You were not into the NFL growing up?
Yes and no.
In the late 70's and early 80's I was more into T-ball, Little League, Disneyland/Knott's Berry Farm, and, of course, Star Wars than the NFL.
I'd pull for one team over another but mostly followed individual players and collected trading cards.
Once we moved to Arizona I'd go see the Sun Devils and the Wranglers play at SDS, so I knew I loved football. Regularly went to the Fiesta Bowl. Went to the 1987 Rose Bowl between ASU and Michigan and the 1987 Fiesta Bowl between Miami and Penn St. (1st ever college championship game) - on the very next night.
The Cardinals moved here at just the right time. I had gone to the preseason NFL game the season before (between the Broncos and Packers) and gotten a taste for live action NFL games. Made the decision to go to all of the Cards games as soon as they announced they were coming to town. Have made it to all of their games (minus two preseason games) since then (and with my wife since 1993).
- Other old AZ sports memories: Went to a ton of Spring Training games and was a regular at Phoenix Giants games - which included chasing foul balls and trying to get to them before they bounced over into Legend City. Went to the Madhouse on McDowell to see NBA games with my dad or uncles.