I TOOK THE HAND OFF AND IT HAPPENED

I doubted it could ever happen. But it has.

At one time, I wanted the St. Louis Football Cardinals to leave the city. I had supported and followed them for years. Even as a little guy I liked the Chicago Cardinals. After the 1987 season when owner Bidwell decided to move the franchise to Arizona, I was actually glad.

Not that I had an inkling that I would someday make that location my home. I was just tired of poor football.

I didn't realize how long it would be before pro football returned to the Gateway City. But it really didn't matter to me, because no team was better than having the Cardinals.

And where am I today when the Cardinals play the St. Louis Rams? You guessed it--a Cardinal fan once again.

Lots of things caused that change. There's lots of guilt, too, about dissing my adopted pro team the Rams. I cheer for them every other Sunday, but no more are they numero uno.

I really like the AZ team and coach. Had Kurt Warner remained a Ram, I'm sure I wouldn't have change allegiance. You see, he is my favorite athlete all-time. And that is really saying something. But his story, his courage, his ability, his faith are all so admirable to me.

He's the one I took the hand off from and changed to be, yet once again, a fan of the Football Cardinals. How long it will last, I really don't know. As a fan, I have a right to be fickle. So at kick off today, I'll be in front of the tv rooting for the Big Red, as we used to call them. But I still hope it's a really close game.