Read an Excerpt

100 Things Cardinals Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die

Triumph Books LLC

1. Pat Tillman

On that spring day in 2002, Cardinals safety Pat Tillman walked into coach Dave McGinnis' office and informed McGinnis that he intended to be an ex-safety and an ex-Cardinal. "I'm joining the Army," Tillman told McGinnis.

McGinnis smiled, but he knew it was no joke. Tillman wasn't the type of player to visit Coach Mac's office. And McGinnis knew that once Tillman made up his mind about something, there was no reversing the decision. "You know there's going to a media shitstorm," McGinnis told Tillman. "How are you going to handle that?"

"I'm not," Tillman replied. "You are."

So McGinnis did. Three beat writers were summoned to a small room at the team complex. McGinnis met them and broke the news in six words. "Pat Tillman is joining the Army," he said.

In retrospect Tillman's decision to leave behind an NFL career to join the Army in the spring of 2002 should not have surprised us. He loved football, but Tillman's interests were varied. He loved reading, discussing social issues, traveling, and taking on new challenges.

In his rookie season with the Cardinals, he rode a bike to work on many days. During one offseason he ran a full marathon just to see what it was like. He completed a triathlon the next year. "This is very serious with Pat," McGinnis told us in 2002. "It's not just a snap decision. You're not dealing with a guy who's real shallow. You're dealing with a guy whose waters run pretty deep."

That wasn't the first impression Tillman sometimes left with people. He often wore his hair long and preferred shorts, T-shirts, and sandals over suits and dress shoes. Former Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer was a teammate of Tillman's in the NFL and at Arizona State. Plummer already was a Sun Devil when Tillman, who hailed from San Jose, came to Tempe, Arizona, on his recruiting visit.

Plummer doesn't remember having much of a first impression of Tillman. "I remember him being just a guy who said 'dude' a lot," Plummer said. "He was laid-back, not presumptuous at all.

Tillman was a star at Arizona State, but few expected him to make it in the NFL. He played linebacker in college, but at 5'11" and 204 pounds, Tillman would have to play safety in the NFL. McGinnis and Cardinals defensive coordinator Larry Marmie went to ASU in the spring of 1998 to put Tillman through a private workout. It wasn't pretty. Tillman struggled through defensive backs drills, growing angrier with each setback. But Tillman insisted on going through the complete workout. McGinnis and Marmie loved what they had seen of Tillman in college, and that competitive spirit came through in the private workout. So the Cardinals selected Tillman with the third of four seventh-round picks the team had that year.

Tillman started 10 games as a rookie, and the Cardinals made the playoffs for the first time since 1975. In two of his next three seasons, Tillman became the team's regular starting safety. But like many other Americans, Tillman's life changed on September 11, 2001. It was a Tuesday, normally a day off for the Cardinals. But Tillman was among a handful of players who showed up at the team facility for work that day. Like most other Americans, he watched as news unfolded of the terrorist attacks on the country.

In an interview with azcardinals.com the next day, Tillman spoke passionately about his love for the country and the debt he felt he owed. "Times like this, you not only stop to think about how good we have it," he said, "but what kind of system we live under, what freedoms we're allowed. And that wasn't built overnight. My great-grandfather was at Pearl Harbor, and a lot of my family has gone and fought in wars. And I really haven't done a damn thing, as far as laying myself on the line like that. So I have a great deal of respect for those that have and for what the flag stands for."

Fiercely loyal, in the spring of 2001, Tillman declined to pursue a five-year, $9 million offer from the St. Louis Rams because he felt loyalty to the Cardinals coaches who had taken a chance on him. Tillman amassed 70 tackles in 2001 and helped a rookie, Adrian Wilson, who Tillman knew was likely to replace him in 2002. The Cardinals wanted Tillman back, however, because he would have played an important role on special teams and in passing situations.

The Cardinals tried to re-sign Tillman that offseason, ultimately offering a three-year deal worth about $3.6 million. They thought it was curious that they couldn't get Tillman to sign, considering the lack of interest from other teams. Maybe, they reasoned, Tillman would re-sign after he was married that spring. "The Cardinals were super with him," Tillman's agent, Frank Bauer said at the time. "They made nice offers and were patient. Most clubs would say the guy is whacked."

Among Tillman's friends, word started to leak that spring that Tillman was joining the Army. One acquaintance asked Plummer to try and talk Tillman out of it. "I kind of chuckled," Plummer said. "Nobody was going to talk him out of it. If his wife wasn't going to talk him out of it, what chance did I have?"

Cardinals defensive tackle Russell Davis was at home Thursday when his wife yelled to him that Tillman had just signed. "That's good," Davis said.

"With the Army," his wife said.

Tillman's decision to reject millions of dollars to serve his country became one of the biggest stories in the country. Every major news outlet called seeking interviews. Every one received the same answer. Pat's not talking about it. He's not doing it for publicity and he wants to be considered no different than any other soldier.

