Often, like most sports fans I have a favourite player on my team. Often that player changes when that player retires or, more often, leaves the team. Once they are gone they are usually “dead to me”. I might occasionally see where they are on certain teams. I more than likely root against them than for them.
Some players though stick with you. Kurt Warner is one of those players. Without Kurt the St. Louis Rams never get to two Superbowls. They never win one and the team continues to have good parts but no whole. To this day when I think of the glory years I still see his smiling face holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2000.
When he was struggling the effects of the 2002 Superbowl broken hand I never thought he was used up. In fact it was obvious that most of the time he played the team was better able to meet the challenge. He has leadership and shows it through all the adversity.
When the Rams dumped him, I thought I was done with Kurt. But in New York and Arizona I still cheered for him. I still felt that the player was good enough to earn my respect and keep my following. He did not give up on the Rams they gave up on him.
So here it is 2009 and Kurt is back, and better than ever. I am happy for him. For his family and I will be cheering mightily that he wins this one for an organization that put their trust in an aging “broken down” superstar.
Congratulations to the Arizona Cardinals and Kurt Warner both the ultimate underdogs.
