The Sports Retorter: For Cardinals fans, blackouts used to be a normal occurrence

Remember the days when the only time you heard the term “avoiding the blackout” associated with the Arizona Cardinals was when you tried to stay conscious during one of their numerous stomach wrenching defeats?

Those days are long gone and the feeling has been gone at least as long as Denny Green has. Since their move from Sun Devil Stadium to University of Phoenix Stadium (not only an upgrade in facilities but in the name of the university on the building), the Cardinals have managed to avoid having a home game blacked out to local viewers. Thirty-seven straight games, preseason included, have sold out in Glendale.

That streak may come to an end this Sunday.

The Cardinals, coming off of what arguably was their biggest regular season win since moving to Arizona, are in danger of not selling out Sundays home game against the Carolina Panthers. The team was granted a 24-hour extension to sell the remain 1,500 tickets. If the team fails to find buyers by tomorrow at 2:15 pm local fans, not going to the game, will have to turn to the radio to get their Cardinals fix.

Usually I’d grab the closest soapbox, stand on it and shout to the high heavens that fans need to get out and support their home team, not this time. Most will cite the economy and a plethora of entertainment options as to why the Cardinals are struggling to sell out home games this season. Don’t bother listening.

Plain and simple the Cardinals are struggling to sell out certain home games because of their quality of opponent.

The two games, other than this weeks contest, the Cardinals have need an extension to avoid a blackout were games against the 49ers and the Houston Texans. Neither team is a big draw as both finished last season 7-9 and were expected to be similarly inept this season. Add in the Carolina Panthers, who are 2-4 on the season, and you have the makings of a less than stellar home schedule.

Don’t believe me? Take a look at the Indianapolis Colts Sunday night affair and check the availability for games later this season against the Vikings and Packers. Fans will go to see the Cardinals play quality opponents and will buy their tickets long before the 72-hour NFL blackout deadline.

These are fans who spent years watching bad football from their home town team. Now, with money tight, why would they want to spend money to watch some other cities trash?

Although I said I wouldn’t get on my soapbox, I do have one final plea for the fans in Phoenix. Please do everyone a favor and sellout the game. If not we might be subject to watching the Fox’s Favre love-fest instead and that brings back the old familiar feeling of wanting to blackout.

And Now For Something Completely Different

Canadians Lining Up For Their Shot

Is it just me or is it a little unsettling that the only potential buyers to emerge for the Phoenix Coyotes, thus far, are from Canada? Ice Edge Holdings has be more eager than a kid on Christmas Eve to have their chance to make an offer to the NHL and today the owners of the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts have thrown their hats in the ring.

Ice Edge, the Argonauts owners and the NHL are all saying the right things claiming that all interested parities want the club to remain in Glendale. One problem, in the revised bid the NHL submitted to US Bankruptcy Court today the NHL restates the right of the team to break it’s thirty year lease next June.

Canadian bidders, a team failing financially in Glendale and the NHL stating the lease can be broken following this season. Explain to me again exactly how this is all good for fans of the Coyotes?

What Year Is It Again?

While watching last nights Suns game I couldn’t help but feel like I had my watch set to the wrong year. Steve Nash, Grant Hill and Marcus Camby all played prominent roles for their teams. Guess 2009 might be the year of the Old Guy in the NBA (then again Shaq looks terrible in Cleveland).

Tweet of the Day

He must have been talking about the Mavericks opening night performance against the Wizards. You couldn’t help but laugh at everyone who thinks Dallas is an elite team in the west.

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Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Blackout, Brett Favre, Carolina Panthers, CFL, Dallas Mavericks, Grant Hill, Green Bay Packers, Ice Edge, Marcus Camby, Minnesota Vikings, NFL, Phoenix Coyotes, Shawn Marion, Steve Nash, Toronto Argonauts