DRESSED TO THE NINES

When I went to the Cardinals/Vikings game on Sunday night December 6, I saw some weirdly dressed fans. I guess if you're stuck with purple and yellow for team colors, you're starting at a disadvantage anyhow. One Viking fan carried a huge horn that he blew while walking around the concourse.

After they took a 7-0 lead, I'm sure he tooted it loudly. But for the rest of the game, he was stuck with holding a big silent horn in the Cardinal rout.

All over the NFL and college football and basketball games, fans dress up. The adult, or at least adult-aged man with painted Buffalo Bills face and horns, is a prime example.

Those of you who remember our son in high school in the Chaos Corner of Changnon Gym know I have experience with fans dressing up to support their team. Wearing boxing gloves and sporting a blond fuzzy wig was one of the garbs I particularly recall with some fondness. But remember, he and the college fans were young.

I'm addressing middle and older fans. The Redskins (how in the pc world do they get by with that name) fans still embrace their offensive line--The Hogs--by wearing pig snouts, crazy women hats, and dresses when they go to their games in Hanover, Maryland. And the New York Jets play their home games in New Jersey. There are a lot of things about the NFL that I don't get. Oh yeah, and the Arizona Cardinals play in Glendale, AZ, but the name of their stadium is the University of Phoenix Stadium. I don't know.

I've attended a lot of NFL games in 5 different stadiums. The standard attire for me is a jersey and shorts or blue jeans. I've waved a few towels or flags when they gave them away at the door, but that's it for me. Well, except for coming home with a hoarse voice or not at all.

I know; I'm missing out. But I'd rather yell than dress up anyday.