Desert Hospitality: A Recap of My Trip to Phoenix

So if you've been reading along, you'll remember the Cardinals sending an incredible response to my letter.  One of the things they included was an invite to their game against the St. Louis Rams on December 27.  Considering this was the only offer of this sort that we got and because they sent such a great response over all, I decided I had to make the trip.  So I booked the plane tickets and my Dad and I planned to head over to the desert bright and early the morning after Christmas.  Here's a run-down of what went down:

So after waking up about 4 a.m. to catch a 6:30 flight, overcoming some delays and sprinting through the Houston airport to catch a connecting flight, we finally made it to Phoenix.  Included in our invite was a private tour of the stadium on Saturday, which I must say is an incredible facility. We met up with our tour guides (the author of the unbelievable response letter and another Cardinals employee) outside the stadium and they immediately took us inside.  We started at the bottom and worked our way up, which meant heading to the field.  Now, first of all if you know nothing about their stadium, read up on it.  It not only has a retractable roof, but also a retractable field, which is insane. The field is real, beautiful grass, which is rolled outside on a rail system during the week to grow.  It's truly unbelievable. 

The field had just been painted, but the guy who had just finished painting happened to be on the field and laid down a towel walkway so we could actually go out to midfield.  I do need to note that right about this time, some fans getting a regular stadium tour came through in their group.  Unfortunately for them, the regular stadium tour doesn't take you out on the field, so I was beginning to feel like a V.I.P. at this point. 

The stadium tour continued, as we headed up to the press box, the club level, the Red Zone (their indoor tailgating area) and every other corner of the facility (other than the team locker room, which had been prepped for gameday by this point and was understandably off limits).  As we're on the tour, our guides pointed to the scoreboards and ribbon boards. which now read "The Arizona Cardinals Welcome Jason Spires" which was a pretty sweet touch.  These guys clearly knew how to woo a potential fan.

We wrapped up the stadium tour, and our host even gave us a little more swag.  He gave me a Cardinals bag that had a Cardinals T-shirt, a Cardinals camera, 2 NFC Champion souvenir cups, a car flag, and of course our game tickets and parking passes for Sunday.  These guys are good...

So we left the stadium, then drove over to check out the Dodgers new spring training facility (which was locked up) and then took in both of our first NHL game (Phoenix Coyotes vs. L.A. Kings).  It was even Coyotes Blanket night (no, it wasn't made out of real coyote) so we felt pretty good about that decision as well.

Onto Gameday.  Our first stop on Gameday was the Great Lawn, which is a tailgating area outside the stadium.  There was some pretty intense tailgating going on with a bunch of shiny, new grills which were clearly Christmas presents.  All kinds of tailgating going on out there with a diverse crowd.  It's a little smaller scale than you'll find at an SEC venue, but it was a cool tradition for the Cardinals fans and a nice personal touch for the stadium atmosphere. 

We then headed inside to look around, find our seats, and watch some warmups.  We had great seats on the lower level just above the Cardinals tunnel.  We watched warmups for about 30 minutes, then got ready for the game to begin. 

During the game we had a couple other surprises in store, including a personal visit from "Big Red" (shown with my Dad on the right) as well as the jumbo-tron camera man.  Between Big Red coming right to our seats to find us and the jumbo-tron guy crouching right in front of us and zooming directly in on my Dad and myself (though we were doing nothing too jumbo-tron worthy) I began to suspect that our hosts had sent these guys our way, which was a pretty cool touch.  Of course, they denied but said "somoene must have wanted to see how you'd look as a Cardinals fan."  I'm telling you, they're good.

The Cardinals basically dominated, with a 31-10 victory over the lowly Rams, and a good time was had by all.  It was my first live NFL game, and I had a great time.  This recap doesn't do justice to how incredible the stadium was or how impressive our hosts were in their persuasion techniques, but it was a great weekend and an awesome trip.  It was my first trip to Phoenix, and I've got to say it's a city I wouldn't mind visiting more often.  It's clean, it's beautiful, and the weather is great. 