A few days after McGinnis announced Tillman's news, Tillman visited the team's headquarters to complete some paperwork and say good-bye to team employees. After talking to those in the media relations department, Tillman exited through the press room. "If you ever decide to talk about your decision, don't forget your local beat writer," I said.

"I appreciate that," Tillman said, "but it's not going to happen."

On April 22, 2004, Pat Tillman was killed in action in Afghanistan. A nation mourned, and hundreds of Tillman fans visited the Cardinals facility where an enormous memorial stood for weeks.

Tillman's sacrifice resonated with people throughout the world. That's just part of his legacy, Plummer said. Just as important as Tillman serving his country was the way he treated others, including friends. "Pat always seemed to find the time to connect with people he cared about," Plummer said. "He did his part to make friendships last. There are times people say, 'I haven't been able to call you. I'm so busy.' But Pat always found the time to pick up the phone. He treated people with respect. He'd look you in the eye when he talked to you. He was genuine. Those are the traits you hope your kids have."

The Tillman Cover-Up

Pat Tillman was not perfect. His family would be among the first to tell anyone that. Pat would, too, because he did not lie. So it's sadly ironic that his death prompted the Army and government he served to produce a series of lies designed to cover up how the former Cardinals safety was killed in Afghanistan.

An Army Ranger, Tillman was killed on April 22, 2004, about two years after he left a successful football career to enlist, along with his brother, Kevin, who played minor league baseball. Immediately, the powers that be spun a narrative that Tillman had died while charging up a hill to protect fellow Rangers. He was awarded the Silver Star. Later, the truth emerged, mostly because of the dogged determination of Tillman's mother, Mary. He died of fratricide — killed by friendly fire.

Kevin was in a convoy about 15 minutes behind Pat and didn't see the incident. According to witness testimony years later, a battalion commander ordered that Kevin not be told the truth about how Pat died. Kevin was told that Pat had been shot and killed by enemy soldiers. Pat's uniform was burned, as was his journal.

About three years after his brother's death, Kevin testified at a congressional hearing. It was the first time he spoke publicly about Pat's death and how the truth had been covered up.

It was an attempt to deceive the Tillman family and the rest of America. The Army had been the center of a handful of embarrassing incidents at the time, and the decision was made that the truth about Tillman's death would not be told. "To our family and friends, it was a devastating loss. To the nation it was a moment of disorientation. To the military it was a nightmare," Kevin said. "But to others within the government, it appears to have been an opportunity."

2. Super Bowl XLIII

With 2:37 left in Super Bowl XLIII, the team dubbed the worst team to ever make the NFL playoffs led 23–20. For a Cardinals fan, this was the point the alarm went off, spoiling the pleasant dream. Or their mothers woke them for school. It's when they hit the snooze alarm or begged for five more minutes. But this was real.

It was February 1, 2009, and the Cardinals were within minutes of their first NFL title since 1947. The Cardinals weren't supposed to be anywhere close to Tampa, Florida, on February 1. They won the NFC West, but they hobbled into the playoffs with a 9–7 record. They lost four of their last six regular season games, and three of the losses were by three touchdowns or more. So while the Cardinals took offense when NBC's Cris Collinsworth called them the worst postseason team ever, it was hard to argue. "We had a team of underachievers, a bunch of cast-offs, and guys that believed in each other," safety Adrian Wilson said. "That's the main thing I'll take away from that team."

The Cardinals had surprised everyone, including themselves, by beating the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and, finally, the Philadelphia Eagles to advance to the first Super Bowl in franchise history. Coach Ken Whisenhunt was among the few people who believed. When the Cardinals had stayed in Virginia the week between games against Washington and the New York Jets, Whisenhunt said it would be good preparation if the team made it to the Super Bowl. Reporters rolled their eyes and tried to hide smirks. "I felt like there were a number of pieces in place there — from talent to a new stadium to an ownership that was committed to doing some of the things to win," said Whisenhunt, who was in his second season. "I've said this before. I was naive enough to think we could win in our first year."

Quarterback Kurt Warner had resurrected his career a second time. And Larry Fitzgerald was enjoying the best postseason performance of any receiver in history. In Tampa, however, the Cardinals played the first half like a team on a big stage for the first time. They dropped passes. They were penalized for 106 yards. And when they finally calmed down and put together an offensive drive, it ended with Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison returning an interception 100 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the half.

That play would have crippled most teams. Warner threw a slant to receiver Anquan Boldin, a play that had worked for Arizona all year. Harrison was supposed to blitz, but he read the play, freelanced, and started racing with the ball down the Cardinals sideline. "I couldn't see him around our linemen and the pressure," Warner said. "I thought I had Anquan for a second, but he jumped in there and made a play."

Several Cardinals gave pursuit. Fitzgerald would have caught Harrison, but Fitzgerald ran into the back of teammate Antrel Rolle on the Cardinals' sideline. That put the Steelers ahead 17–7. They added a field goal in the third quarter, and it looked as if it was time to pat the Cardinals on the head and congratulate them on a gritty playoff run.

