As you read this article, keep in mind that Saturday was the Cardinal’s Fan Day. This past weekend I went to Cardinal’s training camp. For the past few seasons, I’ve always told myself that I would go to some teams training camp…but as a law student, time and money were LIMITED! So, needless to say, I was VERY excited to finally have an opportunity to experience my first training camp. As a reward for my recent struggles my girlfriend agreed to make the 2.5 hour hike to Flagstaff with me. On Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, I sat for the Arizona state bar exam and let me tell ya, every person who survives preparing for and actually taking that 12 hour beast deserves a treat. Tragically, my joy and excitement was VERY short lived. My camp experience quickly transformed into a bitter one.

I now understand why this franchise has such a minute fan base. A friend of mine went to Redskin’s camp this past weekend…there were nearly 20,000 people in attendance…Card’s at max had about 5,000. The "men" who comprise this team are the most disrespectful and downright disgusting individuals. How are they cocky and they’ve never made it to the playoffs?! I admit, I am not your average fan nor am I your average NFL blogger. BUT, despite my outward appearance I am (or shall I say used to be) a devote Cardinals fan. My passion, knowledge, and thirst for the game are unparallel. In terms of sheer football knowledge I possess more than the average man. So you shouldn’t let my appearance fool you. Funnily enough, a few of the pictures that I took this weekend captured the facial expressions of several players. In the photos that other fans took of me and my girlfriend you can clearly see players smirking and making faces at us in the backdrop. I can only imagine the denigrating or just plain mean remarks that were made. As a woman who’s been following this team for several years, who was THRILLED to finally get a chance to see her favorite players up close and personal, this experience was just plain hurtful.

First, Larry Fitzgerald is quite possibly the rudest person alive. I witnessed this "man" make a child cry by refusing to shake the little boy’s hand. Every other player took a second to give an occasional high five, thumbs up, or a head nod. Most players proffered some sign of acknowledgement to the children as they shouted their names….but oh no not Larry. He wouldn’t even look up. I was appalled! Doesn’t he know that if it wasn’t for these screaming and adoring kids there would be no mega pay day. The fans make the team so give the fans (at least the children) a simple head nod! Oh and we haven’t forgotten the paternity (abortion request) debacle…Larry could use some positive publicity!

Secondly, Antrell Rolle is the personification of disappointment. I went to camp primarily to interview Rolle about his transition from CB to S. It’s a move that many have suggested since he first left Miami. Rolle has long been a favorite Card for me. I think he has the potential to be a respectable talent if he gets his confidence back, focuses and puts in the time to learn the new position…after all nothing comes easy in the Not For Long (NFL) league. Additionally, I was curious about the support system that Adrian Wilson is providing Rolle. As one of the league’s best (and most underrated safeties) I think he will be a huge reason why Rolle succeeds. And finally, I wanted his take on rookie DRC. As you loyal AZ fans know, drafting DRC was a slight gamble…so after ten days of camp I wanted to know what a Vet, an actual AZ CB (former), thought about DRC’s progress. As you can see I was stoked for the opportunity, I just knew this man wouldn’t reject a five minute interview…ON FAN DAY! Boy, I was oh so wrong!

In an effort to get Rolle’s interview, I decided to approach a coach as opposed to just running up to Rolle. Momma didn’t raise no fool, I knew there would be an immediate presumption of impropriety. So, I opted to ask an older black coach, I erroneously assumed that as a minority himself he wouldn’t judge me! Well, we all know what happens when you assume…I was certainly made an ass out of. The man, Anthony Edwards, gave me lip service stating "sure, I will see what I can do…I’ll come find you and let you know." I saw this man at least two times after this dialogue and he wouldn’t even look in my direction. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to see Rolle after practice, as he and every other big named player ran immediately from the field to their dorms (please remember that Saturday was fan day, and a large percentage of the crowd drove great distances to see the players.) Naturally, I felt defeated. I had blown my opportunity for the interview that I was going to use to launch my new Cards blog site.

