

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/help-me-127048.html

Glad to be a part of that one too. We had a blast at the bars the night before the game. Gamebird 98 was on fire...

 

[Duckjake]

That was a fun time. Funny story after the game.

We had taken the train from our hotel to the stadium, so on the way back it was packed. We were one of the last stops so as we got closer to the end the train was getting empty. A Panther fan tells me to look in the back of the train. When I did I see that some one had taken off their Jake Delhomme jersey off and hung it in the back of the train. Frre to a cards fan as he was the best player on their team tonight.

Great story.