How did you become a Cardinal fan?

[MadCardDisease]

Started following the Cards around 1995 and bought a couple of tickets here and there in 1996. I bought a season ticket in 1997 and the rest is history.

Very similar story here. I moved to the valley from California in 1996 and went to a few Cardinal games. The following year I decided to get season tickets. After that I became hooked and have been a die hard fan sense.

 

[SweetD]

Simple they moved to AZ

 

[Pariah]

I think I contracted Cardinals Fever from a hooker in Hong Kong. I should count my blessings; it could have been much worse.

 

[Capt'nCard]

1988 my Dad took me to the first game here against Dallas. I was only 11 years old. Right when I saw the Red and White uniforms I fell in love. I was raised a Bears fan since that is where my family is from, but even though my Pops was born in NY and raised in Chi-town he still roots for the Dback and the Cards no matter what. He is the one who taught me loyalty to the City I am in. Born and raised in AZ, Cardinals will run thru my blood forever.

My story is almost identical to this. I went to my first game in '88 and I was only 11 too. I was never that much into football before but I figured if we were going to have a pro football team I better brush up on them. I remember thinkng how cool Stallings was because he came from alabama. I thought Bugel would turn us around because we was in Washington. I remember partying all night after K. Butler kicked that FG against San Diego (I think thats right?) to put the Cards in the playoffs. I'm a 4th generation native and have a huge amount of loyalty for my state. I will always be a Suns, Cards, D-Backs and Yotes fan no matter what. No matter how much grief I took for wearing a Cards hat or jacket in school I always said its easier to root for the winning teams than staying true to your hometown (losing) team. Plus I hated the Niners and Cowboys then too! It's funny because as bad as some of the years have been I still only have good memories of the past 16 years!

 

[Chaz]

Simple they moved to AZ

Ditto.

Although I always had a soft spot for the Cardinals prior to them moving here I didn't follow football much as a kid.

 

[LittleDavis]

I was raised in Charleston Il. I attended the Cards training camp every year when I was a kid. Met most of the guys and went to dinner with O.J. Anderson. Earl Farell would come to my house for dinner and took me and my little bro to the Cards-Dallas game back in 84 or something when he scored two touchdowns and we beat Dallas on opening day. We then went to eat with Earl and his Tenn. coaches. Pretty cool. That was probably the best 8-10 years of my life (excitement wise). I have been a fan for my whole life and will always be. I am glad my Gramps lives in Sun City now. I hope to catch a couple of games this year. This is the most excited (adult) time I have ever had as a fan. Peace to all.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CARDSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

 

[john h]

Kind of an interesting idea, I thought. People typically grow up rooting for the team in their area. Either that or they root for a team that has had a lot of success. But many folks that live in the valley are from other parts of the country originally and clearly the Cardinals haven't had a lot of success. So its an interesting breed that makes a Cardinals fan.

For me, I moved out here in 97. I grew up in Ohio as a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan. But when Modell moved the team, I swore them off. For the next couple of years, I remained a devoted NFL fan, but didn't have a team to root for. When I first came out here, I mocked the Cardinals like everyone else. But after time, it seemed to me, that for a die-hard NFL fan with no team, the Cardinals presented a clean slate. No identity. No real success. If they were able to get the franchise going in the right direction, I'd be on board early on. Plus, they were tied to Arizona, which has become part of my identity.

For the last seven years, I've gone through the same motions every year. The highlight of the season is in March and April. My enthusiasm steadilly builds up until the start of the season. My wife warns me that they'll disappoint, but I can't be dissuaded. "This is the year the Cards turn the corner" I say. Then the season starts, and reality sets in. But with a good draft, I'm always hopeful for the season ahead.

So its fun to see them at the point where they have some identity, some hope of winning and a new stadium on the horizon. I'm at a point where I feel like the positives I'm seeing with the team might be more than wishful thinking.....

