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GUHSD aide named Cardinals Fan of the Year

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Peoria Times Executive Editor

Robert Freedman has been beating the odds all his life. His parents were told at his birth that the 1-pound, 10-ounce boy born 11 weeks early may not walk or talk.

With determination and a strong will, Freedman did thrive. He graduated with honors from ASU and has worked for 12 years as a special education instructional assistant at Glendale Union High School District’s Washington High School.

Now, he’s hoping his strength rubs off on the struggling Arizona Cardinals, for whom he gives unwavering support. Freedman was named the Cardinals NFL Fan of the Year.

The NFL launched the Fan of the Year contest presented by Captain Morgan to celebrate extraordinary fans who inspire others through their love of football and bring an “original spice” to what it means to be a fan.

In collaboration with the 32 clubs, the NFL collected nearly 35,000 submissions from fans vying for the chance to represent their team as a nominee. The contest will seek to identify one winner among the final 32 nominees to be named the ultimate NFL Fan of the Year at NFL Honors in February 2022.

“The teachers and administrators surprised me by wearing Cardinals gear to celebrate me getting Fan of the Year,” Freedman said.

A room in Robert Freedman’s Phoenix home is dedicated to sports memorabilia. The NFL recently dubbed him the Cardinals Fan of the Year. (Photo by David Minton)

Like the NFL, his mother, Mickey Freedman, sees her son as the ultimate fan.

“He takes his group seriously,” she said. “He wants people to share their stories and their selfies. It’s his baby. It’s his love. He goes to two out-ofstate games a year. I must say he’s passionate.”

His home and work desk reflect his feelings about the Cardinals. Pennants, autographed memorabilia, football cards and jerseys fill his Phoenix home. One of his most prized possessions is a mini helmet autographed by Larry Fitzgerald.

“I’m a proud mother,” said Mickey, who has worked as a counselor at Moon Valley, Independence and Sunnyslope high schools. “He has notebooks. He’ll even write guys and ask them to sign and send back items. In his fan cave, he has a bunch of collectibles. He’s come very far. He knows his stuff. He’s very loved at school.”

Freedman has been part of the Red Sea since he was 9. He lives for his 400-level season tickets, where he has become somewhat of a celebrity, by all accounts.

“The game of football is a lot of fun,” he said. “I like to see players score touchdowns. Football is just action packed.”

In February 2015, Freedman founded the private Facebook page AZ BirdGang Nation. Now with more than 13,600 members, AZ BirdGang is a networking and fan group.

“I wanted to start a group,” he said matter-of-factly. “If you never try, you never know. I just have a passion for the Cardinals, and I want to try to connect with other people on Facebook.”

Connection is key to Freedman, who was mainstreamed in early elementary school. His father was killed in a car crash 25 years ago when he and his sister were 10 and 12, respectively. He was the rock for the family.

“He wants to make the world a better place,” Mickey said. “He was nominated homecoming king (at Sunnyslope High School) and was invited to speak at graduation. He truly loves life. We are big Dodger fans, but he started with the Cardinals. They are his No. 1 love.”

For the 2020-21 school year, the

SEE FAN PAGE 15

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FAN FROM PAGE 14 GUSD Governing Board honored Freedman with the Achievement Above All Support Staff prize.

“He frequently has conversations with the students about their favorite players,” said Ty Bauer, Washington High School teacher and coach, when Freedman won the staff award.

“I know of one occasion where a student had to have his appendix out. Rob sent the student’s favorite team a letter about it. That student received a gift bag of team merchandise.”

Mickey said during the COVID-19 quarantine, he supported the students by handing out 400 Chromebooks and performing other tasks.

“He said, ‘Well, mom, I don’t know whatever is next,’” she recalled. “‘You never know.’ I never had such a great time until Rob came. We did crazy things. We travel around. He never met a ‘stranger’; he’s friends with everyone. He’s a lot like my husband was.” PT

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