My childhood attachment to the football St. Louis Cardinals is quickly drawing to a close. Ironically, it will be ending in triumph..of a sort:
Roger Wehrli, a five-time All-Pro cornerback who played 14 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame today.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin also was elected despite a troubled past, though voters denied entry to retired NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
Also voted in were running back Thurman Thomas, offensive lineman Bruce Matthews and two nominees of the veterans' committee -- tight end Charlie Sanders and guard Gene Hickerson.
Wehrli was drafted by the Cardinals out of the University of Missouri in 1969. He once intercepted three passes by Roger Staubach in a win over Dallas and made the league's 1970s all-decade squad.
"Something like this puts a cap on it. It's a dream come true," Wehrli said, speaking by phone from St. Louis.
Wehrli was my favorite Cardinal of all time. (Sorry Pat Tilley.) I cannot think of a childhood joy as perfect as Wehrli picking off a Roger Staubach pass. Sure, Christmas was fantastic....but none of my presents ever helped beat the Dallas Cowboys.
In many ways the induction ceremony will mark the existential end of the football Cards. There will be no other St. Louis Cardinals HOF'ers. There is nothing else for us old Gridbird fans to look forward to in the future. So, damn it all, I'm gonna make the most of this. A buddy and I are all set to make the trip to Canton this summer. I hope other lost Cards fans will make the trip. Actually, I hope every lost football soul makes the trip.
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