Who's house is this?

[conraddobler]

I think it is time for some perspective from a long long time Cardinal fan who happens to live in KC.

I moved to KC in 1988 just about the same time Marty ball came to KC. Now prior to this I watched years and years of preseason games where there were about 25000 Chiefs fans at the games for preseason and Arrowhead looked like a gigantic waste of space.

Chiefs fans were enthusiastic but scarce to say the least and then along came DT, the Nigerian Nightmare and others and soon Arrowhead was the place to be.

Now before direct TV and all even I needed a football fix so because my new KC friends had tickets I dared to attend one fated Monday Night game against the Broncos and Elway.

The air was absoulutely electric. It was the most riveting game I have ever attended before or since and now when I go to Chiefs games it is the standard by which all else are measured. NOTHING NOTHING will ever again come close to the level of pent up frustration at years and years of losing that I saw unleased that night.

People throw around indescribable too often but it fits this. You have to actually attend something like that to appreciate just how awe inspiring it is.

To this day people tell stories about that game and how they couldn't hear or speak for a week. The decible level caused Elway plead with the officials and that just enraged the fans even more. It quite simply was an almost religious experience that I am glad I got to witness one time in my life.

To all those lost and suffering Cardinals fans I offer only this. Cherish this time and do NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY.

No matter what level of success is achieved in the future the first 2 years are always pure.

Now hoist your favorite beverage in a toast to a time when Raiders fans are scared to attend games, when the whole world knows who's house it is.

Who's house is this?

OUR HOUSE!!!!

 

[pinnacle]

I grew up in Kansas City before moving to Los Angeles...where I eventually drifted to being a Raider fan....the raiders were in LA at the time...my company had tickets..I went and eventually took over the company tickets and became a fan.....

I actually had a buddy who was a Raider fan....and we went to Missouri to go to a chiefs game (we were both from Missouri and our families lived in MO)....My buddy wore his Raider gear...I did not...

My friend never said a word or taunted another fan...but the fact that he was cheering for the Raiders and wearing black....he was constantly drenched in beer and threatened...Huge overweight guys in red overalls kept saying things like: "boy...you better get out of here before you get hurt" ..and they were serious... My buddy moved to the exit and watched the rest of the game standing..I stayed in the seat - and kept quite....Some of the beer missed and hit me......my friend was soaked with spit, beer and who knows what else...

So....we were mostly polite, did no taunting, etc......I did not see a raider fan in the place - except my buddy...

Unfortunately - most places you cannot be a fan of another team (especially a hated one like the raiders) and go into someones house and not get abused...The problem in Arizona is that the Raider fans seriously outnumber the Cardinal fans - and alot of the cardinals fans are family types who take their wife and kids..while the raiders fans appear to be fresh from prison.

 

[Duckjake]

To this day people tell stories about that game and how they couldn't hear or speak for a week. The decible level caused Elway plead with the officials and that just enraged the fans even more. It quite simply was an almost religious experience that I am glad I got to witness one time in my life.

Many of us got to experience that kind of game when the Cards played Dallas in 1997 at SDS.

That game had more of the feel of a big time college rivalry game like Texas v OU or Mich. v Ohio State than a Pro game.

One of my prized possesions is my photo of the scoreboard -- 25-22 Cards.

 

[GreenCard]

I attended a few games when the Raiders were in LA.I agree that most Raider fans are scary but what I feared most was finding my car up on blocks after the game.

 

[JeffGollin]

The annual "why can't we fill the seats" mantra.

When we start winning, we will.

 

[pinnacle]

greencard: funny you mention that..I said on a different thread that the scariest part was trying to find a parking spot on the street and hoping a) I would make it back to the car safely (i.e. not good neighborhoods) and b) my car would still be there.

On the other hand...I did not think the crowd was that scary at the games...the folks that have invaded SDS over the past few years are way worse than anything I encountered in the crowd at the Colesium...I know the Steeler fan was either beaten to death (or almost - I cannot remember) in LA....but for the most part the people in the seats around mine were ok...

 

[Gee!]

What about the Dolphin fan that was beaten to death then pee'd on by Raiser fans as he laid there dead in Oakland?

 

[Redrage]

To this day people tell stories about that game and how they couldn't hear or speak for a week. The decible level caused Elway plead with the officials and that just enraged the fans even more. It quite simply was an almost religious experience that I am glad I got to witness one time in my life.

Many of us got to experience that kind of game when the Cards played Dallas in 1997 at SDS.

That game had more of the feel of a big time college rivalry game like Texas v OU or Mich. v Ohio State than a Pro game.

One of my prized possesions is my photo of the scoreboard -- 25-22 Cards.

No doubt. I still have a copy of the following day's Az Republic. It was so hot that night and I remember seeeing the fatigue in every fan's face. Tobin had said that he could tell as soon as he walked out onto the field that the Cards fans were battling the Dallas fans for control of the stadium, and winning. True words, the air was electric, it was a night of destiny.