So did the Cardinals put themselves way out front with this?  Well, it definitely didn't hurt.  At some point in this search, maybe you just have to ask "which team showed they wanted me as a fan?" and if that's the question, there's no doubt who leads the way in that category.  The Cardinals have put on the full-court press like no other team (and more than I expected from any team) and have made this whole search a lot more fun.  Thanks to our hosts and to the Cardinals for an awesome weekend. 

Back From The Desert...

Had an awesome weekend after taking the Cardinals up on their offer to visit. I'll be posting a recap and some pictures later on tonight/tomorrow. Here's a little teaser, in the form of a cell-phone picture (the other pictures should be of better quality)...

Head West Young Man...

Hope everyone has had a Merry Christmas. As you've surely noticed, not a lot of updates this week between holiday traveling and being under the weather the last couple of days, but it's a big weekend for SWF. This is the weekend I head to Arizona to take the Cardinals up on their offer to attend their game on Sunday vs. the St. Louis Rams. They're the only team to make such an offer and I'm looking forward to the trip. Will definitely have a recap next week and will give some Twitter updates over the weekend (www.twitter.com/singlewhitefan).

We've also got to shed some teams next week as we head into the playoffs. It's time to get down to the nitty-gritty.

4 More Shown The Door

As promised, this week I'm cutting 4 teams (to make up for missing a couple along they way). There may be more and more cuts as we go here, as time is closing in on the end of the season. So here is this team's Bottom 10, of which only 6 teams will be safe:

Baltimore Ravens - 50
New York Jets - 44
Chicago Bears - 44
Buffalo Bills - 44
Indianapolis Colts - 43
Kansas City Chiefs - 43
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 40
San Diego Chargers - 38
Houston Texans - 35
Minnesota Vikings - 35

So who is gone?

Houston Texans - One of the tougher calls yet. The Texans seem like a logical pick. Here is a fan looking for his first NFL team, and here is the newest, somewhat up and coming NFL team. While no one would make the mistake of accusing that as a "bandwagon" pick, there's just a little too much unknown. In the hood, we call this a small sample size. Do I want to hang my next 70 years on a team that's only been around for 7? Is that really enough time to develop a team's identity? I just can't pull the trigger here...

Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings have a lot going for them, one of the best young running backs in the NFL, a competitive (but not overly dominant) history, and as a Laker fan I have no qualms with wearing the color purple. Here's my hang-up on the Vikings - they play in one of hte coldest climates in the NFL, but give all that up to play in a Dome? I realize I am from Alabama, so I have no idea about how cold these winters are, but isn't that a huge home field advantage? Then there's the question of will they get a new stadium or will the look to relocate? I'm going to let them work that one out themselves...

Chicago Bears - Chicago fans are passionate, I'll give you that. They're also a touch angry from time to time. Don't get me wrong, they're not Philadelphia, but those Chicago winters have made them a tough crowd to please. I kind of look at Chicago in the same light as I did New York with the Giants. That's a big city with a big personality to attach myself to if I'm not just passionate about the team. Right now, I can't say I've got that fire for the Bears. Don't hate'em, don't love'em. Chicago is a great city to visit, but I need a little more than apathy if I'm going to jump on board with their team.

New York Jets - Sorry Broadway Joe. I think that autographed picture will be the only piece of Jets memorabilia I own for a while. The Jets are a historically tortured fanbase, mostly having their hearts broken over the years and struggling to overcome being the second fiddle in the Big Apple. I have a ton of respect for Jets fans, I really do. They sit out in the cold winters to watch a team that almost always breaks their hearts. Still, I don't know if I want to sign up for a big-time city with a big-time fanbase with a big-time personality if I'm mainly signing up to be heartbroken. I can handle it from time to time, but I need a a little bit to keep me attached. Keep fighting the good fight, Jets fans. I just won't be joining you.