But Whisenhunt, offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and Warner adjusted. The Cardinals spread the field with receivers and went to the no-huddle attack that Warner had used so well throughout the season. Until then, Fitzgerald had made no impact on the game, catching one pass for seven yards through the first three quarters. That changed in the fourth quarter, which was highlighted by one of the most famous plays in team history. Fitzgerald beat a defender on a deep slant and burst through the middle of the field. Glancing at the stadium's big screen to see if anyone was going to catch him, Fitzgerald sprinted to the end zone. The 64-yard score gave the Cardinals a 23–20 lead with 2:37 left.

Whisenhunt, the Steelers' offensive coordinator before coming to Arizona, knew the game wasn't over. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had pulled out fourth-quarter victories before. "There was too much time on the clock," Whisenhunt said. "I felt maybe we could at least hold them to a field goal and maybe go to overtime."

They couldn't. Roethlisberger escaped sacks time and again. The Cardinals left receivers open time and again — or simply slipped while trying to make tackles. With 42 seconds left, the Steelers were at the Cardinals 6. Roethlisberger dropped back and then was flushed from the pocket. He rifled the ball to the deep corner of the end zone past the fingertips of cornerback Ralph Brown and into the arms of receiver Santonio Holmes.

Touchdown.

"The first read was the running back in the flat, but he wasn't open," Roethlisberger said. "Then I was going to bang it to Hines [Ward] real quick, but someone was closing on him. So I just kind of looked left and saw 'Tone' in the corner."

But did "Tone" have his toes down? Officials ruled that he did, though many Cardinals fans still disagree. "One hundred percent I knew I had my feet down," Holmes said. "I never left the ground once I extended my hands. I stood up on my toes so I wouldn't get pushed out of bounds."

The Cardinals didn't have enough time to come back, and their first Super Bowl appearance ended in defeat. The loss pained Whisenhunt so much that he couldn't watch a replay of the game for a few years. Warner, however, was able to put it in perspective immediately after the game. "I am so proud of this football team," he said that evening. "I think that is one of the reasons why it doesn't hurt as bad as it could. These guys have exceeded expectations. We gave ourselves a chance to win a world championship, but that other team went out and won it."

3. Larry Fitzgerald

Not all Cardinals fans were happy when the 2003 season ended with quarterback Josh McCown throwing a touchdown pass to Nate Poole to beat the Minnesota Vikings at Sun Devil Stadium. The victory dropped the Cardinals from first to third in the 2004 draft, meaning they had no shot at taking Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning. As it turned out, however, the Cardinals wouldn't have taken Manning with any selection as long as receiver Larry Fitzgerald from Pittsburgh was available.

Dennis Green, who had known Fitzgerald as a kid, was hired as Cardinals coach in January of 2004 and made no secret of his desire to draft Fitzgerald. No one looks back at the scenario and wonders, what if? That's because Fitzgerald might be the best player in franchise history. There's no question he's the best during the Cardinals' time in the desert and the most popular. "We could all see Larry's amazing talent from the first day we watched him on the field," said quarterback Kurt Warner, who became a Cardinal in 2005. "He had a rare skillset that doesn't come along very often."

Even though he nearly won the Heisman Trophy in his last collegiate season, Fitzgerald was far from a finished product when he came to the NFL. He turned 21 just before his rookie season started and, like most young people starting a new job in a strange place, he was lonely.

Fitzgerald often stayed at the Cardinals' facility long after other players had gone home but not to work on his game. "I'd stay behind and help the equipment guys fold towels," he said, "doing the same stuff I used to do when I was a ballboy with the Vikings. It was better than going home and playing video games."

Fitzgerald was no stranger to professional sports. His father, Larry Sr., was a longtime sportswriter and radio host in Minneapolis, and Fitzgerald used those connections to attend NHL, NBA, and MLB games and to get a job as a ballboy for the Vikings, who were coached by Green. "My brother Marcus and I would go to Twins games with my dad," Fitzgerald said. "We would sit in the cheap seats and gradually work our way down into the good ones." Fitzgerald grew up watching Vikings greats Cris Carter and Randy Moss catching passes from a variety of quarterbacks, including Hall of Famer Warren Moon.

Fitzgerald succeeded in high school and college because he was a superior athlete. He wasn't blessed with great speed, but he was big, strong, and had an uncanny ability to catch anything thrown close to him. A strong work ethic developed early in his NFL career. "He is a young man that is way beyond his years and he bought into the idea that he wouldn't always be able to rely on his physical ability to be the best," Warner said. "At some point he would need to truly understand how to play the game to have great success as he got older."

---

Excerpted from 100 Things Cardinals Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die by Kent Somers. Copyright © 2016 Kent Somers. Excerpted by permission of Triumph Books LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---