PUMP YOUR BREAKS FAN, all was not lost. As God would provide, I ran into Adrian Wilson at a local gas station right after practice. A glimmer, a slight iota of elation returned. Ordinarily, I would NOT have stopped Wilson, but I REALLY wanted Rolle’s interview. After debating it for about two minutes, I decided what the hell, to succeed you got to be thirsty! I introduced myself, stated my purpose, and gave Wilson my business card in hopes that he would pass it on to Rolle. I must say, Wilson is the MOST intimidating individual I’ve run across. He is HUGE, doesn’t crack and smile and is VERY dismissive. When I told Wilson that I too was an NC native, he just blew me off! I once again felt defeated. I knew that there was no shot in hell he would be passing that card along.

WELL, brace yourself readers! On Sunday night, around 10pm I get a phone call from a Miami number…I immediately think WTF is this about!!!! Could it be, NAWWWWW no way! Low and behold it was Antrell Rolle! I couldn’t believe it; I didn’t know what to say. Ironically, I got his phone call as I was preparing an in-depth research project concerning community needs in New Orleans for another former Cane (who I pray doesn’t also turn out to be a sexist male chauvinistic bastard.) Anway, I was F-L-O-O-R-E-D! As you can guess by now, my excitement was short lived! Within two minutes I would have my face cracked yet again! I presume Rolle either realized I wasn’t a groupie whore or he doesn’t like female fans. Either way, I’m without a Cards interview for the launch of my new Card’s blog.

I will admit, there was one lone player who took time after practice to sign every single autograph. He even agreed to take photos with me and my friend. I pray this young man stays humble and remembers his fans as he goes through the maturation process. Clearly his teammates have missed the essence of FAN DAY!

I have struggled, fought, grinded and straight busted my tail for the last four years trying to break into the sports profession. I attended a top undergraduate institution, continued straight to a top twenty law school and graduated at the age of 24. I immediately moved myself to Arizona, the up and coming "sports capital" of the US. I cannot begin to count the "informational interviews," volunteer programs, internships, cold calls and random emails, and degrading jobs that I have taken in order to break into sports. I understand that to succeed in this industry you must crawl before you can walk. Well, I’ve been crawling for 4 plus years and I’m still fighting on both hands and knees.

At each angle I’ve been shot down and pissed on, I’ve been told to tone down my image, advised to get a "beard", instructed to start with a white client as they would be more inclined to trust a black woman, and had David Falk himself tell me that he nor any of his clients would ever contemplate working with a black woman. I cannot help but wonder how much easier my plight would be if I were male or even a white female. Pam Oliver is the only black female face we see within sports, and that’s a darn shame! Oh and in case you are wondering why I didn’t just apply for a Cardinals press pass…well, I did…I went through Darren Urban and Mark Dalton both. And yep you guessed it, I was shot down.

In conclusion, I must admit that after the Rolle debacle I was a bit dejected. It was disrespect up close and personal. But, despite the ignorance of some, I want you (my supporters) to know that I’M NOT GIVING UP! God didn’t bring me this far to leave me. I will succeed within this industry and I will make my mark…the struggle continues! YES WE CAN, CHANGE IN 08!

I'm a changed woman.....I'm officially a SAINTS FAN.  No, this doesn't mean that I love my AZ Cards any less!  But I admit, I've always been interested in the Saints...we all remember the Monday night spectacular when the Superdome reopened!   But, before February 29th I wasn't totally sold on the Saints....something was missing, or shall I say someone was missing!   But, on the 29th the scale tipper, the confirmer, the DARN straw that broke the camel's back occurred; the signing of Jonathan Vilma!  Ladies and gent's, the fat lady has sung, I'm sold!

Vilma's athletic prowess is nothing short of amazing!  His on the field play during his first three seasons with the Jet's can best be described as freakish.  The undersized middle linebacker out of Miami was out to prove a mission, as Vilma says in his Rocawear advertisement, "I will not lose," and he hasn't!  During his rookie campaign the 12th overall pick in '04 draft recorded (brace yourself fools) 108 tackles, two sacks, and three interceptions, including one which was he returned for a touchdown.   In 2005, the 2004 NFL Defensive Rookie of the year won his first trip to Honolulu (the Pro Bowl fools!)  Vilma's play action combined with his mature demeanor allowed him to rack up endorsement after endorsement.  From Rocawear, to Under Armour, to Sprint, Vilma became a staple in the New York media.

Unfortunately, towards the end of his tenure in New York Vilma's production slipped.   This can be attributed not to faltering dedication but to new coach Eric Mangini's transition to a 3-4 defense.   Under the new regime, Vilma struggled to block the oversized (obese) centers and guards of the dominate (overrated) AFC. 