Sombreros and Sporanos - Week 13 (And 14) Roundup

Among other things, I missed last week's weekly roundup, so this week will cover Weeks 13 and 14. What was noteworthy? What was memorable? What was embarrassing?

Weeks 13 and 14

+1 Tennessee Titans via Chris Johnson - Just because.  Is there a more fun running back to watch in the NFL?

-1 Arizona Cardins via 7 Turnovers - When you've got a chance to clinch your division, you might want to try to hang onto the ball occasionally.  That's 7 drives which had no chance for points because they handed the ball over early instead.


+1 Miami Dolphins via Talkin Bout the Playoffs- A win over the Pats followed up by a road win at Jacksonville has the Dolphins creeping up on the Pats in the AFC East.  A little less Wildcat, a little more passing, and a little more winning.

-2 Pittsburgh Steelers via Hell Unleashed - I don't think back to back losses to the 2 biggest train wrecks in the NFL is what Mike Tomlin had in mind...

+1 Cincinnati Bengals via OchoCinco - If Ocho's getting fined for celebrations, it's a good week for the Bengals. 

-1 Jacksonville Jaguars via When Things Just Aren't Going Your Way - So the Jags have a great idea...you want to increase fan interest? Let's try some crazy mascot stunts. Great idea, until...

Small Towners, South Beachers, and City Slickers- Fanbases of the AFC East

If there was ever a grab-bag of fan-bases in a division, this is it. From the beach-bums of South Beach to the small-town Buffalo fans, not to mention Bostonians and New Yorkers, quite an eclectic group of individuals.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills - The Bills are cut from the same small-town mold as the Packers, but the fanbase hasn't seen the same growth. While Bills fans could do a better job of filling the stadium from time to time, you can alwyays count on them to fill the parking lots for the most legendary tailgating in the league. The Bills fans take real pride in their small-market team (as I've seen through some passionate emails) and despite the team's lack of success historically, the fanbase has remained loyal, passionate and optimistic. A fanbase that takes the
kind of pride in their team that Bills fans do is impressive, especially considering the teams on-field performance hasn't been worthy of this level of support.

12/15

Miami Dolphins - Forgive the Dolphins fans if they decide to spend a little more time on South Beach during the down years than at the games. I suppose it is a little more understandable in Miami. The Dolphins seem to have more passionate fans outside of Miami, bit the local fans just don't seem to live and die by the franchise. Some stadium renovations, an exciting new offense, and a push from local celebs like D-Wade, the Williams sisters, and Marc Anthony have started to make the Dolphins games hip and trendy again, but isn't that kind of the problem?

7/15

New England Patriots- ELIMINATED - Pats fans pack the stadium consistently and have done a decent job of following their team on the road during the last decade. But, Boston belongs to the Red Sox and the Celtics when they are winning, and a look at the pre-Brady era numbers prove it. It will be interesting to see if the Pats fans stay as passionately on board when things start to go in the other direction one day. If they do, they'll hold a place among the NFKL's elite fans. Until then, questions remain.

8/15

New York Jets - The Jets fans are a little rowdier, a little more tortured, and a little more rabid than the Giants fans. Historically the "little brother" franchise in the city, they've been the more vocal group since Joe Willie's arrival. You just get the sense that they take the losses a little harder than the other New York fans, perhaps because they haven't spent as much time on top of the mountain, but you have to respect the fans that wear it on their sleeve.

11/15

Who You Callin' Fairweather? - Fanbases of the NFC East

Some legendary fanbases in this division, including the most violent...

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys - ELIMINATED -We get it, they're America's team, so naturally their fanbase is scattered from coast to coast in almost every city. While the term "bandwagon" gets thrown at them from time
to time, I think they're mostly safe from this label after the team's lack of success since the 90's. Still, while they compare favorably in size to any others, their fans just don't seem to register quite the level of passion of the Steelers, Packers, or some of their division mates.