But the question remains How did you become a Cards fan?[/

QUOTE]

When I was 12 years old (1944) I moved from western North Carolina to the northern Chicago suburbs. The first game I ever saw was between the Bears and Cards at Wrigley Field. Everyone from the northside was a Bear fan. I did not know any better and liked the Cards dream backfield. I became a Cards fan that day and have never looked back. Became a Cubs fan the same year and still going.

 

[Capital Card]

I was born in Arizona but am an Army brat too. I started following football in the mid 70's while my dad was stationed in Texas, and at the time, I didn't really know people weren't Cowboy fans.

We moved to Kansas in 1980 and I had a friend who was a fanatical Dolphin fan and somehow it carried over to me. I followed the Dolphins until I moved to Arizona in 1987 when I decided that I needed a west coast team to follow. That was the year Bosworth came out, so I picked the Seahawks.

That only lasted one year as the Cards moved to AZ the next year. I wasn't sold on the Cards right away, but after listening on the radio to the SF come-back game in 1988 while at work, I became hooked. I've been a fanatical fan ever since, although my wife thinks it's more of a mental illness. The more people knock the Cards, and as fans have dwindled, the more I love the team.

Go Cards!!!

 

[Pariah]

[ Everyone from the northside was a Bear fan. I did not know any better and liked the Cards dream backfield..... Became a Cubs fan the same year and still going.

Are you implying that you're from the South-side? Shouldn't you be a Sox fan (like a real man? )

 

[Crazy Canuck]

While playing hockey in Dallas in 1969-70, I was invited by a die-hard Cowboy fan to a game against the Cards. He was trying to turn me into a Cowboy fan, but for some unknown reason, I liked the Cards that day… and have stuck with them ever since.

 

[john h]

Are you implying that you're from the South-side? Shouldn't you be a Sox fan (like a real man? )

Definitely a north sider from Highland Park. The Bears even trained at my college in Lake Forest (still do as far as I know). Sox fan??? What is that? All I can remember is Nelle Fox and Luke Appling. We did get Sammy from the Sox but he recently lost his mind and needs to go to rehab.

 

[PACardsFan]

I grew up in Syracuse, NY. My Dad was a die-hard Cardinal baseball fan. In the mid-sixties, I started watching pro football. I realized that there was a St. Louis Cardinal football team. I convinced my Dad that we should be rooting for both teams & the rest is history. I moved to the DC area out of college (1982) & then saw the Cardinals play the Deadskins every year until we were moved to the NFC West. I moved my family to York, PA in 1994 & people here think I'm nuts. They're all Eagles & Steelers fans here. I've never regretted being a Cardinal fan & I get excited EVERY summer when training camp starts. When Jacke kicked the winning FG in 98, my Dad & I jumped like fools & then proceeded to cry. I keep telling my 20 yr old son that the Cardinals will eventually win a SB & there won't be a happier bunch of fans anywhere.

 

[Russ Smith]

Born in St Louis(lived on Lindbergh Blvd) but moved to Nor Cal when 18 months old. Parents were not football fans, mom is from england, dad from New Zealand, neither followed football at all. I think it was the Cards uniforms I liked first, 1975, 10 years old, but then it was Metcalf for sure, and Hart and Gray and then Ottis Jerome Anderson.

 

[TRW]

Back in the late 60's, which was when I started getting interested in football, there was no team here. I was an NFL fan, NOT an AFL fan, and I settled on the Giants, Eagles, Cards and Cowboys as my favorite division. Since my Dad was a St. Louis Cards baseball fan I just gravitated to the football Cardinals as well. Dad was really a Green Bay fan from the Bart Starr days (and he is one of my favorite all time QB's to this day).

By the time Air Coryell was in full swing I was hooked and loved to follow the Cards. When they moved to AZ I was a very happy man and have enjoyed them every year they've been here. I have been frustrated at the losing and the hapless nature of the team for most of those years but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Even bad football is better than NO football IMO.

So, I am no bandwagonner and have followed this team for over 35 years. God, I'm old....