"Year of Reckoning" on front page

[BigRedRage]

I will go out on a limb and say that most people on this board will not jump off the bandwagon if we don't make the playoffs this year. Hey if we can make it through the Mac years we can survive yet another disappointing season. It's the fair weather fans that will leave by the thousands.

i dont think the bandwagon has cometo this board yet

 

[HooverDam]

"Sarver is slowly deconstructing the Suns and has priced the working man out of his arena"

Huh? Ill agree with the second part, but thats just what happens when an arena only holds 19K. But Sarver deconstructing the team? Talk about wrong. 2 trips to the WCF, both times with no bench and lots of injuries, and Amare coming back next year to boot. Its fine to pimp the Cards, but don't slam the Valleys other teams to make a point.

The fact is there is a lot of competition in the valley for the sporting dollar. Phoenix is a middle market with a big market amount of sports to choose from. Don't forget ASU football (the football team that more valley fans care about), which is probably going to be very good this year. The Suns are doing great, and the Coyotes have made some nice signings this off season.

Anyway, a good article, I don't know if it will be a year of reckoning or not (Im being realistic and hoping for 8-8 or 9-7)...but please, there is no need to bash the Valleys other teams.

 

[Duckjake]

Not to say we cn't do it, but it's not doom and gloom if we turn it around more slowly

The bashing the team would take from the media will be deafening if the team stinks it up again. Even worse than normal.

Anyway, suppose the Cardinals go 6-10 this year. There will be a lot of upset fans, but, history has shown us that if they sign a couple more free agent studs and have another solid draft, the optimisim for this team will soar and memories of the previous season's failures will fade.

The fans came out when there was a new team in town and when there was a "winner" in town. They came back slowly for the playoff team and stayed for one season, 1999.

But the false promises soured them and they didn't come out for Emmit Smith or Kurt Warner and they didn't come out for Dennis Green or for McGinnis 2002 team after the strong finish in '01 and solid start in '02.

Now they have bought in for the new stadium. There is nothing left for the Cards to offer. If they fail this year nothing short of a very strong playoff run will bring them back.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

lol pretty dirty typo in there

You know you are on that waiting list!!

 

[slanidrac16]

The difference is that in the past we would go into a season with 4 or 5 glaring needs after having addressed only 1 or 2 needs during the offseason.
I agree that the stars seem to be lined up, but keep in mind it is the current regime that has gone about their business to get things in line.
Anything can happen, both good and bad. But if all things break even I believe that most of us are expecting this team to be a WINNING team. That means win more than you lose even if it's just 9-7. If that happens we will be in the playoff hunt going into week 17.
Our fans hunger for a competitive team and I believe management has made a very good attempt to see that we are just that. That being said , they haven't done EVERYTHING possible (Ty Law), but the season hasn't started yet either.
I also think that many of us would cut this team a break if the unthinkable happens. A rash of major injuries can kill any teams season. Key players like Fitz, Boldin, Edge, Warner, Berry ,Wilson, and the likes must stay relatively healthy for us to havea winning season. But if we were to lose 3 or 4 of those players mention to season ending injuries then can we honestly blame the club for not being prepared?

 

[Bobcat]

slqanidrac16

I undestand that Ty Law really wants the big bucks. He had a great year last year, but at his age he finally might be starting on the downward sprial. Just what I heard from someone.

Bobcat

 

[Duckjake]

I also think that many of us would cut this team a break if the unthinkable happens. A rash of major injuries can kill any teams season. Key players like Fitz, Boldin, Edge, Warner, Berry ,Wilson, and the likes must stay relatively healthy for us to havea winning season. But if we were to lose 3 or 4 of those players mention to season ending injuries then can we honestly blame the club for not being prepared?

Of course the die hard fans wouldn't but you have to look past that to how the average "bandwagon" fan would react to another "same ol' Cardinals" type season in 2006. (5-11 or 6-10, 3-5 blowout losses, 2-3 grabs of defeat from the jaws of victory and losing to the worst team in the NFL.)

It's hard to predict but given the attendance pattern of the past they'd likely abandon ship.

The last thing I want to see is the new stadium filling up with opposing fans like SDS did because Cardinal fans are dumping their tix. The new stadium is going to be even more attractive to vistors looking for a chance to escape their winter and catch a little NFL football.

 

[WildBB]

http://arizonasportsfans.com/storypage.php?Story_ID=654&Category=cardinals

Quote:
Competition for the sports dollar? Very little. Jerry Colangelo and Joe Garagiola left the Diamondbacks in a shambles. Sarver is slowly deconstructing the Suns and has priced the working man out of his arena and the Coyotes are losers again

Very good read Skkorp - indeed tis the season. And you hit the nail on the head here. Although the Cards' neighbors the Coyotes are on the way up too in the valley. A very solid signing in Jovinosky but a poor decision in the Gauthier trade to the Bruins. We'll see how it shakes out.

Couldn't agree more about the Suns - priced way out of control for the product for working stiffs and families.