Cardinals season ticket member Robert Fischer on the red carpet prior to the first round of the NFL draft.
ARLINGTON, Texas – Robert Fischer is a tad too far past his athletic prime to get drafted, but that hasn't stopped the Cardinals from giving the 78-year-old the type of treatment usually reserved for a star.
Fischer, who has been a Cardinals season ticket member since the Sun Devil Stadium days, was randomly chosen for a unique behind-the-scenes experience during this year's draft. Fischer walked the Red Carpet prior to Thursday's first round and was later slated to hand the jersey of the Cardinals' draft choice to Commissioner Roger Goodell before the selection.
Earlier Thursday, he attended a luncheon with several former Cardinals, including Hall of Fame cornerback Aeneas Williams. The all-expenses paid trip began on Wednesday and goes through Saturday, where Fischer will cap his excursion by announcing the Cardinals' seventh-round selection. Each team chose a season ticket member to partake in these festivities as part of the NFL's Membership Club.
Fischer and his wife, Marcia, were all smiles on the red carpet, making their appearance minutes before a plethora of first-round prospects took a similar trek.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Fischer said, "and we're taking full advantage of it."
Fischer said he was one of the rare winners who took the good news at face value when he was called by a Cardinals representative.
"He said nobody (that won in the past) would believe him," Fischer said. "They would say, 'Hey, Joe, is that you kidding me?' Or 'I'm calling the Cardinals.' I bought into it pretty quickly. He convinced me, although I did double-check after the call, just to make sure."
Fischer was up on the latest speculation and was happy to give his opinion on which direction the Cardinals should go in the draft. But he said it's Marcia who is the real ace in their marriage.
"She knows a heck of a lot more than me," Fischer said. "Believe me. (Steve) Keim can check with her. I listen to classical music all day and she listens to the sports channel. She knows all of it."
Fischer repeatedly called the trip an unrivaled experience. He is holding out hope that one other dream comes true over draft weekend.
"I still expect to go in the ninth round, if everything goes right," Fischer said with a smile.