Despite all of his stats, Vilma's on the field accomplishments pale in comparison to his off the field strides.   While at Miami, Vilma majored in finance and is rumored to have maintained 3.5 GPA (W-O-W, especially considering that the NCAA is a fatally flawed "educational institution," amateurism my ARSE....ok, ok a debate for another blog!")   In addition to being THE true man-genius (Mangini has nothing on this dude) Vilma is a steady force in his community.  Early in his career he founded Financial51, an innovative and impressive 501(c)(3) dedicated to educating children and athletes about the importance of sound financial investing.  Additionally, Vilma can be seen around his hometown of Coral Gables giving back to his community not only through financial contributions (he ain't in it for the tax breaks,) but most impressively by giving his time (and no, it's because of a mandatory community service sentencing; oh little buddies, he's no Chris Henry/Mike Vick type!) 

What does this mean for US Saint's fans....it means H-A-L-L-E-L-U-J-A (both on and off the field!)  In the Saints defense, Vilma should return to the top!  So have no fear, after signing Dan Morgan and then losing Dan Morgan, we still have hope, tons of hope!  We've got Vilma, we've got a 4-3 defense, we've got Sedrick Ellis and now we have Will Smith (for a long and expensive time)....oh we will survive!    

So, as you can see I'm a true ‘black and gold' Vilma STAN (a ridiculous fan) and now a Saints fan!  The Saints kick off the pre-season here in Arizona against my BELOVED Cards, and I'm so torn!!!  Is it ok if I rock my Vilma Jersey (all provided that my credit card doesn't get D-E-N-I-E-D) and my Cards baseball cap?  

Ya'll mark my words...I will get Vilma's autograph and a brief interview for the blog!!   I'm prepared to scale walls, run onto the field, and/or chase a bus if necessary (maybe not I am lady!)  But, if I "bump" into Vilma, I'll be like a fat kid in a candy store....OUTTA DARN CONTROL!

I am officially an Arizonian! The day after graduation I packed everything up and boarded a nonstop flight to AZ, I’m not going to lie….as I waved goodbye to my parents I began crying and continued crying for about two hours, what can I say, I’m a daddy’s girl!!! So far, I’m LOVING the desert…I’m STRONGLY contemplating a drive to Flagstaff in August and EAGERLY awaiting my first game at the University of Phoenix Stadium (all provided I get a job to afford tix!) Anyway, I wanted to write one last time before I bid you all farewell for a few months…it’s bar time! Time got to put this degree to good use, get this license and MAKE SOME MONEY! But, before I depart, I felt it imperative to discuss my Card’s and in particular, one issue that is weighing heavily on my little heart! First, let me say…I told you so!!!! DRC is officially a Card….I predicted it, I told you and I was RIIIIGGGHHHT! Ok, ok, on to the issue at hand! Can someone please tell me the purpose of skipping OTA’s in protest of your contract????!!! I am wholeheartedly disappointed with Darnell Docket and more so with Anquan Boldin. Yeah, yeah, yeah I know they are voluntary but still, NO EXCUSE! If your boss hosted a voluntary training session at your place of employment, would you go? Sure you would, why…. because you’re a P-R-O-F-E-S-S-I-O-N-A-L, and that is what we do…we SUCK it up!

Some ask what the importances of these workouts are. There are several, the most important being that it builds team cohesiveness while providing a snapshot of the things the team needs to address during camp. Think about it, NFL rosters change year in and year out, that means each year there’s a new slate of men that each team member must begin building a bond with…and what better time to start than in OTA’s? Furthermore, it’s the Card’s….history shows, this team needs all the practice they can get, time is of the essence and the fans DEMAND a winning season! And guess what, wins take PRACTICE, both voluntary and mandatory! In terms of Docket….dude, are you serious? At this point Docket is just making a fool of himself…there is little to NO chance that he will get a new contract….impossible, you just signed a new one! On a side note, the purpose of skipping OTA’s is to get more money; but I ask….can you really accomplish this by skipping work? Isn’t your absence actually losing you money….last time I checked, OTA’s were payable events! In short, take yo arse to work!

