The last time we say the Cardinals take on the 49ers on Monday Night Football was Opening Night of last season, and the result was a 20-17 loss that set the tone for a disappointing 2007 season for Arizona. Flash forward one year and change, and the Cardinals were able to take out the 49ers 29-24 on the strength of a last second goal line stand.

Quite a difference one season can make, right? Instead of Matt Leinart looking confused under center, you had Kurt Warner, looking for all the world like an MVP. And at the end of the day, Arizona is 6-3, and a full four games ahead of their nearest NFC West rivals.

But really, if you are a Cardinals fan, do you feel any better about the team after last night’s game than you did before? To quote an ex-coach, the 49ers were who we thought they were: a mediocre team with nothing to lose. Great teams put teams like that away early. Good teams let them hang around until the 4th quarter before pulling away. The Cardinals rely on a stop as time expires at the goal line after a questionable “down by contact” ruling.

Perhaps this says less about the Cardinals than it does about the overall awful nature of the NFC West?

In other sports news that happened while you were looking to unload your extra Inauguration tickets:

• The CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER passes along the helpful tip that you should try not to get pulled over with the following items: a marijuana pipe on the front seat and prescription drugs, marijuana, cocaine and a loaded Smith & Wesson 40 Caliber pistol. Just ask former Ohio State lineman T.J. Downing.
• The Rays’ Evan Longoria is your unanimous AL Rookie of the Year, while Geovany Soto of the Cubs takes the NL honors with 21 or 32 first-place votes. I’m still not sure why Joey Votto’s mom was able to get a vote.
• That Matt Holliday to the A’s story? The SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE says it’s looking more and more like a done deal.
• It was a good night to be a Phoenix sports fan: the EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE reports that the Suns topped the Grizzles 107-102 despite a career-high 33 points from OJ Mayo.
• Flashing a bunch of cheerleaders from a Catholic high school? In the world of Cinemax movies it might lead to steamy misadventures, but THE EAGLE-TRIBUNE says that it could add up to jail time for a Massachusetts driver.
• The YORK DAILY RECORD says that an Australian cycling coach has been freed after spending four months in jail for rape after his 15-year-old accuser recanted her story.
• The SEATLLE TIMES has the list of the seven finalists for the Seattle Mariners’ manager position, none of whom have experience as a field boss. The surprise name? Niles Crane.
• As the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS notes, the Jets are set to add Ty Law to their secondary ahead of their clash with his former team the New England Patriots. Which I’m sure is all a huge coincidence. Wink wink.
• Wait, the red line on TV might not actually be the line of scrimmage? Thanks, NEW YORK TIMES, why not just tell my kid that Santa Claus isn’t real?
• The RIVERSIDE PRESS-ENTERPRISE reports that UCLA head basketball coach Ben Howland is taking a tough line in disciplining forward Nikola Dragovic after he was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend: he may or may not play in the Bruins’ opener. Just what John Wooden would advocate, I’m sure.