12-11-11: Arizona Cardinals Bird Droppings - Cards/49ers Gameday

It is gameday, and here are some links to start off your morning.

Staying Focused
Cardinals, 49ers don't want to be distracted from greater goals

Cardinals seek an end to 49ers' dominance
It's not just that the San Francisco 49ers have defeated the Cardinals five consecutive times, although that is galling enough for the Cardinals. It's that the 49ers have turned the rivalry into a romp. They've won the past four over the Cardinals by an average of almost 21 points, and the 16-point victory three weeks ago felt like 36. Coach Ken Whisenhunt doesn't bristle at much, but he seemed a little irritated this week when asked whether he talked to his players about the blowout losses to the 49ers.

Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald partnering with Oxfam America
Larry Fitzgerald is fortunate enough to travel the world. But the scenery isn't always breathtaking. Once, the Cardinals' star wide receiver toured a small village in Zambia. He was chewing gum. He was followed by a pack of 10 children who playfully tugged at his shirt. "I threw the gum in the bushes, and I thought nothing of it," Fitzgerald said. "I heard this huge scrum behind me. Three kids went diving into the bushes for that gum. I saw the kid pull it out and eat the gum." Fitzgerald couldn't believe his eyes. "He wasn't chewing it. He was eating it. Like he was hungry," Fitzgerald said. That experience -- and many others -- helped trigger a collaboration most Cardinals fans will remember with great fondness. Fitzgerald and Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin have partnered with Oxfam America, an international relief and development organization, to raise money and save lives in East Africa in a region of the world decimated by the worst drought in 60 years.

Defining the Cardinals Identity
Paul Calvisi goes through the locker room hoping to define the Cardinals identity.

Teddy Bear Express Visits Local Hospitals
The Cardinals Teddy Bear Express made stops at St. Joseph's Hospital and Phoenix Children's Hospital to bring some holiday joy to children receiving treatment.

Building the Gameplan vs SF
Jody Jackson and Ron Wolfley build the gameplan for the Cardinals and 49ers match-up.

Arizona Sports News:

NHL-leading Wild keep the Coyotes scuffling
The Minnesota Wild need only a couple of its opponent's slip-ups to lock down a game. The Wild, the NHL's best team, are experts in that department and they showed that Saturday night. They took advantage of what was offered and shut down the Coyotes 4-1 at Jobing.com Arena to win their seventh game in a row and 17th in their past 21. The Coyotes have lost four of their past six.

Phoenix Suns optimistic with additions to 2011-12 team
Before factoring in the additions of Shannon Brown, Sebastian Telfair and Markieff Morris, think back to the letdown of last season for the Suns.

Carrick Felix's three-pointer at buzzer leads ASU basketball past North Dakota State
Arizona State needed a prayer at the end of regulation, and it got one. Carrick Felix buried a 25-foot 3-pointer just before the buzzer, lifting the Sun Devils to a 60-57 win over North Dakota State on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena.

Arizona Wildcats top Clemson Tigers
Solomon Hill is starting to take over the role Derrick Williams had last season. Kyle Fogg is developing into one of the better perimeter defenders in the country. The freshmen, at least the three that are left, are really starting to understand how to play on the college level. After a 10-game opening gauntlet of games, Arizona is developing into the team coach Sean Miller had envisioned at the start of the season. Nick Johnson had 14 points in another solid game, Solomon Hill had two big baskets among his 13 points, and Arizona rode a big first-half cushion to a 63-47 win over Clemson on Saturday.

NFL News:

NFL Injury Report, Week 14: Adrian Peterson, Kevin Smith Questionable - SBNation.com
As the NFL’s Sunday and Monday night games approach, SBNation Medical Expert Dr. Ali Mohamadi discusses some of the most significant remaining injuries impacting this weekend’s games and how they might affect your fantasy rosters