I'm in Phoenix - and not for the warmth

The newspaper biz is a crazy biz sometimes. A lot of the time, really.

Wednesday, I was asked if I'd go to Phoenix on Thursday for Kurt Warner's press conference today. Uh, OK.

If Warner played for the Buffalo Bills I might have feigned illness or a prior commitment. But since he's an Arizona Cardinal, well, I'm taking one for the team.

Warner's press conference is at 2 p.m., Iowa time. You can watch it on Gazetteonline, I believe. I'll have plenty of copy from it -- oh, the Cedar Rapids native son is believed to be announcing his retirement from football. If he just called the press conference to say he's happy to keep playing, remember this Gazette bean-counters: I'm just a loyal foot soldier who did what he was asked.

But Warner's retiring. And based on what I've heard on radio in my limited time here, Phoenix isn't happy to see him go.

Check back here later Friday afternoon for on-site reports from the Cardinals' training facility.