Now, for the all time biggest disappointment, Anquan Boldin! Why, just why Q? Boldin is a team leader, supposedly one of the anchors and "role-models" of the team…a captain nonetheless! As a team leader who has younger players (Early Doucet, who’s constantly been compared to Boldin) constantly identifying you as a role-model in the media shouldn’t you feel more inclined to use OTA’s as an opportunity to begin the molding process and potentially help your team indentify the best 3rd receiver available? In Boldin’s case, Skipping OTA’s simply doesn’t help his cause…instead I suggest actually saying healthy for an entire season, this really is your best bet of securing that Fitzgerald-like contract! And for the record, this isn’t Boldin’s first "hold-out" type situation (two thumbs down for Q’s maturation!) But to be honest, I am confident that the Card’s want to pay Boldin (how can I know this, simple…it’s commonsense.) Remember that the Card’s aren’t the richest team and they are already facing salary cap issues but at the end of the day Boldin will get his money! My advice, just be patient be a man, and honor the contract you signed, and let me say it again…take yo arse to work! On second thought, I blame Drew Rosenhaus…seriously though; anytime your agent uses you-tube as a tool for demanding a new contract…it’s time to look for different representation.

It’s a shame that this game has become overshadowed by money….does anyone do it for love of the game anymore? I used to be very player sympathetic….after all, owners make unimaginable (INSANE) amounts off of the blood, sweat and tears of these athletes, so I believed that athletes deserved a GENEROUS share of the profit. But you know what….I began to think about and continuous GRIND I’ve been on while preparing for the bar exam (10 hours of continuous study a day) and then I started thinking about the three years of pure tortuous he!! I endured in law school, and not to mention the adversities associated with excelling and remaining an all around student in undergrad, high school, elementary, Kindergarten, pre-K and even the darn WOMB…and then I thought about how much I MAKE A YEAR….I’LL TAKE ZERO FOR 100 ALEX! Life bits sometime Anquan and Darnell, but trust and believe you both make A LOT more than A LOT of hardworking folks and do realize that you have the DREAM job, you freaking catch balls for a living…so PLEASE shut up, collect your millions, and play! If memory serves me, both of you signed your current contract didn’t you…honor them and get a better agent! P.S. I’m available if you need a new lawyer/agent, lol! In other Card’s news, I really wish that Edge would get off the two week rule for OTA'S....really, would it kill you to complete the entire OTA period????? After all his performance is already shaky guy! But, I still love you dude, go EDGE! For anyone who wants a good laugh, refer to his OTA interview...UNIQUE!

I'M HIGH GUYS!!! High on Ali Highsmith (LB) and Tim Hightower (RB)...dare I say it, two rookie steals??? Yeah Yeah, I know it's too early to tell, but I'm hearing positive things about these guys....oh and let's not forget this Jamaica Rector (WR) fellow!!!! Jamaica, Steve Breaston or Early Doucet...it's good to heave deapth!! So many new names, so many new possibilities!!!! Oh, and yes I support Matt and so should you (at least until week 4)! Go Card’s ’08 is our year....dear I say it...post season possibilities, huuuUUUUmmmm! Good-bye until August 1, when I return with my very first edition of the "Jonathan Vilma track down files!" The Saint’s come to Arizona on August 7th and I DETERMINED to get this man’s autograph, even if I have to scale the walls of their hotel, bus, locker room, or run onto the field during the second half…oh it’s on!!!!!

Ok, Ok, Ok, I know I should be studying...but I had to take a minute and discuss a TRAGEDY which occurred last night at a local restaurant here in Chandler, Arizona. I've never been too great a fan of Larry Fitzgerald, and after last night my sentiments were CONFIRMED, and Fitzgerald is now on my LIST!

So, I was walking out of Z-Tejas last night when who did I run into...yeah you guessed it, Larry Fitzgerald and Leonard Pope (unfortunately Pope was a bit too tall to talk to, I'm only 5'2 people, plus my neck already hurts from all the studying, so I couldn't bare to look all the way up at him so had to let him walk on pass!) Due to my slight intoxication my initial reaction was laughter....I thought, gee what are the odds, I'm about to get the SCOOP...ha, ha what a HOOT!!!

