From out of nowhere, a new American hero has emerged. He has inspired football fans all season long, but now most of America has thrilled to the heart-warming Cinderella story of Rams’ quarterback Kurt Warner and his perseverance against all odds.

The Unlikely Quarterback

Back in the early days of this star-crossed NFL season, the hapless St. Louis Rams were desperate for a quarterback. Their hopes rested on Trent Green, newly acquired from Washington, but he sustained a season-ending injury in an exhibition game.

The “experts” laughed when Coach Dick Vermeil gave the job to the lowly Warner, a former Arena Bowl player who had been overlooked and undrafted out of college. How could he hope to compete in a league with the likes of Marino, Manning and Steve Young? Yet, in one record-setting season, Warner leapt into their ranks, becoming the ultimate underdog hero and a living reminder that nice guys don’t have to finish last, if they believe in themselves and never give up.

A Cancer Family Man

Warner was born on June 22, 1971, with his Sun and Mercury at the very beginning of the sign Cancer. Like many Cancers, his devotion to his family is one of the most distinctive features of his personality. Kurt and his wife, Brenda, are obviously very much in love. He still kisses her in the stands at the end of every game, like some noble knight wooing his lady.

Kurt adopted Brenda’s two children from her first marriage, even though her son Zachary is brain-damaged and nearly blind, having suffered a tragic accident as an infant. He often credits Zachary with being his inspiration for overcoming his own setbacks. Warner easily displays his Cancer sensitivity, choking with emotion when discussing his love for his family and his faith. He tends to shun both the high life and the spotlight, preferring the closeness of home and the company of old friends and relations.

Cancer American Heroes

Perhaps because America is a Cancer country (born July 4, 1776), we love our Cancer heroes and the values they enshrine, like John Glenn (July 18, 1921) or Brandy Chastain (born July 21, 1968) of the U.S. Women’s World Cup team. We may not think of Cancer as a particularly athletic or heroic sign, but it does have its own strengths. Cancer athletes tend to possess quick, instinctive reflexes and an intuitive ability to read the opposition. Fluid and graceful in motion, they can also be moody and unpredictable, like Barry Sanders (born July 16, 1968), Penny Hardaway (born July 18, 1971) or Mike Tyson (born June 30, 1966).

Jupiter and Neptune: The Underdog Hero

Warner has a close conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Neptune in his chart. In his case, the union of these two planets seems to expand Jupiter’s influence to Neptune’s legendary proportions. While Jupiter traditionally rules sports and outdoor activities, it also rules religion and the clergy. Warner is not only a superb athlete, but he is also deeply religious, freely expressing his faith.

Much of his appeal derives from his humble underdog status (Neptune) and his sympathetic demeanor, which has never changed, even with all this sudden and overwhelming success. Warner is the kind of player who attracts women fans to football—sensitive, spiritual, a devoted husband and father, the ultimate Cancer hero—and, by the way, an excellent quarterback, too!