I know all about the Steel Curtain and Mean Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris.

They were my second favorite NFL team back in the 1970s, finishing a distant second to ... um, never mind.

I've got a few names you'll be hearing a lot of tonight when Super Bowl XLIII kicks off -- Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and Edgerrin James. A veteran passer, a great young receiver and a running back who still has plenty of talent.

I've heard they are already comparing Fitzgerald to Jerry Rice. I won't go that far just yet, Fitzgerald has a ways to go to reach that status. He is off to a good start and winning a Super Bowl title will further boost his star power.

I gave the Arizona Cardinals about as much chance of making the Super Bowl as the Detroit Lions . No one cares that the Cardinals finished the regular season at 9-7; they made the playoffs and that's all that counts.

They played three good playoff games and here they are in Super Bowl XLIII against the Steelers.

Pittsburgh is the favorite and that's quite all right. The underdog has won more than its share of Super Bowls over the years.

Warner has been an underdog himself and that's all the more reason to believe he's going to lead the Cardinals to the title.

How could you not pull for a guy like that?

He's 37 and been down this road twice before. He's been an NFL and Super Bowl MVP.

He's certainly not washed up as some would like you to think. Instead he's earned the respect of those who take the time to get to know him.

He's a great quarterback, but he's an even better person off the field. His life is rooted in deep faith and a drive to win. That's the kind of story line that should leave everyone pulling for Warner to win another Super Bowl title.

Yes, Pittsburgh is good. Its defense is great. And Big Ben is not bad, either.

But for today, at least, it's the day of the Cardinal. Not Hal Holman's Orchard View Cardinals, but Ken Whisenhunt's Arizona Cardinals.

Mike, get out your black and gold face paint and your Rocky Bleier jersey. Grab yourself a bag of chips and your favorite cold beverage. Grab the remote, sit back in your recliner and enjoy the Kurt Warner Show.

Just think, when Arizona wins tonight, it will give great hope to all the underdogs in this world who hope to one day rise to the top of the heap. Kind of like a phoenix ... rising from the ashes to live a long and prosperous life.

Does that mean that someday the Detroit Lions could actually make it to a Super Bowl?

Probably not.

Final score: Arizona 24, Pittsburgh 17