Now, I'm not sane, and I've never claimed to be...so I knew this encounter was going to have some interesting twist and turns!!! I admit things got started off on a shaky foot, laughing in someones face isn't appropriate and Larry apparently agreed because he immediately asked, "why did you do that?" I simply replied, "because I recently wrote a blog about you." Now, this is were things started getting interesting!! Homeboy's RIDICULOUS response was..."what's that?" At this point I should have just walked away and considered it a loss, I mean really...who the heck in today's technologically advanced society doesn't know what a blog is?????? After educating Larry about blogs, I proceeded to begin my journalistic duties and get his opinion on the Matt Lienart/Kurt Warner debacle, his recent contract debacle, and finally the OTA attendance debacle. I decided that now was NOT the appropriate time to discuss his recent Paternity suit debacle, so I let that go...but I tell ya, it was HONESTLY on the tip of my tongue! Now, the responses I got to my generic questions were of course EXTREMELY generic, his most interesting comments were "wow, you really like that word [debacle!]" and "this girl knows her stuff!"

I know all of you fellow diehard Cards fans (alll four of you)are dying to know Fitz's take on these topics...so here they are! Question 1, "Matt is a good guy"...BOOOO. Question 2, there was no response, he just asked if I knew the details of his contract....momma didn't raise no fools here, I could since that he began to think that I might be some money grubbing groupie, so I just let that go and chalked that ish up to sexism....so DOUBLE BOOOO! As for question 3, he responded, in true teammate bull-crap fashion "OTA's are voluntary"...TRIPLE DA*^ BOOOO! In all, this brief interview was GARBAGE, and I didn't think it could get worse...but OOoohhhHHH was I wrong.

Since becoming a Card's SFAN (Super Fan) I've been VERY perplexed by Larry's failure to start a 501(c)(3) for you non-legal sauvy folks, thats a nonprofit organization. As one of the 50 most paid athletes, I wondered...how does this dude manage to NOT have a 501(c)(3)? Plus, most of his star teammates have them...Bertrand Berry, Anquan "No-Show" Boldin, Kurt Warner, and even Matt-Patt Leinart!!! So, you know I actually told myself..."self, you just MIGHT be mistaken, of course Larry has a 501(c)(3),how couldn't he right????? OMG, ya'll this darn young'in confirmed my suspicions!!!! When I asked about why he doesn't have a nonprofit, he responded....now BRACE yourself fools, "I don't have time, it takes time finidng someone to run a nonprofit."

As I mentioned earlier, I'm not sane and I don't purport to be, and yes I was slightly under the influence of a frozen Chambord Margarita! So, dear fans, you might be able to guess what happened next! I flipped, I just lost it ya'll....it was like someone had gut punched me and then drop kicked me in the throat!!! Ya'll now philanthropy is my goal, and sports philanthropy is my passion! Our conversation ended, by him getting up and walking away. Young Larry must realize that the NFL is in the midst of a public relations disaster...the Cedric Bensen's, Travis Henry's, Chris Henry's (them da*& Henry's,) and the Pacman's are taking over! How dare I forget the set-backs of our all time felon Mike "McRoof-Roof" Vick! As, Chris Henry's presiding Judge said..."You are a one man crime wave"...well you know what, I say the NFL is now a two thousand man crime wave, a DEBACLE!!! oops, all of that was a tangent, let's get back on track here....wait, before we get back on track, does any remember Ray Curruth?

The point is this...Larry's got a phenomenal ability to impact change and to reach our youth in a way that many of us can't (Jon Vilma is a good example of this)....and it's a shame, a DEBACLE that he has chosen to waste that!  Perhaps I am so hard on Larry because I KNOW that he has the ability to be a tremendous role model, as a black, young, and educated man.  Minority Children in particular are often left without positive male role models.   I fully believe that Larry would be a valuable tool in the war that our young boys, and especially minority boys are fighting.  From the crib to jail cell pipeline crisis, to the extremely high school dropout rates, to even the high incident of gang violence...our children need us, and in particular our young minority boys need positive role models, after all someone has to counter balance the damage caused by Mike Vick.  Larry....the kids need you guy!

So, here today we the fans of the Arizona Cardinals and of Larry Fitzgerald, MUST demand more of our player, it's time to start a movement (yes you read correctly, let me say it again, a M-O-V-E-M-E-N-T! We are about change!!!! Together we are going to get our beloved Mr. Larry Fitzgerald to start a 501(c)(3), and folks let's go the extra step, let's DEMAND that he hire me!!! HAHA, lol....now go take on your day!