We lived in Chicago....
and every Sunday my Dad would pull the old Zenith radio out and try oh so hard to pull the game in on KMOX. One problem was the fact that the Moody Bible institute frequency was so close that the game would fade in and out. At half time he get a football and throw passes to me in the back yard. He eventually upgraded to a Zenith trans oceanic radio and every now and then they would broadcast the Cards game on the Arm Forces network on the short wave band. Usually when they were playing the Giants. It would come in clear as a bell. He was in heaven!
I was to young to remember exactly how old I was when he started taking me to St. Louis with my 2 uncles for 1 or 2 games a year. We would leave on Saturday mornings and spend a the night at a hotel. We'd leave for home right after the game, usually complaining about the loss while we listened to the post game show until the car radio reception would fade out. I got to see guys play like Pat Fisher, Jackie Smith, Billy Gambrell, Bobby Joe Conrad and Larry Wilson. I was at the famous Mel Gray TD catch/non catch vs Washington. I saw O.J. Andersons tremendous first game against Dallas.
When I got older, many times my Dad and I would hop in the car and drive south past Kankakee to rent a motel because we found out that the Champaign TV feed was broadcasting the Cards game and we could watch it.
The Cards played the Bears in many exhibition games at Soldier Field. After 1 particular game we waited outside by the team bus and met Dan Dierdorf. He was so nice. He talked to us for a half an hour or so. Told us that day that the rookie Dan Hampton would soon be an All-Pro.
Yes, My Dad "cursed " me with this passion for my beloved Big Red. Thats ok, cause I passed it along to my son. Last year we went to the game when the Cards came to Chicago. My goofy kid bought 8 or 10 eight foot long red feathered boas. He pinned them to a hooded sweatshirt, painted his face red,yellow, and black. He literaly looked like the San Diego chicken with a terrible sunburn! Their fans were all over us. NFL Films and Fox both came up to him for close up shots. A Cardinal player came over before the game(i don't know who it was. He was in sweats), and told him, "anybody that dedicated deserves something!", and then threw him an official pro football which "Q" then autographed for him! Of coarse the Cards went on to lose 28-3. Near the end of the game the entire south endzone of fans were chanting "PLUCK THAT BIRD-PLUCK THAT BIRD!!! I'll never forget that day.
My Dad passed away in 81' at the too young of age of 66. He would often say how he was running out of time on this earth for the Cards to produce a Championship team. We would laugh about that. Now I'm 50 and I say to my son, " I hope I get to see the Cards in a Super Bowl in my time!"
I would give anything to watch 1 more game with my Dad.
Happy Fathers Day, Dad. I know you're still watching. I hope you got good seats where you are.
after the game. But I think he had a good time. I can't remember if that was his last football game or not...