10/15

New York Giants - ELIMINATED - They don't have the catchy cheers of their stadium-mates and lack a little of the Jets fans' fire, but they're a solid consistent fanbase who show up no matter what. I'd just like to see a little more fire in their belly.

8/15

Philadelphia Eagles - ELIMINATED - Eagles fans are nothing if not
passionate. They're also a loyal bunch, but that doesn't mean they're easy on their own. No other fanbase is quite as vocal when things don't go their way, but at least they don't disappear. If you can handle the random brawls, flying snowballs, and a little verbal abuse, it's definitely your kind of crowd. But, as I've said, they're a little violent for my undersized taste. Since this is about how I fit in, I've got to ding them a little...

9/15

Washington Redskins - in a division full of legendary fanbases, the Skins fans sometimes get overlooked. No they're not as rowdy as the Eagles fans and maybe their fanbase isn't the size of the Cowboys',
but in terms of loyalty, team pride, and support, they're top-notch.  Despite being a disaster as a franchise in recent years, the season ticket waiting list has remained incredibly long. The fans also pack up and travel as well as just about anyone. This is a fanbase that doesn't get the recognition it deserves nationally.

13/15

Hot-Blooded - Fanbases of the NFC North

So apologies are in order for the lack of updates here as of late, but things are back on track. Prepare for them to come fast and furious over the next couple of weeks, as well as some extra cuts to get the numbers narrowed down soon. In the meantime, it's time to ranks the fanbases in the coldest division in football. If these fans can keep their fire throughout these winters, they're fine by me...

NFC North

Chicago Bears - Da Bears' fans can be a tough crowd (for better or worse). They're loud, they're passionate, and won't let a little bad weather turn them away. Whether they're cheering in the good years or booing in the bad, they show up, which is saying something in a Chicago winter. Their also the only NFL fanbase to be immortalized by a SNL skit, which has to count for something.

12/15

Detroit Lions - ELIMINATED - They should probably fall in the "Do you really blame them?" category, but their most passionate moment in the last decade may have been their unison stand against Matt Millen.

3/15

Green Bay Packers - Does this one really need a write-up? A season-ticket waiting list longer than most phone books. Those fans also happen to be the teams' owners. The most unique fan situation in all of sports. So is there a downside? Well, Lambeau tickets aren't the easiest to score (at least not for cheap), but the biggest question is this: am I a second rate fan if I'm not also a shareholder? I suppose I could always lie...

14/15

Minnesota Vikings - If they still sat outside throughout the Minnesota winters to cheer on their team, I'd be inclined to score this one a little higher. They've gotten a little pampered by their done, but then again, I live in Alabama so what do I know about cold winters? They're passion wanes a little in the rough years, but the Dome gets loud when the team is winning. I guess you could say the current fans are a little "fair-weather" in a couple of ways

7/15

This Message Will Self-Destruct...

The latest response comes from the Indianapolis Colts, and this one is a little peculiar.  Sure, they included a couple items, but the focal point was a note asking me to send them a self-addressed enveloped with pre-paid postage.  The full contents were:

• Colts Pocket Schedule
• Colts "Trophy Tour" card with "Trophy Facts"
• NFL Ticket Exchange Membership Card/Keychain Cards
• Note asking me to send a self-addressed 9x12 envelope with $1.40 postage..

So now the question remains, what comes back in that envelope? A generic, pre-packaged fan pack?  Some autographed pictures?  Game Tickets?  Locks of Peyton Manning's hair?  I have my suspicion, but I suppose I'll have to find out.

So I send them a letter, they then send me one back saying  to write them again?  It's sort of like an pre-Alexander Graham Bell version of phone tag, and I suppose I'm "it". 

So About Those Eliminations...

