On the Go: RSS | Email Alerts | Mobile and iPhone

Sub-NavigationSide Navigation

Marketplace
- Lifestyle Guides

	WINTER STORM WATCH
	Alert: 1 dead in I-10 crash near downtown Phoenix, traffic blocked
	Alert: DPS: Officer-involved wreck shuts down I-17 in Phoenix

Archives |

Sports News

Print this Story

Cardinals come back home to Phoenix, rally at airport

Last Update: 2/03/2009 6:47 am

	UPDATE 2: Cards come back home to Phx, rally at airport
	UPDATED: Cardinals come back home to Phoenix, rally at airport
	The Valley makes plans to welcome home the Cardinals

Slideshow

(Tim Vetscher)

Related Links

Click the play button on the video window to the see the story

The Arizona Cardinals came home Monday to an outpouring of love from proud fans across the Valley.

"Even though they didn't win we're still going to support them and believe in them and we're really proud of the game they played yesterday," said Cardinals fan Lisa San Miguel.

An estimated crowd of over 4,000 fans turned out at Sky Harbor Airport for a rally late in the afternoon, hosted by Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and members of the Glendale City Council.

"I just hope that they just realize that all these are true fans out here and that were still proud of them and we still believe in them," said San Miguel.

Some fans skipped work or school for the homecoming.

"No, I'm not alone playing hookie," said Cardinals fan Belinda Mullins. "I'm sure there's lots of people out playing hookie today."

"I pulled my daughter out of school and the reason was... we're going to rally, plain and simple," said Cardinals fan Lydia Maranville.

The Cards lost a heart stopping Super Bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night in Tampa, FL.

They rallied after halftime to erase a 20-7 deficit. In a nail-biting fourth-quarter, Pittsburgh made a game-winning touchdown with 35 seconds left beating the Cardinals 27-24.

Do you have something to say about the team? Click 'Add a Comment' at the bottom of this page to sound off.

After Sunday's game, fans said the team has nothing to hang their heads about following a season of firsts.

The Cardinals earned their first-ever Super Bowl appearance, the team's first-ever NFC Championship, and became the first-ever #4 seed from the NFC to advance to the Super Bowl.

Now the fans, like Donica Wolf, look forward to next year. "We love them and they're going to do even better next year," said Wolf.

Some players agree and are optimistic the Cardinals will be making an appearance in Super Bowl XLIV at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL.