Here's to Good Health!

So the regular season is almost upon us. Unlike previous years, the Cardinals have done what they needed to do to minimize preseason injuries. No team comes out unscathed, and the questions about Karlos Dansby and Oliver Ross will continue, but compared to previous years, this team has reason to be happy.

I spent last week in Las Vegas for a pool tournament (we came in 129th place...woo hoo!), and I put a small amount down on the Cards to beat the Bears. Of course, once the game was over, I wished I had put down more and that I had taken odds to play a straight up win. Well, bets are easier to place once the results are in, and it was a preseason game.

One more week until the regular season begins. The five months of Christmas are only eight days away!

Mike is SO Right

I went to the stadium tour on the 19th as well (have been away from my computer for a week and was unable to post).

After going to some trouble to get tickets, park, walk to the stadium and enter, I come to find out it's no different from being there on game day. I expected a view of the lofts, maybe a guide to tell us what we may not have already known, but no, it was a walk around the stadium. Thanks, guys, but maybe I'll do that while the Black Eyed Peas are busy singing "My Humps."

Game One is in the Books

So, August 12th represented the opening of the stadium. You probably need to be deaf and blind not to know about this, but I don't care. What a great day!

The team warned all of us to arrive early since traffic questions would remain well after the game had ended, so we decided to leave two hours before kickoff. As we headed south on Loop 101, we found traffic backing up just after Cactus. We held out but finally bailed at Olive to attempt a 91st Avenue approach.

It did no good. 91st Avenue was awful as well. With the lot between Glendale and Northern feeding shuttle buses, it remained frustrating, but by 11:45, we were in our parking place. A note to the planners here: if it takes two minutes for the next car to arrive in the lot, you're probably doing something wrong.

The building was amazing, but I suspect any reader has already heard much about that. I've seen some amazing shots of the field sized flag rolled out at the national anthem, but this represents the flag as I saw it. I love the angle I have with the field.

As the game began, the defense did its part and prevented (along with an errant field goal attempt: must have been the wind) any scoring on Pittsburgh's part. That was followed by a drive down the field using the pass (the run game still needs work) culminating in a touchdown catch by former first rounder, Bryant Johnson. That's right, it wasn't Q or Fitz, it was BJ. What a year we're going to have.

Since I wanted to enjoy the game, I didn't have my camera at the ready all game long, but I did get a decent shot of the defense stuffing a run in the second half. Note how far behind the line the runner is as he's being thrown to the ground.

I know it's only preseason, but this season will be special.

I know it's all in my head, but...

Suddenly, I'm worried about the Matt Leinart negotiations. People who may or may not know what they're talking about have started saying that it's going very badly at the moment. But the thing is, if he doesn't sign with Arizona this year, his value next year is likely to be lower than this year (which was lower than the previous year) combined with the fact that he'd have to wait another year for that payday.

It'll be interesting to see who blinks, but I sure would like my anxiety to just end.