Sorry guys but this week's cuts are going to have to be delayed until probably Monday. I've had a few things pop up this week and I'm actually heading to Charlotte to run in a marathon this weekend, so I'm a little out of pocket. I promise a return to regular programming next week, and we'll cut these cuts in as well. In the meantime, enjoy this email from a die-hard Chiefs fan who passionately states the case for the Red Sea at Arrowhead.

Listen, I can see the Chiefs are dangerously low in your bottom ten, and I'm afraid they're going to sink even lower based on some of the other categories (except for uniforms/ team colors, unless you're blind), plus the current product is unfortunate. Please, give them a chance. I am worried you may be dropping them soon... But trust me, the Chiefs are for you.


Kansas City is perhaps the most underrated team, with the most underrated fans in the league, due to their lack of sustained success. Chiefs fans are incredible. The city is in love with their team, and they show up in droves every weekend, even during this miserable span we've had. If tailgating is your thing, KC is unsurpassed. The parking lot at Arrowhead is ENORMOUS, and fans swarm it every Sunday with their grills making the greatest Kansas City barbecue you will find. I know you're a pretty big college football fan, and the Chiefs have the closest to a college atmosphere you will find. They are simply in love with the team and nothing will ever change that. The fans have that good midwestern friendliness and a lovingly optimistic view of the team and the future. It's not that we will settle for the continued bad performance, it's just that there is plenty of news that gives a positive outlook. Arrowhead is the loudest outdoor stadium in the NFL, and the loyal fans will cheer until their lungs bleed every game, every down. It's an unbelievable experience.


Kansas City is a growing town. They just built a new convention center/ arena that is attracting a lot of great concerts. Of course there is the obvious barbecue. Also, Lawrence is right down the road if you want to check out a KU football or basketball game during the weekend you're in town for the Chiefs, and neither will disappoint. And if you really want to, you can check out the Royals in September... At least you can see Zack Greinke pitch.


The Chiefs are down right now. That is unquestionable. But we are young, and this is a major transition time for us. We've got a new quarterback, Matt Cassell, that is going to have a good career. We have some exciting running backs, Larry Johnson and Jamaal Charles. And of course Dwayne Bowe. Defensively we have some very young players that are still learning the game, but some standouts like Tamba Hali, and our two corners Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr. But they are all very, very young, and can only improve. The problem with this team right now is the complete lack of offensive line. Cassell and company have not turned any heads yet for that exact reason. You can't be any good if there's nobody to block for you. Just look at David Carr. His career was defined by terrible protection. Trust me, Pioli and his lackeys are going to fix this problem. That's the other thing. We have brought in people that have proven themselves in other franchises. Pioli from New England, Todd Haley from Arizona. The jury is still out on them, but it hasn't even been a full season of their gaming philosophy, and they are completely overhauling this team. We expect great things, and we demand great things, but we are willing to be patient because we are Kansas City Chiefs fans and we love our team more than anything, and if these years of futility will lead to a championship, we will roll with the punches. That's just how we work.


Besides, perhaps the most beloved player in our history, Derrick Thomas, was an Alabama guy! What more could you want?


Come bleed Red and Gold with us. We would love to have you. And why not realize this now, rather than later when you show up to Arrowhead Stadium to root for whatever team you choose, feel the incredible atmosphere, and regret not being a Chiefs fan for life?


Best wishes,
Brendan

Patiently Waiting - Fanbases of the AFC North

The fanbase analysis continues with the AFC North. This one features two of the more patient fanbases in Baltimore and Cleveland, both of whom waited for years for football to return to their city without selling their allegiance to any neighboring teams. A division full of medium-sized cities, meaning the fans tend to latch onto their own team (or some other team in their city in the Bengals' case).

