It seems surreal that game day is upon us. The dream began several years ago, when Indy made an unsuccessful bid to get the Super Bowl here, then finally being selected on the next try for the 2012 game, which at the time seemed awfully remote, two years away. We all watched the number click down one at a time, the countdown of “Days To Go Until The Super Bowl”  reached 365, then 180, then 60, then starting to feel very real the closer it came. The effort, planning and energy that went into this from the entire community was truly amazing, and in the end, luck smiled on us, as better weather than anyone had dreamed would be possible for this time of year lasted the entire 10 days of Super Bowl events, saving a warm, sunny day for game day itself. Indy turned over the key to the city for a few days to the rest of the country and the world. It became Super Bowl Village instead of Indianapolis. A cameo under the spotlights on the big stage. The best thing was a lot of folks unfamiliar with Indianapolis were able to experience our warm hospitality and the results of what took more than a generation of effort to evolve the downtown area into what is there today. Well done everyone. 

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For a franchise that has not made many miss-steps over the last 10 years, they were overdue for some. But just as you can learn when winning, there are harder lessons, possibly more valuable, to take away from a season like this. There were some weak links in their plan which they did not see until you have a season like this. The lessons are obvious…hopefully. The consolation prize for this season is the town gets to host the Superbowl!

After having gone through the pain of this year it would be a shame to loose the top first round pick, as well as the top pick in all the other rounds. But it’s not in their genes to tank any game or the rest of the season. So we’ll see what luck has in store for the Colts. You have to admit the prospects for next year look very good, with healthy players back, a stronger roster and a season of learning under their belt.

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The Indiana Pacers have announced their schedule for this season, an abbreviated 66 game schedule from the usual 82 games due to the lockout this year. This will be a season like no other as they try to fit as many games as possible into the time remaining in the season, even playing back-to-back-to-back games for the first time that will no doubt test their endurance. With this kind of schedule, teams with a deep bench will likely benefit at times. It’s going to be interesting.

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People love basketball here, and love has nothing to do with money. That’s why they are feeling betrayed by the commercialized, overfed, professionals who’s only focus seems to be on getting even more. So, the lockout is loosing more than just a few games, it’s loosing fans, their hearts and minds. There isn’t one person I’ve talked with yet that cares one way or the other if the 2011-2012 NBA season starts at all. Instead, they are looking at maybe catching a game at Butler, IUPUI or even local high schools. High school basketball…that’s the last level where it’s still played just for love.

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Let’s say the Colts end up with the worst record and somehow get first pick in the draft. They shouldn’t hesitate to take the very best player available, the one most coveted by other teams, Andrew Luck, a quarterback. Then they should work on a trade(s) immediately for 2 or 3 of the nastiest, strongest and LARGEST defensive players they can get for the middle of our defensive line. Peyton will come back from this with a vengeance and the offense should be stellar again. The Colts don’t need an overpaid young quarterback to sit on the bench as an understudy. Peyton has a number of great years left. But they need some top defensive personnel now, to stengthen the D-line, then running through the middle will be out for opponents offense. The rest of our fast-flying D can then make either side impossible too. Strengthen the defense, that’s what they need, thereby controlling the minutes. If the Colts offense is on the field the majority of the time, they win.

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It’s been wonderful watching the Indiana Fever move through the playoffs. Just one more win against Atlanta and they’re in the Finals. It’s starting to feel like it could be their year especially with Tamika Catchings finally winning the league MVP.

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Am I the only one that’s not written off the season after last week? Yeah OK, the offense looked out of sync, but that was the first game for Collins. We saw glimpses of how good he can be. They just need some more time together. I’m more concerned about the defense that has no excuse like a key player missing, and couldn’t stop ANYTHING last week. I’m sure they did some soul searching after that one. We should see a different defensive unit next time.

Peyton is beyond great…possibly the greatest ever to play at that position? But he wouldn’t have been great without a lot of help from everyone else, who the last time I looked were still there and suited up. I know some will need convincing, so let’s start with a solid game tomorrow. I’m predicting a win, not just because I’m a homer, but because I think they will play much better all the way around. We’ll see.

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1. The Day After

P R E-S E A S O N
08/13/2011  8:00 pm – Colts @ Rams – Edward Jones Dome (St. Louis MO)  Loss 33-10
08/19/2011  7:00 pm – Redskins @ Colts – Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis IN)  Loss 16-3
08/26/2011  8:00 pm – Packers @ Colts – Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis IN)  Loss 24-21
09/01/2011  7:00 pm – Colts @ Bengals – Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati OH)  Win 17-13

R E G U L A R   S E A S O N
09/11/2011  1:00 pm – Colts @ Texans – Reliant Stadium (Houston TX)  Loss 34-7
09/18/2011  1:00 pm – Browns @ Colts - Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis IN)  Loss 27-19
09/25/2011  8:20 pm – Steelers @ Colts – Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis IN)  Loss 23-20
10/03/2011  8:30 pm – Colts @ Buccaneers – Raymond James Stadium (Tampa FL)  Loss 24-17
10/09/2011  1:00 pm – Chiefs @ Colts – Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis IN)  Loss 24-28
10/16/2011  1:00 pm – Colts @ Bengals – Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati OH)  Loss 27-17
10/23/2011  8:20 pm – Colts @ Saints – Louisiana Superdome (New Orleans LA)  Loss 62-7
10/30/2011  1:00 pm – Colts @ Titans – LP Field (Nashville TN)  Loss 27-10
11/06/2011  1:00 pm – Falcons @ Colts – Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis IN)  Loss 31-7
11/13/2011  1:00 pm – Jaguars @ Colts – Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis IN)  Loss 17-13
11/20/2011   BYE  WEEK
11/27/2011  1:00 pm – Panthers @ Colts – Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis IN)  Loss 27-19
12/04/2011  1:00pm – Colts @ Patriots – Gillette Stadium (Foxboro MA) Loss 31-24
12/11/2011  1:00 pm – Colts @ Ravens – M & T Bank Stadium (Baltimore MD)  Loss 10-24
12/18/2011  1:00 pm – Titans @ Colts – Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis IN)  Win 27-13
12/22/2011  8:20 pm – Texans @ Colts – Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis IN)  Win 19-16
01/01/2012  1:00 pm – Colts @ Jaguars – Jacksonville Mncpl. Stadium (Jacksonville) Loss 19-13

Home Games in BLUE.       All games have local radio coverage on 97.1 Hank-FM and 1070 AM-WIBC.
All times local to Indianapolis.   Kickoff times may change after Week 11 due to Flex Scheduling.

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Here’s the rest of the Indians schedule for this season in case you feel like taking in a game. Some like the night games especially with the field lit up by all the big lights, and cooler temps under an open, starry sky.

Went to the ball game today with some friends. A mid-day game in the afternoon. It was really hot outside but so what. It’s hot no matter where you are now. It went to an extra inning before the home team finally lost, but it was great fun nonetheless. I’m still impressed by Victory Field every time. The flavor of an old-style ball park but new and with the latest updates. The location downtown near White River State Park and all the other attractions and hotels is superb.

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