When the Cowboys broke huddle and lined up for their first series Michael Irving reached across the line of scrimmage and pounded fists with number 35. It was like two knights exchanging salutes before a joust.

At the end of the night Krang and I sang the Card's fight song, teary eyed as the report of fireworks announced the final outcome. As I walked at of the stadium I looked at my dad and said, "we've got a team, we've finally got a team." But, it wasn't to be as 4-12 was in the cards for that season.

 

[Sandan]

Many of us got to experience that kind of game when the Cards played Dallas in 1997 at SDS.

QUOTE]

Not to mention the loss of the goal posts after the game

Now I'm waiting for the next one, winning our first playoff game at home

 

[Sandan]

The problem in Arizona is that the Raider fans seriously outnumber the Cardinal fans - and alot of the cardinals fans are family types who take their wife and kids..while the raiders fans appear to be fresh from prison.

It's not the number of fans, there were a lot of Cardinals fans there, it was, as you the different demographics of the fans.

 

[AzCards21]

My friend never said a word or taunted another fan...but the fact that he was cheering for the Raiders and wearing black....he was constantly drenched in beer and threatened...Huge overweight guys in red overalls kept saying things like: "boy...you better get out of here before you get hurt" ..and they were serious... My buddy moved to the exit and watched the rest of the game standing..I stayed in the seat - and kept quite....Some of the beer missed and hit me......my friend was soaked with spit, beer and who knows what else...

I don't care what level of success we achieve I could never be proud of this happening to a visitor in our stadium. Spitting or throwing beer on someone just because you out number them is as childishly pathetic as the raider goons fighting in our house.

Let's just win and sell the majority of tickets to Card fans. Then the few opposing fans that come can be heckled unmercifully in a sportsman like manner and most importantly drowned out in a sea of Cardinal cheers.

Keep your spit and $8 beer to yourself and show some dignity.

It's a freakin football game. You don't get a raise if we win, you're wife doesn't get prettier, your kids don't get smarter and you don't get tougher.

It's just as easy to become the home a**hole as it is to be the visiting a**hole.

 

[bratwurst]

I don't care what level of success we achieve I could never be proud of this happening to a visitor in our stadium. Spitting or throwing beer on someone just because you out number them is as childishly pathetic as the raider goons fighting in our house.

Let's just win and sell the majority of tickets to Card fans. Then the few opposing fans that come can be heckled unmercifully in a sportsman like manner and most importantly drowned out in a sea of Cardinal cheers.

Keep your spit and $8 beer to yourself and show some dignity.

It's a freakin football game. You don't get a raise if we win, you're wife doesn't get prettier, your kids don't get smarter and you don't get tougher.

It's just as easy to become the home a**hole as it is to be the visiting a**hole.

Great post.

 

[CardLogic]

AZCards21,

 

[conraddobler]

I don't care what level of success we achieve I could never be proud of this happening to a visitor in our stadium. Spitting or throwing beer on someone just because you out number them is as childishly pathetic as the raider goons fighting in our house.

Let's just win and sell the majority of tickets to Card fans. Then the few opposing fans that come can be heckled unmercifully in a sportsman like manner and most importantly drowned out in a sea of Cardinal cheers.

Keep your spit and $8 beer to yourself and show some dignity.

It's a freakin football game. You don't get a raise if we win, you're wife doesn't get prettier, your kids don't get smarter and you don't get tougher.

It's just as easy to become the home a**hole as it is to be the visiting a**hole.

I would have to say that experience in Arrowhead would be out of the norm. I was simply speaking of making the oppossing fans insignifigant due to being outrageously out-numbered not spit upon.

 

[Second Deck]

I hate to one up you but being from KC originally I was just back from the military and a friiend called and had a ticket to the playoff game on Christmas day against Miami that went to triple overtime. It will be a game I will always remember even though the Chiefs lost. I to remember moving out here and later seeing telecast of the KC games with attendance near what the Cards have now.

I think DG will get this team on track and we will be filling the house soon and will not have to put up with 10000 Raider fans.

 

[Pariah]

What about the Dolphin fan that was beaten to death then pee'd on by Raiser fans as he laid there dead in Oakland?

I don;'t think he died. I think he was just beaten up.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don;'t think he died. I think he was just beaten up.

he might be thinking of a Steeler fan who was actually killed after a Raider game in either Los Angeles or Oakland. Don't remember where or when this was - but the guy definetly died - really screwed up.

 

[AZCardsWin]

and alot of the cardinals fans are family types who take their wife and kids..while the raiders fans appear to be fresh from prison.

It wont happen overnight, but one day the Cardinals will have that "type" of home field advantage. I will say this- im coming out to the Cardinals home opener on Sept. 19th vs. Patriots and they are expecting a crowd in the neighborhood of 60,000 with the Pat Tillman tribute, etc.
It will be a great to see the Cardinals have a 12th man advantage for that game- something I usually don't see when I have come out to Cards games in September in the past.

Go Cards/ America!
Tim