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens - I've got to confess that I became a little partial to the Baltimore fans after watching ESPN's "The Band That Wouldn't Die". No city had its team more sinisterly ripped from its grasp than Baltimore. Rather than start their own team searches, a good bit of the city waited...and waited...and waited. After finally seeing football return, the fans have been loyal, even adding in a new wave of Ravens fans who weren't around for the Colts days. They're overshadowed in the region by the Redskins, but the smaller fan base has plenty of passion (after all, it had a while to build up)

12/15

Cincinnati Bengals - Unfortunately for the Bengals, Cincinnati belongs to the Reds. The Bengals fans aren't bad. They have a decent attendance record (though OchoCinco had to personally bail them out of a blackout earlier in the season) but you don't get the feel that the fan-base is "all in" with the Bengals. Most of their fans seem to spend more time discussing how cursed they are than actually cheering.

5/15

Cleveland Browns - No fans have supported a worse team more consistently the the Browns. It's not easy to show up to the stadium dressed like a dog while your team spends more time playing dead. Still, the fans are passionate, faithful, and rowdy.  Like Baltimore, they patiently waited after their team was stolen from them.  They have had to scramble to avoid some black outs this year, but can you blame them?  The fact that they've gotten anyone there this year to watch that train wreck is impressive.

12/15

Pittsburgh Steelers - With all due respect to the Pirates, the Steelers are Pittsburgh. The Steelers' fanbase is one of the largest in the NFL. They're known to overtake stadiums when they're the visiting team and have sold out their own stadium for decades. Is there a little bit of bandwagon fringe in the Black and Gold? Sure, but that's going to happen anytime a team is winning.  Outside of those bandwagoners, it's tough to find fault with such a rabid, passionate fan-base.  Even the towels are working for them...

14/15

At'll Do Pig...

And it's cut-time. This is one of those "skewed" weeks where only half the teams have been scored in the current category (Fanbase) so things are a little off. Therefore some of the teams in the Bottom 10 are a victim of timing, but that's part of the process. We skipped cuts last week which had me debating whether to cut 4 instead of 2 this week, but with the skewed standings in mind, I think that's better saved for a week when all teams have been scored equally. Therefore, we're sticking with 2 this week. Who's out? Well first, your Bottom 10...


Tampa Bay Buccaneers (40)
San Diego Chargers (38)
Washington Redskins (36)
Houston Texans (35)
New York Giants (33)
New York Jets (33)
Baltimore Ravens (33)
Dallas Cowboys (32)
Chicago Bears (32)
Buffalo Bills (32)
Minnesota Vikings (28)

Honestly, these cuts are really starting to get tough. I think all of the "gimme" cuts have been taken and I'm down to teams who could put forth a strong case. So I'm really going to have to just go with the gut this week. So onto the cuts...

Dallas Cowboys - That's right, America's team. Sure, they're a great franchise with tons of history and a ridiculous stadium. They provide greats reasons for a fan to pick them as their team. They also provide plenty of reasons for someone to hate them. They're just too polarizing. Ask an NFL fan how they feel about the Cowboys and you get one of two reactions, love or hate. I can't pick that team. It's not that I'm afraid of being hated, I just don't love them enough to justify it. In fact, before I took on this "non-prejudiced" approach, I would have probably fallen on the other side. I'm yet to find a good enough reason to jump in with the largest fanbase in the NFL and defend the Cowboys against the hatred of the rest of the league. If I'm going to bear that kind of burden, I have to feel some conviction. Sorry Dallas, it's just not there.

New York Giants - I don't have great reasons for this one, other than I just don't have great reasons to keep them around either. Like the Cowboys, a great tradition, a good team overall, but do I really need to pick a team from New York for which I have no real emotions either way? I'm going to need a little more to hook me in other than an excuse to visit the Big Apple.

Fanbases of the AFC West

Staying out West as we look at the fanbases of the AFC. Keep in mind, I'm not necessarily ranking how "good" a fanbase is (though that is part of what you want in your fellow fans), but whether it's one I want to be aligned with. You can be the best fanbase in the world, but if I'm completely terrified of you then maybe I should look elsewhere...

