Cardinals gaining believers

Since the Cardinals moved to Phoenix in 1988, whenever Dallas visits it seems like a Cowboys home game. In most years, more attendees wore blue than red.

That trend could turn after Arizona's 30-24 overtime win over the Cowboys on Sunday.

The Cardinals started the game with a kickoff return for a touchdown and ended it with a blocked punt that was carried into the end zone for the victory.

"The Cardinals have grown up. They have burned their manual of excuses. They finally are playing the game and not the victim," wrote Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic. ...

"The difference is profound. The difference is what allows teams to play football in January, when Vince Lombardi's trophy is on the table."

That might be rushing things. But the Cardinals' sixth consecutive home win -- their longest streak in 32 years -- improved their record to 4-1.

• SPIKED -- Misty May-Treanor teamed with Kerri Walsh to win 107 consecutive beach volleyball matches and a second straight gold medal at the Olympics.

Sand, sun and spikes were no match for May-Treanor.

However, "Dancing With the Stars" was.

Her left Achilles tendon ruptured while practicing for last week's show, in which she appeared in a cast and on crutches.

"I heard a pop. I was doing the Lindy Hop. ... It felt like I got hit in the back with a baseball bat. Then, I just couldn't put weight on it," she said on last week's show the day before having surgery.

Could it be that her body was not accustomed to carrying the added weight of wearing a dance outfit and spiked heels after years of competing while barefoot and in a bikini?

• HOLY TOLEDO -- Michigan's football team was ranked fifth nationally when it lost to Appalachian State last year.

The Wolverines were just rank Saturday when they lost 13-10 to visiting Toledo. It was the first time in 25 games once-mighty Michigan lost to a team from the Mid-American Conference. And Toledo entered with a 1-4 record.

Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press wrote: "Losing to a MAC team for the first time in this program's rich history is something that won't be easily forgotten anytime soon.

"The Wolverines can forget about extending the longest consecutive bowl streak (33 games) in the nation. They must worry about winning another game this season -- not exactly a certainty when witnessing how mightily they struggled against a Toledo team ranked 123rd nationally in the Sagarin rankings."

• HARVICK TKO -- NASCAR driver Carl Edwards is bigger, stronger and in better shape than rival Kevin Harvick.

When their Thursday scuffle in the garage area of Lowe's Motor Speedway was broken up Harvick was ahead on all scorecards.

Edwards should have known better than to instigate a fight with Harvick.

Harvick has to be a tough guy if he was willing to sing the Nationwide Insurance jingle in commercials.

With a voice like that he had better be able to fight.

COMPILED BY JEFF WOLF REVIEW-JOURNAL