AFC West

Denver Broncos - I want to give Denver fans credit for their long streak of consecutive sellouts. I want to give Denver fans credit for their passion and hatred for their rivals. I want to give Denver fans credit for being the exception to the rule out West, passionate fans who brave freezing weather to watch their team even in the lean years. All of these things are true, but I have one image of Denver right now and that is the MNF game against the Steelers where Steelers fans turned it into Heinz Field West. I suppose these things happen from time to time and Denver fans have proven their worth for years now, so we can let the Pittsburgh game slide. Broncos fans are at their best when the Raiders and Chargers come to town and the hatred begins to flow. Definitely the most passionate team in the Mountain Time Zone.

12/15

Kansas City Chiefs - The trend among most teams is that once the team has built a consistent winner, the fan-base comes together. The Chiefs are the exception to this rule. A team in a small market without much success in the modern era, the Chiefs fanbase is among the elite. The tailgating at Arrowhead is the stuff of legends and they turn the stadium into one of the loudest NFL venues, even when the team is at the bottom of the standings. To me, they're the St. Louis Cardinals fans of the NFL without the rich history of winning (and yes that is a compliment). Good luck finding a more optimistic, loyal, and passionate fan-base than Kansas City.

14/15

Oakland Raiders - ELIMINATED- The scariest fans in the NFL bar-none. The Black Hole not only makes Oakland intimidating, it also travels. Quite frankly, I'm terrified of these guys and would never fit in, but they're fun to look at. I can't say I blame the fans for failing to show up over the last couple of years, but blackouts are never good things. In their defense, the organization is a complete train-wreck with no sense of direction, so I do understand. Still, as unique as these fans are, I'm a little too scared of these guys to see myself as a part of them. 

10/15

San Diego Chargers - With no team in L.A., the Chargers have become the poster-boys for the "stereotypical West Coast fans". The attendance numbers have improved in recent years (probably a function of wins on the field). They've fought off blackouts in the last couple of years, but maybe they should get some slack since it's one of the few NFL cities where fans can go to the beach in December instead of a football game.

6/15

Next up, the BOTTOM 10.....

The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful - Fanbases of the NFC West

West Coast fans get stereotyped as carefree, not all that passionate, and a bit fair-weather. Sometimes, the shoe fits. Other times, it's guilt by association.  Geographic location doesn't necessarily determine a fan's passion, maybe it's just easier to find other alternatives to bad football when it's 70 degrees in December.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals - Times were tough for Cardinals fans up until the last couple of years. In its first couple of decades in the desert, the team was bad and the fans were few. After unveiling University of Phoenix Stadium and an improvement on the field, the attendance numbers shot up, but the team still needed an NFL extension to avoid a blackout for its first home playoff game almost 50 years last season. Granted, it usually takes some winning to build a firm, consistent fan base, but Phoenix fans seem to lack the passion that you'd expect from a team that just made its first Super Bowl

4/15

San Francisco 49'ers - San Francisco fans had a lot to cheer for in the 80's and early 90's, but not much since then. Still they've continued to fill Candlestick (which I've heard is no tourist attraction in itself). While I don't see eye-to-eye with San Fran fans on the baseball side of things, I do have to give them credit for their loyalty and passion, and that carries over for the NFL team as well. They haven't had much to cheer for lately, but they're still on board.

11/15

Seattle Seahawks - ELIMINATED - Giving credit where it's due, the 12th man is loud and loyal. They've sold out games for years and their season ticket waiting list is expansive. The fans have a "chip on their shoulder" mentality as they feel that they've been ignored by the NFL's media for years, which has some truth to it. You don't find a lot of Seahawks fans outside of the Northwest (other than when Alabama fans adopted the team during the Shaun Alexander years) but the Seattle natives are fine with that.  Just do them a favor, don't lump them in with the "laid-back" West coast fans.

13/15

St. Louis Rams - ELIMINATED - St. Louis is a baseball town. Their #1 allegiance is to the St. Louis Cardinals and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better MLB fanbase. As for football? Not so much. The fans got on board during the "Greatest Show On Turf" but have lost interest as the team has struggled. Blackouts are never a good thing, and the Rams have had their share in recent years.

3/15

Thanks For Nothing - Week 12 Roundup

The schedule was a little off this week as we had 3 Thursday games (if you want to call them that) on Thanksgiving, making for a short slate on Sunday. The game-selection was nothing to plan a wedding around (because you shouldn't be getting married in the fall anyway) but there were some points-worthy performances...

Week 12

-1 New York Jets via Sliding Lessons - Are you kidding me? Do you really need to get the manager of the New York Yankees to teach your QB how to slide? Thousands of little league coaches are able to teach this to 7 year olds on a weekly basis. I don't think we had to consult Joe Girardi here...

-1 Houston Texans via Blowing It...Again... - Jumping out 17-0 lead, Texans fans had to be thinking, "sure, the Colts are 14-1 all-time against us, but this is our day." Wrong...

+1 New Orleans Saints via More Domination - It was almost scary how easy the Saints made it look this week. Reminds me of me in my prime on the Madden sticks...

+2 Tennessee Titans via The Drive - The Matt Leinart/Rose Bowl jokes have all been made, but seriously, you know his heart sank a little when the realization hit him that his first NFL win in the last two years was contingent on his defense stopping Vince Young. The drive itself was pretty incredible, coming down to a 4th and goal TD. Still, Jeff Fisher better hope this isn't too little too late this season or he's going to have to answer why Vince Young sat on the bench while the Titans offense couldn't score in its first 6 games.

-2 Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, and New York Giants for ruining Thanksgiving - The pathetic efforts of these 3 teams made football almost unwatchable on Thanksgiving, which should really be punishable within the legal system of this country.

Call Us When You're Winning - Fanbases of the NFC South

Well, we're down to just 1 team in the NFC South, so there's really no point to go TOO in depth here.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons - ELIMINATED - In the Dirty Bird and Mike Vick eras (as well as this season), the Falcons fans have shown up and turned the Georgia Dome into a loud, intimidating place to play. When things turn for the worse, the fans seem to have a tougher time getting to the games. This isn't a problem unique to the Falcons, just ask the Atlanta Hawks (and even the Braves to a lesser extent). There's no real loyalty for the Falcons from most of the residents of the ATL and the fans tend to follow the success of the team rather than contribute to it.

2/15

Carolina Panthers - ELIMINATED - While the Jags and Panthers are linked in many ways, the Panthers have undoubtedly established the better fan-base to this point. They sell-out virtually every game and Charlotte has really embraced them as the only pro-team in the Carolinas (unless you count the Bobcats). Still, the fans haven't turned the stadium into anything intimidating and the fans really haven't established any kind of identity to this point. Just a little too "we're just happy to be here" feel to them.

5/15

New Orleans Saints - ELIMINATED - When looking at the Saints fans, you almost have to evaluate them as pre and post-Katrina. Before the Hurricane, attendance was terrible, there were rumors the team would be heading to San Antonio, and the few fans that were in attendance had paper bags on their heads. After the team returned to New Orleans, the Saints became where the city put a lot of their pride and the Superdome turned into possibly the loudest stadium in the NFL. Will the energy be there 10 years from now if the team slips into mediocrity? Tough to say, but right now it's like Mardi Gras every Sunday in the Dome.

12/15

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - As it usually goes, the fans were as few and far between as the wins were in the early years of the franchise, but that started to turn when the Glazer family took over. All it took was a stadium that looks like a pirate ship, a change in colors, and eventually, a Super Bowl winner. The numbers are down again in recent years, as are wins, and the intimidation of the Raymond-James cannons is not what it once was. Still, their success in the early 2000's did help establish somewhat of a committed fan-base, though it's not all that sizable.

7/15